Conventional Medicine vs. Holistic Health Care

It is estimated that over 50 percent of the people in the United States use some form of alternative medicine. A study conducted by the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association found that people who use alternative medicine tend to be more educated and in poorer health than individuals who use traditional therapies. The most common reasons for a visit to a practitioner are back pain or back problems, head or chest colds, neck pain or neck problems, joint pain or stiffness, and anxiety or depression.

So what exactly is alternative/holistic medicine? A holistic practitioner focuses on the health of the entire person, including the physical, emotional, dietary, genetic, environmental, lifestyle, and other factors, and addresses individualized imbalances in a person’s life, focusing on the root causes of illness rather than alleviating symptoms for a single ailment. In contrast, conventional medicine doctors generally treat symptoms and not their causes for specific areas of the body, often without considering their relationship to the whole.

For example, if a person has consistent headaches and migraines, a conventional doctor may prescribe pain medication; however, a Naturopathic practitioner will look at factors such as diet and mineral deficiencies, while a NUCCA Chiropractor would look at possible structural misalignment issues and a Life coach will look at stress issues as a possible cause.

While symptoms might trouble us, they are really indications that something needs attention. The only way to resolve ongoing health issues is to identify the underlying cause(s) of those symptoms. Holistic medicine is beneficial for long-term health because it will not only help an existing problem but will help prevent other problems down the line to improve health and life as a whole.

There are many methods and/or techniques used in Natural Health to help someone such as, Nutrition, Naturopathy, Acupressure/Acupuncture, Chiropractic, Meditation, Yoga/Pilates, Massage, and many more.

South Florida Health Alliance has an arsenal of highly-skilled practitioners and resources to service all your health and wellness needs.