According to research by Dr Gary Null of the Nutrition Institute of America, 700,000 deaths in the US can be attributed to iatrogenic (death caused by treatment) causes every year. That is double the rate of deaths caused by heart disease and cancer every year in America. This is alarming, and a justification for why more and more people are opting for holistic treatments. Holistic treatments attempt to heal the whole being: body, mind and spirit. On the other hand, conventional treatment focuses mainly on the symptoms, attempting to hammer the disease to submission.
However, the cause of disease is usually beneath the symptoms and often is the result of stress and thought patterns. In traditional Eastern medicine, the human body has self-healing properties that can be harnessed through mind power, and an increasing number of practitioners and patients are becoming adept every day.
Here are some of the most transformative holistic treatments that are changing the face of healthcare as we know it.
Aromatherapy
There are a wide range of essential oils that help people to reduce stress and relax more. Essential oils are not a new phenomenon, but have been used for centuries in ancient medicine to relieve pain and cure a wide variety of ailments.
For instance, lavender oil has a deeply soothing aroma that is perfect for relaxation. Most people are skeptical of the effects stress can have on the body, assuming that being relaxed has no correlation to sickness prevention and bacterial infections. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. When you’re stressed out, your body’s defenses are lowered and your body is exposed to opportunistic disease. What stress does to the metabolism and optimal functioning of the body is catastrophic. For one, excessive stress constricts your blood vessels stifling the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the cells of the body. In addition, stress releases cortisol in the body, a hormone that can have disastrous effects in large dosages.
Acupressure
This form of treatment is characterized by applying pressure to specific pressure points in the human body. A therapist will use their fingertips to apply just enough pressure to certain points on a patient’s body with remarkable results. Acupuncture reduces anxiety, balances the body’s energies and manages pain.
Acupressure is a complementary form of treatment that makes conventional treatment, especially for cancer patients or those that are bedridden, more bearable. One of the effects that make it favorable for cancer patients is its very powerful pain relieving properties and its ability to reduce nausea.
Balneotherapy
Balneotherapy is usually done by bathing in specific baths containing of a variety of special minerals and other products. Most cultures are replete with legends of people getting cured by merely bathing in specific lakes or rivers; which suggests that balneotherapy has been used for millennia.
Balneotherapy is considered to be an immune booster and therefore increases the capacity of the body to fend off diseases. Balneotherapy has been found effective in the treatment of burns, skin conditions, swelling, and stress management.
Conclusion
Holistic treatments are rapidly increasing in popularity and are becoming more and more legitimized. The advantages aromatherapy, balneotherapy and acupressure have on other traditional methods cannot be denied. However, if you’re seeking urgent care in MN, a combination of traditional methods and holistic medicine is recommended, especially for severe conditions. However, holistic medicine can play a major role in disease prevention and general well being.
