Conventional medicine vs. Holistic healing: Which one is right?

There are numerous medical practices that help treat illnesses, so how do we know what’s right for us? While conventional medicine is believed to be the most popular, it's certainly not the only path to wellness. A lot of people choose to forgo conventional medicine and use holistic health practices for the betterment of their health.

What do holistic healing practices include?

Medical practitioners who use holistic practices to treat their patients believe in a proactive approach towards medicine and health, rather than a reactive one. Oftentimes, they use exercise and diet as the first step towards healing minor ailments. They are interested in treating the whole person rather than isolating the body that has a problem. Even though this is referred to as integrative or alternative medicine, the treatments normally stem from traditional, ancient practices.

If you're focused on holistic health, you are likely to have a main practitioner and a secondary practitioner who performs acupuncture or chiropractic treatments. The team will work together to make sure you remain healthy. However, it is important to inform your practitioner about every kind of herb you are taking. Even though herbs are natural, some should not be consumed by people with certain types of health concerns.

Using conventional medicine:

While chiropractic or acupuncture treatments are gaining popularity, a lot of people still believe in going to a doctor who uses conventional medicine to treat health concerns. Conventional medication is normally reactive, which means your doctor is focused on curing the problem rather than trying to stop them from occurring in the first place.

Conventional remedies can include narcotic painkillers, antibiotics, surgery, vaccinations, physical therapy, and more. Even though side effects of drugs and complications after surgery are rare, they are a possibility.

Which is the right path for you?

There is no reason for you to choose one path over the other. You can have acupuncture treatments or visit a chiropractor, and still go to a physician for treatment. In fact, integrative medicine is gaining a lot of popularity with new graduates from medical school learning. They are learning about combining holistic health practices with conventional medical care to treat patients successfully. Moreover, famous medical schools such as Johns Hopkins, Harvard, and the Mayo Clinic are teaching future doctors about the rewards of using integrative medicinal practices.

Keeping your body and mind healthy does not have to be a solo project. You should not restrict yourself to any one form of practice for treating a disease. Instead, visit an integrative or alternative practitioner to find out about other options. However, it is very important to go to a reputed practitioner for help. There are several clinics that claim to offer holistic healing treatments but may not have the expertise and equipment. It is best to ask friends and family or your local physician for suggestions. You can also browse through online forums and review sites for information related to the practitioners near you.