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The principle of Holism is based on perceiving things as a complete whole and not as separate components. Holistic Health is an approach to life that considers multidimensional aspects of wellness, including physical, mental, spiritual, emotional and social needs of an individual. It considers an individual as a fully functional person, who is an active participant in making health and wellness decisions, thereby affecting his overall lifestyle.
Body-mind balance is a cornerstone of holistic health, embodying the principle that our physical wellbeing and mental state are deeply interconnected. In holistic health, this balance is not just a goal but a journey, where nurturing the mind is as crucial as caring for the body. Imagine our body as a garden and our mind as the gardener. Just as a garden thrives under the careful attention of the gardener, our body flourishes when our mind is at peace, focused, and positive. This synergy is pivotal because mental stress can manifest as physical ailments, and similarly, physical discomfort can cloud our mental wellbeing. By embracing practices that promote body-mind harmony, such as meditation, yoga, balanced nutrition, and regular exercise, we don’t just treat symptoms; we nourish our entire being. This holistic approach leads to enhanced immunity, improved stress management, greater emotional resilience, and overall a higher quality of life. Therefore, achieving body-mind balance is not just about feeling good—it’s about creating a foundation for a healthier, more vibrant existence.
Mind has its own reality and is correlated with the body. If you want to be holistically healthy then you need to take care of the Panch Koshas, which are the five layers of the physical body. According to the Upanishads, our human nature, or prakriti, comprises five different dimensions. Our mortal body (the temple of our individualized atma) expands into more subtle layers of energy around our spiritual center.
Represents our physical body, the densest of all the koshas. It comprises our bones, muscles, and organs, solidifying energy into matter through the five elements, with the earth element being dominant. This layer is nourished by the food we eat and contains both prana (life force) and consciousness. Getting too absorbed in this layer can lead to excessive attachment to physical form.
Associated with the vital life force that animates our body. It consists of breath and five types of prana that control various bodily functions. Without prana, the body would be lifeless and incapable of movement or thought. Prana circulates between the physical body and the other sheaths through nadis, allowing us to traverse from gross to subtle and causal aspects of our being
Encompasses our thoughts, emotions, feelings, and the functioning of the mind. It is through this dimension that we perceive the world and experience likes and dislikes through our senses. Consciousness arises from the connection between the outer world, the mind, and the brain. The mind operates on three levels: conscious, subconscious (storing experiences), and unconscious (the realm of the true self or Atman).
Associated with intuitive knowing and higher levels of consciousness. In this layer, awareness of the body and mind diminishes, giving rise to the “higher” mind where wisdom resides. This higher mind turns inward, seeking Truth and the eternal center of consciousness, linking the conscious mind, higher mind, and universal mind. Practices like dharana and dhyana aid in channeling focus towards deeper consciousness.
Represents the spiritual or causal body, where one unites with the “divine spark” or soul. It is connected to the unconscious or superconscious mind. When the higher mind merges with the superconscious mind, a sense of connection to all emerges, leading to the highest level of vibration in life and ultimately attaining liberation (Mukti) and Samadhi.
Modern medicine has indefinitely made some path breaking advancements. However, there has been a recent shift of focus to alternative treatments and holistic medicine. In recent times, people are gravitating towards the holistic approach upon finding it more realistic and long term compared to the symptomatic relief offered by generic treatment plans and their unwanted side effects. These treatments include acupuncture, aromatherapy, homeopathy, nutrition, chiropractic, and more.
Holistic Health aims to cure illness from the root and prioritizes a person’s whole being in the treatment process. When the body is not restricted with physical ailments, our overall state of mind improves, as with a healthier body also comes a healthier mind.
Holistic Health offers relief from stress and enhances feeling of self-efficacy, improves overall digestive processes, boosts immunity, metabolism, and resistance to diseases. It also improves higher cognitive skills like selective attention, retention, convergent & divergent thinking, reasoning, problem solving, decision making, and others.
Modern medicine views a sickness as existing fully independently of the patient who has it, which neglects holistic care. Holistic therapies address the physical symptoms of the disease as well as the patient’s mental and emotional well-being. This is one of the key Reason for the rise in popularity of holistic healthcare.
The treatment plan involves following a healthy diet, regular exercise, detoxification, and other all-natural, non-invasive treatments. Many people prefer natural remedies since they have fewer side effects and don’t include any hazardous components.
Holistic healthcare can be used to treat a wide range of conditions. There are treatment plans for most ailments, including insomnia, anxiety, depression, back problems, chronic pain, and more serious issues like Lupus, early-stage cancer, and Lyme disease. For example, acupuncture can be used to treat anxiety, improve mood, boost focus, and even treat chronic pains.
The holistic approach’s focus on prevention is one of its main advantages. Along with providing care for people who are already unwell, these treatments place a strong emphasis on preventing diseases before they manifest any symptoms.
Holistic treatment typically has fewer side effects as compared to prescription drugs, medical procedures, and surgery include nausea, weight gain, discomfort, and other symptoms. The holistic treatment techniques aim to reduce or get rid of the adverse side effects that are prevalent in Modern medical treatment.
