An Introduction to Holistic Health

Health is the concern of all and "Health is Wealth"holistic in the strict sense of the term, but since it is
goes the saying. Everyone wants to be happy andnow understood that 90% of the health problems
health is the first and foremost condition toare psychosomatic in nature, any health system that
happiness, and, yes, happiness is a precondition fortries to restore the emotional health (since it is the
health! Thus, it is a nice merry go-around! I don'temotions that affect the mind), can be considered
want to call it a vicious circle, since that connotes aholistic. Some systems may complement the
very negative image. Thus is clear that health andallopathic system and some may supplement the
happiness go together. Unfulfilled desires lead tosystem. Thus a holistic health professional may use
unhappiness and unhappiness leads to disease,one or all of them or work with other professionals
ill-health, a feeling of being unwell. One should makeso that the patient is restored to a state of good
efforts to either fulfill the desires that can and shouldhealth at the earliest. Integrated Medicine, where
be fulfilled or to understand the undesirability ofteams of doctors and healers from various systems
fulfilling the desires (illegal, unethical and immoral) andwork together is the latest approach in this direction.
or the futility of pursuing desires which are beyondThis introduction and the subsequent articles in this
one's reach. This understanding will quickly restore theseries are not meant to make you a professional
health, since the unhappiness, which was causing thehealer (some simple systems like Bach Flower
derangement in health has been removed.Remedies, Tissue Remedies, EFT and Reiki are easy
Purely physical causes which cause temporaryto learn and practice but local laws may prevent you
dislocation in one's health are generally easy tofrom taking up healing as a profession), but are
correct. For example, a sprained ligament may givemeant to be educational. They may help you and
discomfort for some time and restrict one's activitiesyour friends, relatives etc. to understand the various
but once it is repaired, the person can lead a normalrisks and benefits of using different healing systems
life. But, psychological aspects of one's ill-health,and thus make a better informed decision. Since the
especially in chronic cases, are difficult to correct,holistic aspects of health including the preventive
since it is difficult to remain optimistic in the face ofaspects, alternative practices, non-medicinal
chronic ill-health. It is also difficult to understand andenergy-based systems for healing etc. are also
accept the role of the psychological factors that areproposed to be discussed in a series of articles, the
contributing to one's physical ill health. For example,same may be of interest to one and all.
poor relationship, dwelling too much on the pastModern medicine (also called ALLOPATHY) has its
wrongs (of oneself or others) and chronic anger etc.rightful place too and especially the modern diagnostic
cause many physical symptoms, which are confusedprocedures, the surgical intervention and
with disease. However, with proper understanding,reconstruction are definitely not to be ignored.
and with Divine Grace (Grace of God and Guru), it isHowever, when only the medicinal aspects are
possible to change one's outlook on various aspectsrequired to be used, the gross side-effects of most
of life and thus to achieve a better state of health.of modern drugs make us look for better
Even coping with some chronic physical healthalternatives. Alternative systems like what I
problems becomes easy when one realizes thatmentioned above come into the picture in such
disease or ill-health has a clear and definite role tosituations. Psychosomatic complaints (that means
play in one's learning process, called life.disorders of the physical body caused by disorders of
Anything can cause ill-health and anything can curethe mind - most of the disease conditions!) are better
the ill-health. Acupressure, Acupuncture,treated using non-medicinal Energy Systems like
Aromatherapy, Ayurveda, Bach Flower Essences,Acupuncture, Acupressure, EFT, Quantum Touch
Chiropractic, Color Therapy, Crystal Healing, EFT,Healing, REIKI etc., or with Holistic Systems like
Feng Shui, Herbal Remedies, Homeopathy,Ayurveda, Flower Essences, Homeopathy, Tissue
Magnetotherapy, Naturopathy, Pranic Healing,Remedies, etc. Some of these systems like Quantum
Reflexology, Reiki, Unani, Yoga ..., the list is everTouch, Reiki are also useful when modern medical
increasing and as of now nearly 250 alternative healthtreatment is being employed.
systems are available that complement the modernOne statutory warning: No advice, except that given
medical system, also called Allopathy. Some of theby a qualified and registered health professional, is to
systems are also called holistic health systems. Let usbe taken as a prescription. And it is up to you, to act
understand the differences between alternative,on any advice and the consequences of that action
complementary and holistic systems.are solely your responsibility. The person who has
As the name suggests, holistic health involves angiven the advice cannot accept any legal responsibility
integrated approach to all aspects of health, spiritual,for the consequences of following the advice. This is
mental and physical. "Treat the patient and not thecommon sense, but bears repetition.
disease" is the basic approach in this system. SinceAbout myself: Though I am a metallurgist by
spirit expresses itself through the mind (esp. theeducation and have no formal medical training, I
emotions, desires, aversions etc.), holistic healingstudied HOMEOPATHY, SCHUSSLER'S TISSUE
involves an integrated approach to the mind-body -REMEDIES, BACH FLOWER REMEDIES, became a
spirit connection. On the other hand, some of theREIKI healer, a Crystal healer and of late found that
health systems mentioned above may deal only withSPIRITUAL HEALING is the most powerful. I offer
the emotional, psychological aspects, without takinghealing and advice freely.
into account the physical symptoms. Bach FlowerNote: This and the series of articles proposed are
Remedies and EFT are examples of suchoffered as a FREE public service by me.
mental-emotional healing systems. They may not be