What does it mean to be healthy?
Does it mean the absence of disease as it is sometimes defined? Could it mean that plus eating right, exercising and maybe managing stress? I venture that the latter is how most people would define it today. But then what does it mean to be holistic? Does it mean the same thing? What does holistic health mean?
From the very first moment I began my herbal education, I was taught to look for the root cause behind someone’s symptoms or disease. I noticed that in some people that root cause was on the mental/ emotional level. For example, someone who has chronic sinus problems or lung problems might have unresolved grief. Then I learned about the psycho-spiritual aspects behind physical diseases and symptoms and how the spiritual component plays a part.
Holistic health and true health means not only to be healthy physically but also mentally, emotionally and spiritually. And we can find this concept elsewhere. We find it in the ancient healing systems of Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine. We see it in different disciplines like Pyschoneuroimmunology, Neuroscience and Epigenetics where science has shown that stress, our thoughts and behaviors have an affect on our physical health. We have also seen this recently with the pandemic showing how our mental health and emotional well-being affects our overall health.
In my opinion, for true healing to occur, I believe that we do indeed need to find the root cause behind our illness and that cause may be on the mental/ emotional or spiritual level. Am I suggesting that every symptom or illness has one of these components? Absolutely not. But I do think that they should be considered as a possibility if for no other reason than to rule them out.
Until next time, wishing you good health and well-being!
If you liked this post or know someone who will, feel free to share it.
Image credit: Copyright: <a href=’https://www.123rf.com/profile_airdone’>airdone</a>