the journal

A Brief Guide to the Principles of Holistic Healing

So, what really is holistic healing?


Holistic healing is the practice of treating all aspects of the individual, not just the physical or mental symptoms of a disease or injury. It goes beyond the traditional Western medical model, incorporating a variety of treatment methods that can include physical care, mental and emotional support, spiritual connection, and more.

Unlike what is usually considered as normal or main stream health care, holistic healing is an alternative approach to health care that emphasizes the whole person, including the mind, body, spirit, and emotions, in the quest for optimal wellness. This multifaceted approach seeks to achieve optimal health by gaining proper balance in life. Let's have a peek at the meaning of holistic healing, its underlying principles, and its benefits.

Physical care

Physical care focuses on treating the body and physical symptoms. This might include nutrition, exercise, acupuncture, massage therapy, or traditional medications.

Emotional and mental support

Emotional and mental support may involve counseling, stress reduction techniques, meditation, breathwork or other therapies that focus on the mind.

Spiritual and energetic connection

The spiritual aspect of holistic healing often involves practices that connect an individual to a higher power or a greater sense of purpose in life. This might include prayer, meditation, or other energetical and spiritual practices.


Underlying principles

Holistic healing is based on several core principles:

1. Interconnectedness

In holistic healing, the body, mind, spirit, and emotions are seen as interconnected. An imbalance in one area can affect the entire system. This might not be visible at first but can show up further down the road.

2. Balance

Achieving balance in life is a central goal in holistic healing. This involves creating harmony between different aspects of the self, which includes ones emotions and other internal aspects, and the external environment.

3. Self-responsibility

Individuals are encouraged to take responsibility for their own health and wellbeing. This means actively participating in their own healing process and not solely relying on a practitioner to do the work for them, without taking any personal responsibility for the outcome.

4. Personalization

Holistic healing recognizes that every individual is unique and requires a personalized approach. Treatment plans are tailored to the individual’s needs, preferences, and circumstances in that specific moment in time.

5. Natural healing

The use of natural remedies and therapies is often emphasized, before opting for anything else. This might include herbal medicine, natural foods, or traditional healing practices.


The benefits

Holistic healing offers several benefits, among them are the following:

Comprehensive care

By treating the whole person, holistic healing can offer a more comprehensive approach to care. It dives a bit deeper and looks beyond the symptoms that are visible to the five senses, in order to uncover underlying causes, instead of treating those mere symptoms.

Prevention

There is an emphasis on prevention, and healthy living is encouraged, in order to avoid disease before it starts. This might include looking into stress reduction, energetic release, nutrition, exercise and other methods that can help in the moment as well as in the long run.

Empowerment

The self-responsibility aspect of holistic healing generally empowers individuals to take control of their health, leading to more sustainable, long-term wellness.

Personal growth

Working with a holistic approach to healing and recovery often leads to personal growth and self-discovery. By focusing on all aspects of the self, individuals may uncover new insights about their lives, habits and their health.

Therapies and treatments

A wide range of therapies and treatments is incorporated, providing individuals with more options for care, tailored to what each person may need at that exact time.


In short

Holistic healing offers an approach to wellness that goes beyond treating symptoms, instead the focus is on the whole person as well as the cause of the affliction.
By emphasizing interconnectedness, balance, self-responsibility, personalization, and natural healing, it can provide a multifaceted approach to health care.

The benefits are wide-ranging and can lead to a deeper understanding of the self which can in turn also encourage a more harmonious way of life. Whether it is used alone or in conjunction with traditional Western medicine, holistic healing practices can offer valuable insights and tools for achieving the best possible outcome when hoping to improve the health of each unique individual.