Posts Tagged ‘world health organization’

Holistic Health Care Increasing in Popularity Worldwide

August 17th, 2011

Holistic, Metaphysical, Energy or Mind, Body, Spirit healing has existed since the beginning of time amid religious beliefs and practices, along with the mystery, superstition, fear, and misunderstanding. Holistic Healing is now becoming recognized regardless of what anyone chooses to believe or think.

o According to CNN one-half of all medical schools now offer courses in holistic health care.

o Almost one-third of American medical schools-among them Harvard, Yale, John’s Hopkins, and Georgetown Universities-now offer coursework in holistic methods.

o There are five homeopathic hospitals in Great British National Service.

o Traditional Chinese medicine has been chosen by the World Health Organization for worldwide propagation to meet the heath care needs of the twenty-first century.

o One out of three drugs prescribed in Germany is an herb.

o The World Health Organization estimates that between 65 to 80 percent of the world’s population (about 3 billion people) rely on holistic medicine as their primary form of health care.

o In 1993, American consumers spent almost $1.5 billion dollars on herbal remedies-ten times more than was spent on over-the-counter sleeping pills from grocery stores and drug stores.

o Worldwide, only 10 to 30 percent of people use conventional medicine, 70 to 90 percent use holistic medicine.

o Approximately $22 million of U.S. government money has already been spent on alternative medical research since 1992 at the National Institutes of Health and Public Health Services.

o The American Medical Association (AMA), in Resolution #514, “is encouraging its members to become better in-formed regarding holistic medicine and to participate in appropriate studies of it.

o Mutual of Omaha says it saves about $6.50 in covering non-standard (holistic) treatments.

o 74 percent of the American population, desire a more natural approach to health care.

o Of the one out of three Americans who say they have used holistic medicine techniques, 84 percent said they would use it again.

o The U.S. government sponsors the use of acupuncture in drug rehabilitation programs.

o One out of every ten Americans is under the care of a chiropractor.

o In 1991, Americans made more visits to unconventional health care providers (425 million) than to conventional doctors (388 million).

o One out of three Americans were using unconventional medicine in 1991.

o Americans spent almost $13.7 billion on unconventional health care in 1991.

o 75 percent of that $13.7 billion (above) was out of pocket.

o 12 percent of Fortune 500 companies offer alternative medicine as part of their health care compensation packages. That percentage was expected to increase to 18 percent by the end of 1996.

o National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) A nationwide government survey of more than 31,000 adults on their use of complimentary and alternative medicine (CAM) showed that 36 percent of U.S. adults use some form of CAM.

Holistic Medicine Vs Conventional Medicine

May 14th, 2011

The definition of holistic or alternative or complimentary medicine concurs with the description given by the World Health Organization. The WHO ascertains that health is a state of complete well-being at the physical, mental, and social level. In a holistic method of treatment, the approach to two patients suffering from the same disease can be different – it advocates personalized and targeted remedies. Conventional Western medicine or Allopathy defines health as the absence of diseases. It advocates a more standard approach to the treatment of health disorders.

How the two forms of treatment work

Conventional approach: The conventional system of medicine uses allopathic medicines for the treatment of diseases. The patient is evaluated on the basis of his medical history. This is clubbed with a physical examination of the patient and the results of various tests which are performed at the laboratory.

Conventional treatment comprises of drugs which suppress the body’s natural immune responses. People who resort to this method seek treatment only when the illness strikes. Hence there is very little scope for any kind of preventive treatment. Conventional medicine considers biochemical imbalances, pathogens, bacteria and viruses to be the main cause of any kind of illness. The procedure for treating serious and life threatening diseases are highly therapeutic.

Common methods of treatment followed by practitioners of conventional medicine include drugs, surgery and radiation. Diet, physiotherapy and exercise, and stress management are part of the conventional method of treatment.

Alternative approach: In the holistic or alternative method of treatment, health is seen as a balance of the body’s emotional, mental and spiritual states. Practitioners of the holistic system of treatment see the three aspects as interrelated. A disruption or disharmony in any of these states is believed to cause illness.

The holistic form of medicine considers the human body as being equipped to resist diseases and heal any injury it suffers. Patients are empowered to heal themselves by addressing the underlying causes of their disease. The treatment includes a wide range of therapies which help the body reinforce its own defense mechanism. After treatment, patients are advised to incorporate changes in their lifestyles for complete well being.

The holistic form of treatment is more cost effective in comparison to its orthodox counterpart. This form has produced effective results for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, gastrointestinal disorders, cancer, cardiac ailments, asthma and a many other disorders. Holistic or alternative medicine lays stress on preventing the disease, rather than focus on the symptoms. The methods implemented assist self-healing, allowing your body to return to its earlier healthy self. Treatments using the holistic form of medicine yield slow, yet sustained results. They do not cause dangerous side effects either.

Growing popularity of alternative medicine

Different forms of alternative medicine and remedies, including yoga and meditation are becoming quite popular. This is the result of a growing dissatisfaction in the outcomes and side effects of expensive conventional treatment. But those who stand by the conventional form of treatment have raised doubts about the authenticity of holistic medical practitioners. A few doubts have also been raised with regard to any possible side effects of natural products, when they are not administered in the right proportions.