What IS wholistic healTH?
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The Whole in Wholistic, as in Wholistic health or Wholistic nutrition refers to the "whole body". But many, myself included define it as "whole being,” as in body, mind, spirit... as a unified system.
Conventional medicine tends to look at the body in terms of its parts; and so we have head doctors, foot doctors, stomach doctors, heart doctors, etc. But we are complex systems; yes many complex subsystems comprising a super system. But these subsystems are integrated with each other and cannot adequately be viewed in isolation. A clear example of holistic thought applied to wellness is the Traditional Chinese Medicine system or TCM. In this system a symptom in one part of the body is usually indicative of an imbalance in one or many subsystems. Herbs, diet, acupuncture, meditation and other energy-based modalities are the primary treatments. Similarly wholistic nutrition does not dwell on individual symptoms, but treats imbalances in the entire being. For example a digestive complaint (bloating, constipation, etc.) will often be caused by an imbalance in our mind due to stress, an imbalanced diet, a lack of exercise, or a combination of these. |
What is spirit and soul
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The mere mention of the word soul may generate in you a lifetime-conceived idea of the concept. But, your version of soul is likely to be quite different from mine or anyone else’s.
I view soul as synonymous to the words spirit and consciousness. These three words (spirit, soul, consciousness) refer to that part of me that is not associated with a specific body part, and is separable from my body. Yet it is me and it transcends everything that I am. Science acknowledges, but cannot yet explain consciousness. But Taoists and Buddhists have been studying it for thousands of years. The Sanskrit word Vijñāna defines it as both “life force” and “mind.” All evidence indicates that soul is a form of energy that is capable of touching other souls, if we allow it and practice. The soul may be able to touch and be touched by your idea of a creative force, or God. Soul may be the part of us that is able to transcend death and lifetimes and even to transcend time and space. Meditation is the method experiencing and understanding consciousness. |
What is an ultradian cycle?
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Ultradian rhythms are biological rhythms with a shorter period and higher frequency than circadian rhythms, usually a few to several times per day. |
What is a circadian cycle?
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A circadian rhythm is a 24-hour cycle that includes physiological and behavioral rhythms like sleeping. |
What is a diurnal cycle?
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A diurnal rhythm is a circadian rhythm that is synced with day and night. For example, sleeping is usually every day, but at night. |
what is an infradian cycle?
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An infradian cycle is a biological rhythm that last more than 24 hours, such as a menstrual cycle. |
What is integrative health?
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Integrative health is based on conventional medicine theory integrated with alternative approaches, including acupuncture, homeopathy, herbs and more. If it works, use it.
Practitioners are wholistic in their approach, in that they view the mind, body and spirit as each playing a role in the treatment. Many use a diagnostic approach focused on treating symptoms, but have many more treatments to prescribe. The best practitioners will be patient centered and root-cause focused. |