Holistic medicine is as a system of medicine which views every patient as an integrated whole rather than as a set of symptoms. Many alternative medicine systems are holistic systems of medicine. Among the better-known alternative medicine systems in the West are homeopathy, herbal medicine, acupressure, acupuncture, and aromatherapy.
Homeopathy, a complete system of medicine that dates back to the 18th century, is based on the belief that illness is specific to the individual (the patient is treated, not the disease). The other two principles of homeopathy are the Law of Similars, (stating that giving patients a diluted form of substances that produce the same symptoms as their illness will cure them), and the Law of the Infinitesimal Dose (a complex process of dilution). Although the Law of Similars somewhat resembles the principle behind vaccinations and allergy medications that expose the patient to minute quantities of allergens to increase the body's tolerance level, there is no clear scientific explanation of how it works.
The FDA regulates homeopathic medicine as over-the-counter (O-T-C) drugs, but less strictly. Labels are required to list indications, ingredients, dilutions, and instructions for safe use, but inclusion of expiration dates is not compulsory and homeopathic remedies do not undergo finished product testing to verify contents and strength.
'Homeopathic' remedies are widely advertized on the Internet, and you can even purchase herbal ingredients and dilute them yourself. Since the FDA does not regulate the herbal industry, it is difficult to be sure what you are buying. If you truly believe in homeopathy, then you must also understand that the homeopathic principle of individualizing treatment means that you cannot self-medicate.
Whole generations, all over the world, have always depended solely on Herbal Medicine for treatment. Until the 18th century, this was the most common form of medical treatment in the Western world too.
The biggest problem, for both Homeopathy and Herbal Medicine as practiced in the west, is the lack of clinical evidence and research on safety, effectiveness, correct use and dosage. In the minds of many, herbal medicine is natural (and therefore safe) because it is not part of conventional medicine, which is artificial (and therefore risky). Although they would probably never do the same with a prescription drug, such people often use herbal remedies without consulting a healthcare professional.
This type of reasoning is simplistic and erroneous. The chemical properties of herbal medicines are equivalent to those of pharmaceutical drugs. The fact that they are not synthetically manufactured does not guarantee their safety. Pharmaceutical medicines are synthetically manufactured, but the chemical formulas they use are based on the natural properties of plants and herbs.
It is important not to confuse Homeopathy with Herbal Medicine. Homeopathic remedy ingredients are mostly herbal in origin, but they may also include mineral (calcium, phosphorous, arsenic) and animal substances. Homeopathy prescribes remedies based on the 'Law of Similars', while herbal remedies are prescribed according to the predictable effects of an herb's chemical constituents on a specific condition. In this respect, Herbal Medicine is much more like conventional, allopathic medicine. Homeopathy prescribes remedies to treat individual cases - not specific conditions. (Homeopaths believe that two individuals with the same condition may very well need different treatment). The manufacturing processes for homeopathic and herbal medicines are also completely different, even when the exact same herbs are used. Homeopathic preparations are diluted according to a very specific and complex process, while herbal preparations are usually concentrated into powders, pills or tinctures.
The FDA classifies herbal remedies as dietary supplements, and they are marketed in the U.S. without first being proven effective or safe. The same herbal remedy sold by two different companies may not be identical, and what is printed on the label may not reflect what is in the bottle. Depending on the manufacturing process used, various chemicals and/or preservatives may be present too.
Acupuncture is another popular holistic system of medicine. It is a branch of Chinese medicine, which views mind and body as one entity. Over 4000 years ago, Chinese medicine identified an intricate network of 12 major 'channels', or Meridians, that are believed to explain how organs are related to both physical and mental symptoms. Specific pressure points (over 2000) were identified along these Meridians (acupoints), which when stimulated unblock the circulation of energy (qi) and restore the body's natural balance thus curing the disease. In acupuncture, these points are stimulated by inserting hair-thin needles into designated locations according to the condition being treated. Acupuncture aims at restoring the body's energy balance, thereby treating the person as a whole (body, mind and spirit), and not just the symptoms. A less invasive form of acupuncture that uses finger pressure instead of needles is acupressure, a form of Chinese touch therapy.
Because the thinking behind Chinese medicine is based on ideas that are so different from conventional western medicine, it has only recently (beginning in the 1970s) begun to be accepted in the West. There is very little clinical evidence attesting to the effectiveness (or ineffectiveness) of acupuncture and acupressure, but there are numerous accounts of successful treatments using both these methods.
I believe that any skepticism on this subject is largely due to the inability of conventional Western medicine to understand the traditional Chinese concept of Meridians and acupoints, which cannot be demonstrated anatomically. Both the 'neural theory' (the inserted needles stimulate the nervous system, causing nerve fibers to carry messages to the brain, signaling the release of chemicals affecting the body's internal regulating systems), and the 'electrical theory' (electrical magnetic fields around the acupuncture points are higher than in the surrounding skin) are not wholly accepted by allopathic medicine.
Aromatherapy, another alternative medicine system, uses essential oils to improve psychological and physical well-being. Essential oils are volatile liquids produced by distillation from the roots, leaves or flowers of plants. What differentiates essential oils from other herbal products is that the distillation process produces concentrated extracts. Essential oils may be applied on the skin, inhaled or they may even be ingested. Since each essential oil contains different active ingredients, some oils are safe to apply topically but unsafe if swallowed, while others may be safe to inhale, but unsafe to put on your skin. Essential oils should always be diluted before use (in water or in carrier oils' such as almond oil, grape seed oil and sesame oil).
The FDA classifies most essential oils as cosmetics, foods or flavoring agents. Since essential oils are not regulated in the same way as drugs, it is difficult to ascertain that the quality, or even the amount, of essential oil contained in the bottle is the same as that stated on the label. Purity and quality depend on several factors, including cultivation conditions, distillation methods, manufacture, and storage. Therapeutic grade essential oils are not cheap. To make them more affordable, synthetic components are often manufactured, increasing the risk of toxicity or allergic reactions.
Aromatherapy has been used for centuries, yet there is little published research on the subject. However, a number of researchers have recently obtained FDA approval to conduct research on the therapeutic use of essential oils, and in Europe, Australia, Japan, India, and Canada several such studies are presently being conducted.
There are many more alternative medicine systems. Those who use them and believe in them also take them seriously. In most cultures that use alternative systems of medicine, there is a designated 'learned person' or physician to whom people go for treatment. In the West, surprisingly, people who opt to adopt an alternative system of medicine, who profess to believe in this system's power of healing, also seem not to take it seriously. In many western minds, the use of an alternative system of medicine seems to cancel the need for caution or knowledge and open the way to carelessness and self-medication.