2012年3月5日 星期一

An Introduction to Holistic Medicine


The word holistic - sometimes wholistic - is derived from the Greek word holos, meaning complete or unified, and refers to an approach which recognises that living systems must be regarded in their entirety, and that an organism is more than the sum of its parts. The holistic therapist treats the whole person, taking into account such factors as diet, environmental conditions, heredity and the psychic and psychological make-up of the individual.

Vital Energy

This approach differs radically from that of orthodox medicine, where the emphasis is on the diagnosis and treatment of the symptoms of disease, and where illness is usually regarded in terms of local disorders affecting specific organs or parts of the body. In holistic medicine, spontaneous disease is regarded as a general or overall imbalance in the individual's vital energy flow, which may be corrected using natural healing methods and by prescribing the optimum conditions in which the body's own self-healing process can take place. According to the holistic view, illness is not something you have, but something you express. An individual is not ill because he or she has a tumor, but has developed a tumor because he or she is ill.

Balance

Whereas orthodox doctors are interested in knowing what kind of disease a person has, holistic practitioners are more interested in finding out what kind of person has that disease. Whereas the primary aim of a conventional doctor is to diagnose the patient's illness by taking note of signs and symptoms like pain, swelling, rashes and so on, the first objective of a holistic practitioner is to find out as much as possible about the patient's background - not just their medical history, but also their lifestyle, diet, mental outlook, ambitions, creative drive and so on. Disease - and vulnerability to infection etc. - is seen as a consequence of some deeper or more general imbalance.

Mind and Body

In holistic medicine, body and mind are regarded as one integral function, rather than separate mechanisms, and there is an emphasis on mental and emotional states and the effect these have on health and well-being. Another feature of holistic medicine which distinguishes it from the orthodox or allopathic approach is the emphasis it places on preventative systems. Whereas most general practitioners only see their patients when they become ill, most holistic therapists prefer to see their patients on a regular basis, whether or not they feel unwell. Holistic medicine, therefore, is aimed at eliminating the causes of disease, or strengthening the body's resistance to disease, whereas conventional medicine is largely concerned with the suppression and control of its symptoms.

The following is a brief summary of the most widely available and most popular complementary and holistic therapies:

ACUPUNCTURE is an ancient Chinese system based on the principle that the body's vital energy ("Chi") travels along fixed channels or meridians, and that it is possible to restore health, eliminate pain and so on, by manipulating this energy by inserting needles into the skin at specific points along these meridians. In acupuncture, disease is classified in terms of qualities of body function and energy flow, and diagnosis is made by close observation of such physical signs as skin colour and texture, the distribution of hot or cold patches, subtle body odours, action of the joints and, above all, the reading of the twelve pulses. Many modern acupuncturists now use electrical stimulation in place of, or in addition to the use of needles. Acupuncture is also now used in conventional medicine, but mainly as a means of controlling pain rather than treating illness.

ACUPRESSURE involves the application of finger pressure to Chi energy points.

CHIROPRACTIC is a system which emphasises the importance of the correct alignment of the spinal vertebrae to relieve various symptoms, particularly - but by no means exclusively - back and neck problems. The method involves manipulation and deep massage, and complementary exercise and diet programmes are often prescribed. Chiropractic therapy was developed by Daniel David Palmer, who based the system on the following observations:

* 1. Impulses are properly transmitted through the nerves, and produce normal functions in a state of health.

* 2. Any sort of pressure upon any part of the nervous system affects the efficiency of the nervous system, amplifying or reducing its capacity for transmitting impulses.

* 3. Pressure can be caused by substances adjacent to the nerve(s), by irritation of the sensory nerves, by toxins which can irritate the sensory nerves, including muscular contractions with resultant pulling of the bone out of its correct alignment.

* 4. Slight pressure upon a nerve irritates; increase of irritation produces alteration of function which may develop even to a degree of paralysis.

HERBAL MEDICINE is the use of the curative properties of plants in the treatment of disease; it is the oldest healing system that we know of. Herbal medicine was popular in ancient Egypt, as well as in China and ancient Greece. Many herbalists believe that for every disease there is a herbal cure. It is not known how or when herbal medicine first originated, but it seems most likely that the ability to select specific plants to treat disease was at one time instinctive in humans (as it is in animals). In certain situations humans rediscover this instinct (for example, pregnant women often develop strong urges for foods containing substances which their bodies require). In the past, a herbalist would go out walking in the forest or countryside and intuitively or instinctively pick the plants to be administered to his or her "patient". In time, specific herbs came to be recognised as cures for certain conditions. Lists and charts were compiled, and the system of herbal medicine was developed.

Herbs are divided into a number of different categories:

Alteratives: These are used in the treatment of advanced disease and are particularly potent.
Astringents: Used to tone the skin, increase the firmness of the mucous membranes and reduce secretions.
Calmatives: Herbs in this category are used to promote relaxation and sleep.
Cathartics: Used as laxatives and to regulate bowel movements.
Demulcents: These are usually used to relieve sore throats, reduce inflammation of membranes, alleviate coughs and bronchial conditions.
Diaphoretics: Promote the expulsion of toxins by causing sweating.
Diuretics: Promote the expulsion of toxins through urination.
Expectorants: Relieve catarrh, loosen phlegm, clear airways.
Nervines: Reduce tension and promote calm.
Vulneraries: Applied directly to minor wounds.

HOMOEOPATHY is a healing system based on the principle that "like cures like". Two centuries ago a German doctor, Samuel Hahnemann, noted that the symptoms produced by giving quinine to a healthy person were similar to those of the malaria it was used to treat. This led to the discovery that small doses of lethal substances could be used to stimulate the body's self-healing responses. Modern homoeopathy has evolved from this discovery. The basic approach is to identify a substance which produces identical symptoms in a healthy person to those of the patient. Hahnemann believed that the smaller the dosage of the toxin given, the more effectively it was absorbed into the system. The standard homoeopathic method is to dilute the active substance with spirit - 1 part active substance to 99 parts spirit. This mixture is shaken thoroughly to ensure equal distribution of properties. From this preparation is taken just one drop, which is diluted with a further 99 drops of spirit, and again well shaken. This procedure is repeated a number of times. Sceptics insist that homoeopathic medicines can't possibly work, since there is no detectable trace of the original active substance in the final dilution. However, a number of independent surveys carried out into homoeopathy have found evidence of its effectiveness. The most recent of these, which examined the evidence of 89 trials over a 30 year period, was conducted by the US Government and the results - favourable to homoeopathy - were published in the medical journal The Lancet in September 1997.

NATUROPATHY is based on the principle that the body's own self-healing powers can only be properly effective upon the removal of negative, artificial and unnatural conditions - including bad eating habits, destructive thoughts, irregular sleep, lack of fresh air and sunlight, and so on. Treatment may include a variety of techniques, for example massage and herbal treatment, and individual exercise and diet programmes.

OSTEOPATHY involves the manipulation of the joints and muscles to relieve tension and congestion around nerve roots. Osteopathy is especially concerned with the condition of the spine (the technique's originator, Andrew T. Still, asserted that many seemingly unrelated conditions could be traced back to spinal damage). Diagnosis is made by "palpating" - that is, by touching areas of the body to determine what is termed the "quality of action" - that is, heat and speed of fluidity of blood beneath the area. This is a largely intuitive skill, similar to the ability to diagnose disease from the pulse in acupuncture. Osteopathy is not restricted to physical manipulation but incorporates several other forms of healing.

Other holistic techniques include:

REFLEXOLOGY - Therapy based on the concept that different areas or "zones" of the feet relate to various parts of the body, and that correctly applied pressure or massage of these zones can produce a remedial effect in the corresponding area of the body afflicted.

AROMATHERAPY - The use of essential oils in combination with therapeutic massage techniques.

BACH FLOWERS - A system of herbal medicine used mainly in the treatment of mood and emotional disorders.

BIOCHEMICS - Therapeutic system based on the premise that many forms of illness are linked to an excess or depletion of one or more of the body's organic salts.

IRIDOLOGY - Diagnostic technique based on the premise that the physical diseases are specifically reflected in the iris of the eye, and that patterns on the iris can be interpreted to diagnose disease.




Zak Martin Irish-born Zak Martin is one of the world's foremost psychics, a leading figure in the New Age movement and a best-selling author. He has been featured extensively on TV, radio and in the world press. He made headlines in the UK for his psychic detection work with Scotland Yard, his role as advisor to famous pop singers and TV personalities, his friendship with Princess Diana, and his founding of the Mayfair Clinic of Holistic Medicine and the London Psychic Centre at Baker Street. He is author of several books, including Quantum Perception, a scientific exploration of the mind and consciousness, and the worldwide best-selling guide to psychic growth, How to Develop your ESP (Harper-Collins). The Zak Martin Clinic in Beznar, south of Spain, offers a range of holistic and psychotheapeutic treatments. Visit Zak Martin's website at: http://www.zakmartin.com/





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