15 Questions a Holistic Practitioner Should Be Asking You

Many alternative healthcare practitioners today call themselves holistic. Some medical doctors say they practice integrative medicine which is supposed to combine allopathic medicine with a holistic approach to health and wellness. Unfortunately, many provide holistic or integrative treatment in name only. Achieving balance in all your systems couldn’t be further from their minds.

It’s an interesting experience to visit a self-labeled holistic physician. He’ll record your history but only based on a finite set of physical factors.

Integrative medicine that combines holistic with conventional medicine claims to be healing-oriented. And if they truly are, those integrative M. D.s will take account of you, the whole person.

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What should you look for when consulting a holistic or integrative medical doctor? And in a related field of medicine, what might be the questions to ask functional medicine doctors?

First, let’s explore the definition of ‘holistic?’ What does it truly mean?

holistic |hōˈlistik|

characterized by comprehension of the parts of something as intimately interconnected and explicable only by reference to the whole;

medicine characterized by the treatment of the whole person, taking into account mental and social factors, rather than just the physical symptoms of a disease.

Looking at the whole person includes all aspects of your lifestyle as well as your relationship with your practitioner.

Both holistic and integrative medicine, if authentically practiced, will forge a therapeutic relationship between practitioner and patient. They’ll integrate all the evidence of conditions they discover and make use of all appropriate therapies.

Ancestral energy medicine broadly popular in more ancient China ensured doctors’ focus on the health of their patients. They only looked at sickness and disease as a sign they weren’t keeping their patient healthy.

The ancient Chinese family physician was fully paid so long as all family members were in good health. When someone became ill, the physician either tool less pay or took nothing at all until everyone in the household was well again.

In the book, Power of the Five Elements: The Chinese Medicine Path to Healthy Aging and Stress Resistance, by Charles A. Moss, M. D., the authro describes a rare medical school experience he had in the late 60s.

The following description summarizes how every healthcare practitioner of any kind should approach you, the patient:

I remember in 1968 hearing a professor of neurology, Dr. S. M. Megahed, discussing the importance of listening to everything the patient had to say while observing with exquisite precision how they spoke and the emotions they expressed.

He emphasized the importance of touching the patient, and the amount of information that a detailed examination would provide. His caring nature influenced me. He approached each person as unique, leading to a greater understanding of the process that resulted in the patient’s illness.

Instead of focusing solely on making a medical diagnosis, Dr. Megahed looked at the whole person.

In the spirit of taking care of the whole patient, a good healthcare practitioner should do more than collect a basic physical and hereditary history.

The authentic holistic physician should take the following issues into account when treating you.

All these factors significantly impact your state of health and well-being:

• overall stress levels

• how resilient a patient in responding to stress

• a person’s line of work; number of hours worked in a week; whether the work is sedentary or physically active; what parts of the body, mind or emotions are most taxed as the patient performs the work

• family structure; a single parent could face many more life challenges; the number of children, especially in the household, is important as this factor can seriously affect a single parent’s health

• the diet and eating habits; how many meals per day; does the patient eat on a regular schedule or only when there’s time? how much time is allotted for each meal? does the patient eat alone or in company? does the patient chew food very well?

• exercise pursuits and how consistent; assessment of spinal flexibility and ability to walk long distances both of which are key indicators of vitality and longevity

• history with and outlook on holistic therapies and remedies

• patient’s income level in order to determine a sliding scale for fees, if warranted

• mental state

• emotional state

• health goals

• level and manner of sexual engagement

• how much fun and enjoyment

• habits or addictions, good and bad, and which the patient would like to be free of

• whether spirituality or belief in a higher power plays any or a central role in the patient’s life

• how often the patient takes time to simply “be” in a quiet space and relax

The practitioner can immediately and superficially assess these in order to get a quick read of your present level of vitality:

• the state and presentation of your skin, countenance and hair

• eye brightness

• physical posture

• weight

• muscle tone

• overall emotion radiated

• the pulse: this can provide info. about key organs beyond the feedback provided by the rhythmical throbbing of blood through the arteries, especially to doctors of oriental medicine

• the tongue as indicator of healthy or unhealthy digestion and elimination

It may be challenging to find a holistic practitioner who will take the time for such an extensive yet important interview. But if your holistic practitioner gets to know who you are as a whole person she or he will quickly know how to serve you best.

When you find a practitioner who asks you the primary 15 holistic questions, that practitioner’s definitely a keeper.

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Photo courtesy of RODNAE Productions at Pexels

Moss, Charles A. Power of the Five Elements: The Chinese Medicine Path to Healthy Aging and Stress Resistance. North Atlantic Books, 2010. 

How Holistic Treatments Can Support Your Wei Chi

The health and wellness industry liberally uses the word 'holistic.' But what really is a holistic treatment?

As the word indicates, holistic encompasses an approach for a treatment that embraces the whole of a human being. It begs the question: In addition to the physical body, what exists in the totality of this patient that we must consider in order to fully treat the whole being?

The first level of increased awareness, going beyond the physical, is fairly obvious and includes the mental and psychological aspects. What people think about themselves and others, combined with their emotional state, are relevant factors affecting any treatment, be it in a spa, a doctor’s office, or on a hospital bed.

At the second level of awareness of what is perceived as a part of the whole being is the notion of vital energy common to all energy medicines. This is sadly absent in so many wellness or medical practices.

The fundamental idea that the physical body we see is but the tip of the iceberg is often ignored or considered too esoteric. Yet there is something else that is invisible but essential, namely, that the body is not only vital matter but also vital energy.

Further, it’s vital energy that makes the matter vital.

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To see a human being in a way that envelopes these two levels is already quite an accomplishment, yet it is incomplete, particularly when it comes to serious diseases with consequences devastating enough that the very spirit of the patient is also under attack.

Critical to any possible healing are the core beliefs of the patient in view of the experience he or she is living. This is obviously a subject that concerns not only medical people but patients and would-be patients although this topic remains a very delicate one.

The third level has to do with the spiritual dimension of the one being treated. Some of us might be totally unaware of this aspect, or we might be simply putting it aside, maybe for examination at a later date.

Another possibility is we might simply be genuinely oblivious to this part of our constitution. 

From an ultimate point of view, the spiritual state of consciousness of the patient is not only relevant but might be a critical factor in dealing with serious ailments.

Clearly, rare are the practitioners who will embrace this view or be willing and comfortable enough to incorporate the patient's spiritual state of consciousness into the equation when faced with a deeply serious health issue which on the surface appears to be simply material or physical.

But how is all of this relevant to our wellness and beauty focus? It actually directly relates back to PHYTO5’s motto: “Beauty is wellness made visible!”

In our previous blog, “Wei Chi and the Three Levels of Defense,” we saw that wellness and beauty concerns are outside the picture at the third and fourth levels of defense, but they are reasonable ones for the first two levels even when both Wei Chi and chi are under attack.

It’s when Wei Chi is strong and an effective defender of our health that our wellness and beauty objectives are most effectively achieved. 

Maintaining a strong immunity with an active Wei Chi is of primary importance. The role of emotions and the matter of emotional intelligence as the arena we can most directly influence to maintain a strong immune system.

Further, even if we do a lot of other things right, such as focus on a proper diet, get adequate exercise, practice breathing exercises, and get plenty of sleep, it will be in vain if our E. Q. (Emotional Quotient) is low.

…

Sources:

We are inspired by many authors when writing on the vital energy subject, but in particular, by:

1. Haas, Elson M. Staying Healthy with the Seasons. Berkeley: Celestial Arts, 2003. Print.

2. Beinfield, Harriet, and Efrem Korngold. Between Heaven and Earth: A Guide to Chinese Medicine. New York: Ballantine, 1992. Print.

3. Elias, Jason, and Katherine Ketcham. The Five Elements of Self-healing: Using Chinese Medicine for Maximum Immunity, Wellness, and Health. New York: Harmony, 1998. Print.

4. Gerber, Richard. Vibrational Medicine: New Choices for Healing Ourselves. Santa Fe, NM: Bear, 1996. Print.

5. The abundant writings of Deepak Chopra, M.D.

Wei Chi and Your Three Levels of Energetic Defense

According to traditional Chinese medicine (TMC), Wei Chi is protector of your outer energy field (aura). It also protects the superficial layers of the body–the skin. Any pathogen that will eventually attack the physical body needs to first defeat Wei Chi by penetrating your aura and going past it through the skin layers. Wei Chi is the energy of your immune system and guardian of your health according to TCM.

These are the four sources of Wei Chi:

1. ancestral energy over which we have no control;

2. lifestyle over which we have partial control;

3. environment over which we have partial control;

4. our positive emotional relationships over which we should be able to have the greatest influence.

Wei Chi has natural enemies.

The first group of Wei Chi’s natural enemies traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) calls the five “devils.” These are essentially climatic conditions over which we have limited to no control.

The second group of enemies is composed of the negative effect of any of TCM’s five fundamental emotions. Negative points to an excess or imbalance in that emotion.

Each of the five emotions corresponds to one of the five elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water). Each emotion is like a coin with two faces. It has a positive and a negative side.

This is key: The negative aspect of each emotion diminishes Wei Chi while the positive side of each one of them becomes our greatest opportunity to strengthen our wei chi.

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The source of Wei Chi we have the most control over relates to our emotional intelligence.

It encompasses an ability to minimize the negative while increasing the positive aspects of our emotional life. This nourishes our Wei Chi and ultimately, our immune system.

Good Wei Chi flow literally keeps us out of the doctor's office.

In the late 70s, PHYTO5 was foundedon the slogan, “Beauty is health made visible.” Updating it for today we say: “Beauty is well-being made visible.”

This motto is an expression of the PHYTO5 philosophy and mission. It’s the logical outcome of its deep roots in TCM that take into consideration all the elements that make up our being. 

Poor eating, poor breathing, lack of movement, climatic aggressions, or destructive emotions, significantly weaken Wei Chi and our immune system to the point it might no longer be able to prevent pathogens from reaching deeper into the physical body.

Fortunately, as TCM tells us, there are not one but four different energetic protection levels.

If the first level of wei chi fails, the second level of protection is the chi which flows through the body along meridians or pathways of vital energy.

There are five basic functions attributed to Chi:

1. movement

2. warmth

3. protection

4. transformation, and

5. support.

When pathogens pierce through Wei Chi to attack your chi, the illness becomes more stubborn. You experience more pronounced physical and emotional disturbance although it’s not life-threatening.

Once the illness goes deeper, it affects the vital energy of the third level of defense, the blood.

According to TCM, blood functions energetically. This function goes beyond arterial and venous circulation. It includes the movement of other fluids from the hormonal glands and the transport of nutrients, among others.

Should this master transportation system break down, the body enters a chronic illness level with severe health and emotional consequences. Pain is deeper and more prolonged.

From this one and the next level, the body might never return to full health. Containment and mitigation might be the best available outcome.

Any worsening leads to an attack on the fourth level of defense, the energy of the organs.

What’s at stake at this level is organ survival. A defeated organic chi creates a domino effect or negative spiral since each organ affects the proper function of all the others. When any organ is under siege, it deeply affects how we feel in all aspects of life.

At all levels, but particularly the third and fourth, illness is not limited to the physical aspects.

Addressing psychological, emotional, and spiritual issues are the only way to bring all aspects of our being now under siege into restored healthy alignment. 

In this state, achieving wellness might be a distant dream.

At the fourth level, survival becomes the ultimate objective.

Pain management is a moment-to-moment concern. Healing through the restoration of chi within the entire body requires appropriate holistic treatment.

In other words, a comprehensive holistic approach to getting well is absolutely required. 

…

Sources:

We’re inspired by many authors when writing on the vital energy subject, but in particular, by:

1. Haas, Elson M. Staying Healthy with the Seasons. Berkeley: Celestial Arts, 2003. Print.

2. Beinfield, Harriet, and Efrem Korngold. Between Heaven and Earth: A Guide to Chinese Medicine. New York: Ballantine, 1992. Print.

3. Elias, Jason, and Katherine Ketcham. The Five Elements of Self-healing: Using Chinese Medicine for Maximum Immunity, Wellness, and Health. New York: Harmony, 1998. Print.

4. Gerber, Richard. Vibrational Medicine: New Choices for Healing Ourselves. Santa Fe, NM: Bear, 1996. Print.

5. The abundant writings of Deepak Chopra, M.D.

18 Avenues for Releasing Stored Emotional Pain

All emotions, pain in particular, are recorded at the cellular level. Emotions stem from the body’s experiences and its mental interpretation of those experiences. Because of this, emotions are closely related to our bodies. They’re actually an extension of our bodies.

There is also evidence that mental pain and anguish have an impact on the body as if they were physical bodily injuries. This helps to explain why many massage therapists have experienced involuntary emotional reactions from their clients like unexplainable cries, shrieks, or tears. These happen when there is a release of a painful event which has been stored in the physical body as a physical and/or energetic blockage.

It's a good thing to get these blocks of energy released otherwise they might cause a physical illness down the road. Think about it: When energy is blocked from flowing in the body, how can that be good? It causes pain, dysfunction and illness.

Partake of the mystique of quantum energetic formulated plant-based skincare for your exalted natural beauty and well-being. Subscribe for a discount promo code, plus get truly unique beauty tips and offers.

Make it a habit, within the constraints of your budget, to see a holistic healthcare giver on a regular basis. If they are truly holistic, they will take your ability to pay into account and create a sliding scale for you. This is the meaning of holistic–taking all aspects of a person into account when treating, including the means to pay for services. Bring it up to your therapist if this is the case for you.

Here's a partial list of types of holistic practitioners* you might want to look into for yourself:

1. Massage therapist, of course, but preferably one with knowledge of balancing chakras

2. Doctor of Oriental Medicine or Acupuncturist

3. Energy medicine practitioner

4. Ayurvedic practitioner

5. Reiki practitioner

6. Biofeedback specialist

7. Chromatherapy specialist

8. Guided imagery practitioner

9. Therapeutic touch therapist

10. Doctor of Homeopathy

11. Thai yoga teacher/practitioner

12. Bach flower remedy specialist

13. Rolfer

14. Pranic healing specialist

15. Rebirthing expert

16. Sound therapist

17. Myofascial/trigger point therapist

18. Chakra balancing expert

*Some of these healthcare givers may require licenses to practice. Be sure to verify before accepting treatment.

The 7 Types of Ayurvedic Massage

Abhyangam
A full body hot oil massage with medicated herbal oil in the patient's particular dosha (dosha: each of three energies believed to circulate in the body and govern physiological activity). A comfortably warm temperature is maintained in the room and energy centers are stimulated to assist the body in releasing deep seated toxins.

Udvartana
In Udvartana massage, an herbal paste or dried herbal powders are applied oppositethe hairgrowth i.e. in an upward direction. This breaks down the adipose tissues in the body, increases circulation and releases toxins.

Garshana
The Garshana massage is a process of stimulating the body using raw silk gloves only minus the application of any lubricant. Light and vigorous movements eliminate toxins from the body by stimulating the lymphatic system and fat cells in the body break Dead skin cells are sloughed off leaving the skin clean and radiant.

Njavarkijhi
This massage increases perspiration in the body. A pressurized massage is given with the help of small cotton ‘blouses’ filled with a special type of cooked rice called Njavara. During the massage, these blouses are dipped in cow’s milk and a special herbal paste and applied to produce sweat. It is de-stressing and revitalizing.

Shirodhara
Here a stimulation of the nerves in the scalp is activated by pouring herbal oil on the head in a constant stream or ‘dhara,' thus relieving mental fatigue, increasing focus and clarity and alleviating headaches.

Ubtaan and Elakijhi
Various herbal or animal centric materials are used to vitalize the skin texture and nourish the body.

2 Effective and Natural Ways to Fight Potential Superbugs

On May 26, 2016 Sanjay Gupta, MD of CNN reported, "New ‘superbug’ no antibiotic can combat arrives in U.S." We've all heard how antibiotics aren't working like they used to. Microbes are adapting. They're learning how to survive the attacks of antibiotics.

In another CNN interview with a microbiologist, the health pundit was asked what new approach we could use to combat superbugs and he answered, PROBIOTICS. He said we have to start looking at probiotics for our health. Hello?! Where has he been?! I guess just steeped in the world of allopathic medicine but it's nice to hear they're more and more willing to give a real alternative like probiotics a good hard look.

What a simple, affordable and really healthy way to fight such pathogens! Keep your intestines populated with probiotics (also known as friendly flora).

Another microbiologist, Larry Harris, formerly of the CIA, was asked on national television several years ago about how we can effectively combat lethal pathogens and he said:

The only natural substance I know of that is effective against these microbes is colloidal silver. I tested that myself when I was with the CIA, and found it effective against both anthrax and the bubonic plague pathogens. –Former CIA microbiologist Larry Wayne Harris

The Ultimate Colloidal Silver Manual. Barwick, Steve. Peoria, AZ: Life and Health Research Group, n.d. Print.

Concerning PROBIOTICS: Get a good one at the health food store. They are usually sold in the refrigerated section. Keep them refrigerated so that as many as possible of the millions and millions of friendly flora organisms stay alive. Don't take too much. Just take what the bottle says every day, at least until you learn how your body responds to them. There will be other benefits including much better waste elimination, glowing skin, resistance to colds, flu, healthier bones, nicer breath and more!

On COLLOIDAL SILVER: Again, get a good brand at the health food store, preferably one that uses nanotechnology. You want a silver with nanoparticles because nanoparticles are so small they can penetrate your mucous membranes far more effectively than regular colloidal silver. You can buy it in spray form or liquid dropper form. I use the liquid dropper form. It tastes fine.

Just put the prescribed amount under your tongue, hold it there for 20 seconds or so and swallow. Don't overdo colloidal silver either. Just take the amount prescribed on the label. And remember this mantra when taking colloidal silver, "Less is more and more is less." This means that if you take a much larger amount of silver than is suggested, it will be ineffective. But you can take it several times throughout the day.

We've all heard of rare people who turned blue after going wild on colloidal silver. Though this is rare, be smart. There's nothing to fear even if you take it every day.

Not only are probiotics and colloidal silver effective at outsmarting bugs and superbugs, they're a whole lot cheaper and with no ill side effects.

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