Holistic Medicines - The Proof is in the Pudding

Alternative medical therapies have generated tremendous interest in recent years with more people gravitating towards natural foods and natural cures. As a budding certified pharmacy technician, I have had ample opportunity to look into the mind and body and how nontraditional medicine can impact the myriad functions of our systems. While there are several holistic therapies that I have come across in my online school courses, this article will touch upon the flavor of the most popular ones.

Homeopathy: This most common natural therapy was discovered during a mission to find the cure for malaria. Homeopathy is governed by laws, the first one being the Law of Similars which says that any substance that causes illness in a well person will cure the illness in a sick person. While this was considered hokey science even as recently as 20 years ago, homeopathic centers have popped up all across the country today and serves as the number one choice of non-traditional medicine.

Reiki: This Japanese alternative therapy works on the principles of maintaining a clear energy flow within a patient so that the life force can be transferred from the therapist to the recipient easily. These principles are guided by the theory that all life can be attuned to the life force of the Earth's vibration.

Osteopathy: This is based on the theory that the human body has tremendous healing powers, which can be tapped into by the healer assisting the body in self-reparation. It is believed that proper alignment of the musculoskeletal system can lead to an inability of the body to maintain homeostasis; so an osteopath draws out a healing response from the patient by manipulating the musculoskeletal system.

Acupuncture: This ancient form of Chinese medicine involves recognizing key acupuncture points that link the body's organs through energy channels. While there are over 500 acupuncture points, only 100 points come into play during healing. This therapy has been particularly useful in treating back pain.

Ayurveda: originally from India, Ayurveda is based upon how the five elements namely air, ether, fire, earth and water combine with the person’s soul and impact the functioning of the body. The basis of diagnosis and treatment is how the combination of these five elements relates to disease.

What distinguishes the holistic approach from the traditional allopathic approach is the focus on not just the symptoms but also the role that the human mind plays in how the pathology plays out. While the intangibles in holistic medicine may cause the skeptics to pooh-pooh the approach, the growing popularity of natural cures is testament to the changing landscape of the medical arena.