Holistic Health Versus Standard Medicine in Patient Treatment. Why it matters
Learn about the differences between holistic health and standard medicine in living a long and healthy life without being dependent on prescription drugs.
We begin today to discuss a complex subject. Many of you are unsure what holistic medicine even means. Holistic medicine treats the whole person across multiple levels, not just symptoms. This involves your health on a physical, emotional, social, and heart level. It means examining your brain, its health, and what you are doing to harm or support those functions. The heart is not merely an organ that pumps blood and oxygen. It is the seat of your emotional health and holds both physical and mental pain. Often, what doesn't show on an X-ray is the real problem.
A holistic doctor wants you to be really healthy on all levels, not just treat a symptom such as high blood pressure with prescription meds. I think the easiest way to illustrate this is by giving you an example of a health issue and showing how you would be treated by each medical system.
Patient Joe, sees a regular, standard medicine doctor. Non-emergency visit. What does his visit look like?
Standard Medicine Example first:
Joe books an appointment with a standard medicine doctor with a complaint that his heart races with other vague heart symptoms. The doctor seeing him that day only treats non-emergency illnesses. Joe walks up to the reception desk, and they accept his insurance or out-of-pocket payment. He completes office-specific paperwork. They want to know what prescription drugs you are taking and your primary diagnosis, such as diabetes.
Joe is finally taken to the back office; the nurse weighs him, takes his blood pressure and temperature, and asks what he's here to see the doctor about. She asks Joe questions to clarify his symptoms.
Some doctors perform better on the questions.
There are good doctors who try to identify the root cause, but their superiors and the system discourage them from doing so. Your doctor is told he is spending too much time with each patient. He is told to write more prescriptions.
In this example, Joe recently had an EKG and cardiac evaluation. It all came out normal. His lab work was normal. Joe is experiencing vague heart symptoms, and he wants answers. The doctor asks Joe about his stress level. Joe tells him he has a stressful job and is experiencing financial difficulties. He is not sleeping well either.
So, because his doctor, not even his regular doctor, only has 15 to 30 minutes to evaluate Joe, he prescribes Joe medicine for anxiety and depression and sends him home.
His overworked physician never asked Joe about his diet or whether he drank energy drinks or coffee throughout the day.
Joe’s lifestyle habits are not addressed because his BP is not high. If your BP is high, you will be given blood pressure medicine if you are not already on it.
He may be told to lose weight or go on a diet, but the doctor does not have time to discuss it with him. The dietitian appointment is separate and has a fee.
Joe then experiences side effects from the prescriptions he took! Joe comes back in, and they either reduce his medications or give him a new one. They may send Joe to a specialist who may or may not find the answer. The specialist doesn't listen to Joe; Instead, he shrugs him off and dismisses the seriousness of his complaints. Joe may or may not be properly diagnosed after several appointments.
Joe is very frustrated and is still experiencing the same symptoms, plus added complaints from the medicine, such as gut issues, diarrhea, and others.
Now What?
Patient Joe, then visits a holistic doctor. What does the visit look like?
Joe gets upset with the side effects of his prescriptions, so he bites the bullet and makes an appointment with a holistic doctor. There is more than one kind of holistic doctor. He is unsure of the type of physician he needs. Holistic medicine can be confusing and intimidating without research. His insurance likely will not cover it unless it is acupuncture or chiropractic care.
There are Chinese medicine doctors, Homeopathic doctors, Ayurverdic doctors, and Natureopathic doctors.
There are also therapists and health coaches who focus on the mind-body connection and how you manage stress.
Herbalists may be consulted as well.
Each has a different approach to working with you and may recommend different herbs and treatments, such as acupuncture or other do-no-harm therapies, based on their training and expertise.
It is a different experience with each doctor, but each kind of holistic doctor wants you to be well holistically, stressing whole body healing and wellness.
That is their main goal. They do not want you on prescription drugs unless it is absolutely needed. The holistic physician’s goal is to identify the underlying cause of the patient's disease or symptoms.
Their suggested therapies also share the same goal: to identify the root cause, whether it is diet, physical inactivity, mental stress, physical stress, emotional stress, or other factors. Your mental and emotional state affects your health and well-being. They know that.
Your health and symptoms are not due to a lack of prescription drugs. In fact, your symptoms may be due to the drugs you are on and their side effects!
Joe now consults a holistic physician. His nurse informs Joe that the office call costs at least $200 and more. She gives him 4 pages of paperwork to fill out, which addresses his symptoms, diet, lifestyle, coffee and soda he drinks, drugs or alcohol consumption, a full list of what Joe eats generally, family history, his personal health history, and other details. It takes approximately 40 minutes or more to complete.
The doctors nurse then reviews the completed questionnaire with Joe, or the doctor himself may review the questions with Joe. The doctor then examines Joe’s eyes, skin, and nails, and conducts additional tests. He runs tests to determine whether Joe has vitamin deficiencies. He may use tools to assess weaknesses in Joe’s body systems. The visit takes a long time.
Health problems can present as physical symptoms such as dry skin, rashes, and changes in your nails and eyes.
The physician may then request additional information.
Joe, do you drink energy drinks to keep going?
“Joe reports drinking one to three energy drinks during his workday, in addition to coffee. “
How much coffee do you drink?
“Well, to be honest, all day long, doctor. I also sometimes don’t eat all day or just eat a donut or hot dog to get me through.”
His doctor then lets Joe know that this very well may be the base cause of his heart issues. Joe is very upset that his primary care physician did not inform him about the issue.
His holistic doctor tells Joe these habits could lead him to dangerous heart issues. He explains how to gradually wean himself off these energy drinks and provides a diet plan. That is a diet tailored to his individual needs.
Joe’s tests indicate vitamin deficiencies and other disease markers in the early stages. He is given several supplements to address the deficiencies. and a meal plan to help him improve his health. His physician may recommend massage or exercise to reduce his stress level. He suggests that Joe and his wife consult a pastor about their problems.
Joe leaves the office. He decides to follow the holistic doctors recomendations.
He reduces his coffee intake and stops drinking energy drinks. Now, Joe eats donuts only once a week and makes time for a healthier meal at lunch. His weight and blood pressure gradually improve.
Over several months, his cholesterol levels drop to almost normal. Now he takes time to play with his kids and walk with his wife once a week. When he is out with his friends, he drinks one beer rather than a 6-pack. When the guys order pizza, he eats two pieces instead of 4. He looks at his buddies, who complain about their health issues and their beer gut, but they keep eating.
Joe realizes he wants to live long enough to see grandchildren grow up and have a long life. He recognizes that his wife is right and that he owes her an apology. They return to church, seek counseling, participate in social activities, and occasionally go on dates.
Joe follows through with determination, though it is the most difficult task he has ever undertaken. Weeks later, his heart doesn’t race anymore. He is sleeping better.