It’s Entirely Natural - Articles

Many philosophies have been adopted throughout history in the continuing search for good health. Holistic health is the realization of our potential as humans as total beings, and our desire to live fulfilling and satisfying lives. The overall goal is not just to be physically healthy but also to be in harmony with oneself and the environment at all levels, body, mind and spirit. Relationships, social interaction and lifestyle are also factors that are considered when dealing with a holistic approach. Managing, or eliminating stress is a basic component of holistic health.

Holistic is a term that emphasizes the functional relationship between the whole and its parts. Holistic health or holistic medicine attempts to treat the whole person, including mind, body, spirit, and emotions. Holistic medicine is not a new concept or theory. In fact holistic health is more of a philosophy that has been in existence for thousands of years. Holistic medicine however is new to western medicine and our health care system.

When holistic medicine is used in conjunction with traditional health care, the approach to therapy takes on a whole new dimension. Patients roles are changed in that they become more involved in their treatment by being made aware of their condition and how their thoughts, behaviors and attitudes are attributed to the situation and they are taught how by making changes they can be actively involved in their own healing process.

There are several terms that are often associated with holistic medicine. Alternative medicine, complementary medicine, and natural healing are probably terms that you have heard before. Alternative medicine is a term used by both medical professionals and the general public to describe medical techniques or procedures that are not generally recognized or accepted by traditional or conventional practitioners.

These techniques include non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical methods as well as experimental drugs or therapies that are not in general use or as of yet widely accepted as means of effective treatment. The attitudes about alternative medicine are changing and in recent years many of the practices have become widely accepted so much so that a few are now actually considered conventional.

Complementary medicine is usually a term used by conventional or traditional medical practitioners to describe non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical practices that are used in conjunction with or to compliment surgery and prescription or over the counter drugs.

The implication is that these practices are the primary tools used in the healing or treatment process and that the unconventional techniques are just used as a backup or supplement as needed. Natural healing refers to non-invasive techniques as well but does not usually involve the use of any drugs or supplements of any kind. Natural healing is usually a reference to physical healing or bodywork only.

There is a wide variety of natural, alternative, or complementary practices that are used to attain holistic health. Some of these practices include aromatherapy, acupuncture, chiropractic, massage, naturopathy, medicinal herbs, Reiki, Tai chi, and yoga. All of these approaches can help reduce stress. Stress reduction is a fundamental principal of holistic health. The reduction of stress is believed to allow the body’s natural healing abilities to go to work.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more informaton on Stress Management.

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Tags: alternative medicine, body mind and spirit, complementary medicine, holistic approach, holistic health, natural healing, Stress Management

Stress has become an everyday part of life for most of us and we do very little to cope with it. Some stress is actually a good thing as it helps keep us on our toes, ready to cope with whatever challenge we might have to face. Too much stress, however, is detrimental to the body, mind and spirit. Recognizing the signals of stress and stress related problems could reduce the damage that stress can cause. It can be difficult to recognize the signs and symptoms of stress, as vary from person to person. So all symptoms of excessive stress may not be easily observed but those that are can also help to identify stressors and then recognize the other symptoms. If we pay attention to the early warning signs of stress, the effects can be combated preventing further harm.

Some of the most common early warning signs of excess stress are chronic fatigue, excessive irritability or moodiness, amplified or disproportionate anxiety, poor emotional control, noticeable changes in appetite, sleep patterns or sex drive, insomnia, critical feelings of dependency or helplessness and withdrawal from normal activity or responsibility. One may even verbally express signs of stress by making comments or talking about not being able to relax, feeling tense, and inability to focus or stay on task. They may verbalize that they don’t feel good or are miserable and don’t know why.

If you pay close attention to your body you may notice that you feel extremely fatigued, the TV may sound like it is blaring, and a door being shut sounds like it was slammed. One may argue or yell at those around them for no reason. These are indicators that stress has reached a critical level and needs to be dealt with.

While it is important to recognize the signs and symptoms of stress, it is of equal importance to be prepared for situations or events that are potentially stressful. Undergoing or anticipating major changes to ones life such as a move, change in jobs such as a promotion, new job or retirement or family status such as marriage, adoption or pregnancy. If undergoing a major change in one aspect of your life it may be advisable to limit or avoid changes in other aspects. Sometimes people feel stressed at certain times of the day or even of the year due to work or other pressures such as family obligations. For some it is the holidays, for others it’s summer vacation, birthdays or anniversaries.

A good way to lower stress level or to prepare is to write things down. You may want to try keeping a daily log of events and reactions or even just taking a few moments a day to jot down your feelings or emotions. It is also helpful to write down appointments, to do lists, meal plans, and upcoming events instead of relying on memory as this can cause mental anguish and undue stress.

Learning to manage stress can help you to a happier, healthier life; and enjoy your job, family and friends.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more informaton on Stress Management.

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Tags: body mind and spirit, chronic fatigue, Stress Management