To those unfamiliar with all the terms used in the world of complementary and alternative medicine the term ‘holistic remedies’ my just be part of the blur. Actually holism, as a concept, extends into all branches of science and philosophy. It is the idea that the properties of any given system cannot not be understood by an examination of its component parts in isolation. When you are talking about health it generally refers to the practice of viewing the organism as a whole, i.e., we are more than a collection of parts. There are many factors that influence our health including physiological, psychological, environmental, social and spiritual.
A return to holistic thinking and the use of holistic remedies to address our physical and psychological conditions is, without a doubt, a step in the right direction. In these times it is becoming increasingly obvious that we are all part of one very interconnected world. What happens here – affects life over there. Remember Fukushima! It is no different in the human body – it is a complex, intricate network of biological systems that include chemicals, electrical impulses and an amazing consciousness that is hardwired into the whole unit!
There are a lot of energy medicine technologies hitting the market these days. If you remember the Star Trek series, Beverly Crusher, the doctor on board the Enterprise had her own energy medicine technology called the Tricorder. This was a wand type device that could assess, diagnose and even repair damage to the system. There are actually quite a few real life Tricorder type devices out today. They are a little less dramatic in effect than the Tricorder but still a great example of art or entertainment predicting the future of science. The devices on the market today come in a wide range of types and applications. Some use laser light or sound waves, others use magnets and some are electromagnetic technologies with acronyms like GDV and EAV.
As our technologies evolve at nearly the speed of light we can only hope that our understanding of the complex and subtle nature of life can keep pace. These days we could use an energy medicine technology with the power of the Tricorder! We could make good use of a device that utilizes subtle energies to balance and revitalize human systems damaged by the chemical and environmental pollution we live with today.
Alternative medicine is alive and well in this country. Many doctors and practitioners of all kinds are finding that the current healthcare model is frequently unsatisfying and sometimes counterproductive. The “for profit” model of healthcare today is heavily influenced by the pharmaceutical and insurance industries. It too often leaves very little room for a real patient-physician relationship as we used to understand the meaning of that term.
Most alternative medicine practices work to bring this relationship back onto focus. They also recognize that the human organism is not just an assemblage of parts but an intricate and truly amazing network of interconnected systems that are entirely dependent on each other. The emphasis is on prevention not intervention. Lifestyle changes are frequently an important component of the overall plan. And, many in the alternative and complementary medicine fields say that recognizing the spiritual nature of human beings can be an important dimension in the healthcare picture.
Energy Medicine is actually a very ancient form of medicine. In a sense, it is as old as the human race. Early indigenous cultures saw spirit in all things. When something went wrong they looked to the invisible world to find the answers.
Energy Medicine changes names and forms from culture to culture but essentially refers to any form of healing that recognizes energy (other than electromagnetic energy) as a vital living force that influences all life.
Traditional Chinese Medicine was an early, very well researched, documented and experimentall
y proven form of energy medicine. Through five thousand years of history the Chinese have perfected their system of working with the vital forces (they called Chi), energies that cannot be perceived with the five senses. They have developed systems for working with the flow of this energy to maintain health. Acupuncture and all of the martial arts are based on working with the flow of energy inside and outside of the body.
Today there are many energy medicine healing techniques that make use of the universal vital force, called by many different names, to achieve the proper balance and flow of energy in the human system.
