Holistic therapies have been around for centuries, in fact the word "Holistic" comes from the Greek word holos, meaning "whole. " Put simply, holistic therapies refer to treating the whole person as opposed to an individual symptom. But what does that involve? When we are considering treating a condition, we need to consider all parts, body, mind, spirit and emotions.
Our bodies are hugely complex machines and everything is connected. A holistic approach means recognising that where we are experiencing a physical condition, it is likely that there is also a corresponding underlying emotional, mental or spiritual issue as well and vice versa. To explain this, think about a time when you have felt anxious, this emotion is most often accompanied by physical symptoms such as upset stomachs, headaches and tension in our bodies.
It is important to say here that this is no way negates the need for professional medical advice if you are experiencing physical symptoms. As we have already identified, the word holistic means treating the whole and this includes the need for medical treatments. Alternative therapies should be seen as complimentary to and not instead of. However, more often that not, people will only seek to look at the physical symptom without considering the potential underlying causes.
Holistic therapies include a whole host of different treatments; from the more commonly recognised acupuncture, reflexology and reiki to some of the less familiar treatments of chakra balancing, crystal healing and colour therapy, to name but a few. Holistic therapies are generally non-invasive, completely natural and safe for most individuals.
Another important thing to note is that in holistic therapies, a lot of focus is placed on the individual taking responsibility for their own well-being and healing. This is hugely important as we each have the power to heal ourselves and the job of a Holistic Therapist is to support, guide and hold space for their clients to ensure that any changes lasting.
Holistic therapies can be extremely effective in the management of stress and anxiety as well as assisting to address countless other physical and psychological concerns. As well as being deeply relaxing and providing relief from the everyday stresses and strains of life, holistic therapies can also be incredibly healing and create long lasting change.
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