What is Holistic (whole) Health?
To answer this, let us first understand the basics: What is health?
The state of health implies that all natural processes that support life are functioning at optimal level as God design it to.
There are three general types of health, i.e., physical health, mental health and spiritual health. But we usually treat each one separately as though they are not related…for instance; we might see a psychologist for mental health, a doctor for our physical health and a healer for our spiritual health.
But is it really possible to separate physical health from mental health? Or both health from spiritual health? Can we even maintain our physical health in the absence of mental health? No we cannot!
All the time, each of us sit somewhere along with the level of physical, mental and spiritual health.
We are either in balance or out of balance, aligned or misaligned, integrated or disintegrated, and that is what makes us feel well or unwell.
The body, mind and soul work as a system with each part contributing equally to whole person. When in flow, this system facilitates the natural flow of energy throughout the body, without blockages or resistance. When out of flow, this natural flow is interrupted as energy accumulates and stagnation of energy occurs.
It is only when we view ourselves from a holistic perspective that we realise that health is really an overall state of being.
Now that we have answered ‘what is health’, let us move on to Holistic Health?
Holistic health is an approach to life that considers the whole aspect of an individual, mind, body, spirit and how he or she interacts with his or her environment (emotional), rather than focussing on disease alone or specific parts of the body. It emphasizes the connection of mind, body, and spirit. The goal is to achieve maximum well-being, where everything is functioning at the very best that is possible. With Holistic Health people accept responsibility for their own level of well-being, and everyday choices are used to take charge of one’s own health. This is the ancient approach to health…
The Basic Principles of Holistic Health
Holistic Health is based on the law of nature that a whole is made up of interdependent parts. The earth is made up of systems, such as air, land, water, plants and animals. If life is to be sustained, they cannot be separated, for what is happening to one is also felt by all of the other systems. In the same way, an individual is a whole made up of interdependent parts, which are the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. When one part is not working at its best, it impacts all of the other parts of that person. Furthermore, this whole person, including all of the parts, is constantly interacting with everything in the surrounding environment.
For example, when an individual is anxious about a history exam or a job interview, his or her nervousness may result in a physical reaction-such as a headache or a stomach ache. When people suppress anger at a parent or a boss over a long period of time, they often develop a serious illness-such as migraine headaches, emphysema, or even arthritis.
The principles of Holistic Health state that health is more than just not being sick. Holistic Health is an ongoing process. As a lifestyle, it includes a personal commitment to be moving toward the right end of the wellness scope. No matter what their current status of health, people can improve their level of well-being. Even when there are temporary setbacks, movement is always headed toward wellness.
How Holistic Health Is Practiced
While preventing illness is important, Holistic Health focuses on reaching higher levels of wellness, thus discovering what is appropriate to move people toward maximum well-being. People are motivated by how good it feels to have lots of energy and enthusiasm for life, knowing that what they are doing will allow them continue to feel this great for years to come.