Is Holistic Medicine Right For You?

Many of those who advocate the use of herbal remedies and holistic medicine believe that the main idea is to prevent sickness from occurring in the first place, rather than waiting to treat it once it has already happened.

Although traditional medicine is not obsolete, it does work in a very different way than holistic medicine. Joseph Blustein, an associate at the University of Wisconsin in Madison has been studying herbal remedies for roughly forty years and he now works as a consultant for various pharmaceutical companies.

"What is important in herbal medicine is matching the person to the herb," Blustein mentioned. "For example, a person with a headache with conventional medicine may take an aspirin for relief. This does not address the root cause and the headache most likely would reoccur."

One of the important things to remember is that herbs and holistic treatments are designed to treat the entire body as a whole, rather than focusing on one specific part.

"In holistic medicine, we believe the body is connected physically and energetically, and to treat one aspect doesn't address imbalances in the whole system," mentioned Community Pharmacy specialist Jackie Nikolaus. "The goal is balance."

Once again, however, there is another side to the issue. One of the arguments against holistic medicine is that it is not regulated by the FDA like traditional medicine is. Most health practitioners will not prescribe these types of treatments for this very reason, and that is why many people tend to be skeptical about it.

In general, a good rule of thumb to remember about any type of medicine is that it should not be consumed unless all necessary precautions have been taken. Unless you have been given the approval of a professional in holistic medicine, do not take any substance that is unfamiliar to your body. Some herbs can actually have negative effects on certain individuals, and that is why a doctor's recommendation is absolutely necessary. Do some research, speak with holistic professionals and experts, and be smart about what you put into your body. If the treatment does happen to be right for your body, then it might be just what you need.