In alternative medicine, it is believed that the spiritual aspect should also be taken into account when assessing a person's overall well-being. Several disciplines in alternative medicine use the holistic health approach, including but not limited to:

chiropractic
osteopathy
naturopathy
meditation
acupuncture
homeopathy
crystals
natural diet and herbal remedies

Despite evidence that holistic treatments have many benefits, there is still some skeptisism of the Holistic approach in modern medicine and mainstream science. Some limited viewpoints hold the belief that any form of alternative or holistic medicine in treating any known disease is simply due to the Placebo Effect. Those who hold these beliefs are perhaps missing the point. It doesn't matter whether one chooses to call it 'the placebo effect', 'the law of attraction', the will of God, 'magic or miracle', etc., what should matter instead is that it works and there are benefits to using it.

Alternative medicine, alternative healing, energy healing, holistic healing, mind-body medicine, alternative health and holistic health all have one thing in common. The word Alternative is simply used to describe a healing or health modality that does not fit into the 'mainstream' box or definition of health or medicine. The word Holistic is a word that mean 'whole'. It is a more expanded an open-minded approach to health and healing.

This new age approach takes into consideration the entire or whole human being or person when diagnosing symptoms of dis-ease or an ailment, and when considering treatment options. The Holistic or Alternative approach takes into account the physical aspect of a person just as mainstream or non-holistic medicine does, but the key difference or addition is that it also takes into account the mental, emotional, psychological and spiritual aspect of a person; the entire human BEing.

This new age method of healing and medicine is all about the mind-body-spirit as one whole and complete being. Modern and mainstream medicine tends to focus mainly on treating the physical ailments or symptoms that a person has, instead of seeking or treating the root cause of an ailment--be it a physical, mental or emotional one.

Energy Healing - Holistic Health and Alternative Healing

The alternative or holistic healing approach and its various systems and methods have been in practice in Eastern medicine traditions and ancient healing practices for thousands of years. Another modality of healing that is closely intergrated with alternative healing is energy healing Energy Healing uses 'energy', known by different terms in various traditions (Chi, Prana, Life Force, Universal Energy, etc.,). This energy is used to assist in the healing process of an individual on a more spiritual or non-physical level. Healing systems that work using this type of approach consider the physical body to be the last or final place where illness, disharmony or dis-ease manifests; before manifesting on the physical level, dis-ease and dis-harmony manifest within the emotional body and mental body of an individual. These alternative 'bodies' are merely energy fields that are found within/surrounding the physical body. Modern instruments can and do detect these fields, which is sometimes referred to as the human aura or the electromagnetic field.

Until more is understood, It is still wise to recommend that if holistic medicine is to be used at all, it should be used in conjunction with conventional medicine and not as a replacement. Do more reasearch on your own and trust your heart when it comes to the right approach to dealing with or healing any physical, mental or emotional aspect of your being.

New Age Information

Holistic Health and Healing

Spiritual and New Age Healing

American Holistic Health Association

New Age Buzz Words in Health Healing and Wellness
What do these new age buzz words mean to you? Understanding spiritual and mind-body healing, also known as holistic healing and energy healing.