Holistic Health: Integrating Alternative Medicine with Traditional Coverage

India is transforming its healthcare landscape with a growing focus on holistic health solutions that promote the overall well-being of an individual. Health is not just limited to physical health but also mental health. If you are physically healthy but suffer from mental illness, you cannot lead a fulfilling life. In recent years, integrative medicine has emerged as a form of healthcare that emphasises a comprehensive understanding of well-being (mind, body, and spirit), including an individual’s lifestyle.

This blog will explore how ancient wisdom and modern science provides holistic treatments for various illnesses. 

What is Holistic Health?

Holistic health can be defined as an individual's physical, mental, and social well-being.  Holistic healing focuses on an individual’s mind, body, emotions,and spirit. It recognises the interconnection between different aspects of health and addresses these aspects, including diet, lifestyle, mental health, and factors like environment, occupation, or comorbidities.

Assume that you have been experiencing severe back pain for a while and you have tried conventional treatments that only offer temporary relief without addressing the underlying cause. So, how do you find a permanent solution to your pain? It is essential to approach the issue from various angles for long-term and holistic healing. Working with both medical doctors and holistic healing practitioners to develop a personalised treatment plan will not only relieve your symptoms but also address the root cause of your pain.

What is a Holistic Healthcare Approach?

The holistic healthcare approach is integrative medicine, which combines conventional treatments with evidence-based alternative therapies to promote overall well-being. Alternative therapies used with traditional medicine are called Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). Here are some principles of integrative medicine.

1. Focuses on Overall Wellbeing

The integrative approach is a form of medicine that combines CAM therapies with sustainable lifestyle changes. It aims to help individuals achieve an ideal state of wellness while addressing their existing health issues.

2. Find the Root Cause

Holistic healing is achieved through curing a disease from its root cause. Integrative medicine explores various aspects of an individual’s health to recognise the root cause of an illness and then uses appropriate therapies to cure the ailment.

3. Partnership

In integrative medicine, patients partner with practitioners from different medical systems to select the most suitable therapies.

4. Personalised Treatment

As every individual is different and has unique needs, the practitioner and the patient decide a treatment according to the unique individual needs.

5. Prevention

Holistic healing helps prevent disease through lifestyle changes and promotes wellness practices such as yoga, meditation, and nutrition.

6. Natural Healing

Alternative therapies are non-invasive procedures that minimise the medication. Thus, the healing process is completely natural without any side effects.

Common Holistic Treatments Using Complementary Alternative Therapies

Here are some common therapies and practices used in holistic treatments by various types of holistic health practitioners who specialise in alternative therapies or physicians who specialise in integrative medicine.

1. Diet and Nutrition

Diet and nutrition play a very significant role in deciding our health.  Poor dietary choices cause most lifestyle diseases. A holistic health nutritionist considers many factors, such as age, overall health, preferences, nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, and individual needs, to prepare a personalised nutrition plan. For example, a plant-based diet, supplements, or diet correction can help cure hormonal imbalances, inflammation, obesity, and much more.

>> Also Know: All You Need to Know about the Types of Nutrition

2. Mind-body Techniques

Your mental well-being affects your physical health. Chronic stress is known to be the root cause of many health issues, such as digestive issues, migraines, and skin ailments like psoriasis. Practices like yoga and meditation can help reduce your stress. Yoga also helps improve your flexibility and muscle strength. An ancient Chinese martial art form called Tai-Chi is also known to reduce strength and improve cardiovascular health.

3. Acupuncture

It is an ancient Chinese therapy that inserts needles in specific points in the skin to stimulate the immune system and promote circulation, helping to heal wounds and reduce pain. It is also one of the best natural allergy treatments that can cure many conditions, such as allergies, depression, osteoarthritis, chronic pain, hypertension, insomnia, and multiple sclerosis.

4. Herbal Treatments

Using plant extracts or herbs to cure health conditions has been common in India since ancient times. The kitchen in Indian households is a treasure of herbal remedies used to date. Spices like turmeric, ginger, and black pepper have anti-inflammatory properties and are widely used in the holistic treatment for inflammation. Including these spices in your diet can help reduce chronic inflammation. However, it is crucial to understand that these herbs must be used in moderation and under the guidance of an experienced practitioner; otherwise, excessive use can cause side effects.

5. Naturopathy

Naturopathy is a holistic system that uses natural ways to heal your body. It is a combination of different types of practices like herbal treatments, massages, acupuncture, nutritional counselling, fasting, etc. Naturopathy is effective as a holistic treatment for asthma, treatment for after-effects of chemotherapy, type 2 diabetes, and other chronic conditions.

6. Physical Therapies

A holistic approach to physical therapy aims to help an individual improve bodily functions, reduce pain and enhance strength. Practices like massage therapy, chiropractic care, osteopathy, yoga and many more can be used to address health conditions like arthritis, injury, and back pain.

Avail Holistic Health Care with Care Health Insurance

Holistic health practices are not only effective in curing illnesses but also have the potential to boost your immune system, thus improving your overall health. The focus is more on preventing diseases using natural healing practices. Embracing a natural way of life from childhood can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases later in life. To ensure the holistic health of future generations, parents need to support their children’s overall health under the guidance of a holistic paediatrician.

Care Health insurance covers various alternative treatments under various health insurance plans. Avail the benefit of alternative practices through Care Health insurance and lead a stress-free life.

Disclaimers: All plan features, benefits, coverage, and claims underwriting are subject to policy terms and conditions. Kindly refer to the brochure, sales prospectus, and policy documents carefully.