The Holistic Truth

Although holistic medicine is still relatively obscure as a system of health care, it is becoming an increasingly popular practice in human and veterinary medicine. Yet for many people, it brings to mind images of fanatical zealots reaching into a human body to perform surgery without any surgical equipment, or people drinking herbal tea and doing yoga to combat their illnesses. While these assumptions are far from true, holistic medicine may still seem a little too ethereal for the practical person. However, there are millions of people across the country who can attest to the benefits of holistic medicine.

So what is holistic medicine? It involves spiritual healing, but there is much more to it than just a catchphrase of “heal the mind, heal the body”. Holistic medicine incorporates all aspects of an individual’s body and mind, combined with their individual analysis of physical, nutritional, emotional, social, spiritual, and lifestyle values. It is an alternative form of health care that takes a more Eastern approach to medicine, incorporating techniques such as acupuncture, medical herbalism, homeopathy, and even reiki. In theory, it does not reject medical treatment involving drugs or surgery, but it looks to find alternatives based on the individual’s needs.

Holistic medicine gives animal guardians a variety of options in treating and caring for companion animals, and it offers alternatives when traditional healthcare is no longer effective. It emphasizes the need for a healthy diet and comfortable environment, and it can also be relied upon as a supplement to traditional healthcare. For instance, an animal undergoing chemotherapy as a treatment for cancer might adjust to the accompanying discomfort with the help of acupuncture or herbal medicine. These additional treatments, in tandem with traditional medical procedures, are often necessary to balance a patient’s equilibrium.

Enter the age-old question: How can we decide what the best treatment is for our companion animals? For example, if your cat was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, would he or she choose to undergo surgery if given the choice? Of course, we cannot answer this question, so animal guardians must make the choice for their companion animals because they understand their needs better than anyone else. Holistic medicine has become increasingly popular because it is the least stressful alternative for our animal friends.

Holistic medical practitioners are making quite an impact on the veterinary community, and they are not the fanatical spiritual healers that their adversaries like to think they are. In fact, they are licensed veterinarians who understand the benefits of modern medicine, but are also open-minded enough to seek alternatives to invasive surgeries and debilitating drugs.