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Other common
name(s): holistic health, holistic care, wholistic
health, holism
Scientific/medical
name(s): none
Description
Holistic medicine focuses on how the physical, mental,
emotional, and spiritual elements of the body are interconnected to
maintain wellness, or holistic health. When one part of the body or
mind is not working properly, it is believed to affect the whole
person. Holistic approaches focus on the whole person rather than just
on the illness or part of the body that is not healthy.
Overview
Available scientific evidence does not support claims that
holistic medicine, when used without mainstream or conventional
medicine, is effective in treating cancer or any other disease.
However, many health professionals promote healthy lifestyle habits
such as exercising, eating a nutritious diet, not smoking, and managing
stress as important in maintaining good health. Holistic methods are
becoming more common in mainstream care and may be used as
complementary therapy or preventive care.
In mainstream medicine, a holistic approach generally means a
more inclusive approach to a person's health, one that includes the
patient's social and cultural situation as well as his or her illness.
This term holistic is used by doctors to reflect a focus on a person's
overall health, a focus that includes prevention, rehabilitation, and
other approaches, rather than illness alone. Nurses, for example, may
speak of the "biopsychosocial sphere" of a patient. This means that a
person's health includes the mind, body, and spirit, as well as the
surrounding culture and environment. This can include one's family
situation, housing, employment, insurance, and more, since these all
have an impact on the patient and his or her health. If all these
factors are taken into account when a person is treated for cancer, it
may make treatment easier and improve chances of success.
How is it promoted for use?
Holistic medicine approaches health and disease from several
angles. The approach suggests that a person should treat not only the
illness but the whole self to reach a higher level of wellness. For
example, practitioners may treat cancer by changing diet and behavior
and adding social support groups and counseling. Others may suggest
taking botanical supplements and using complementary therapies, such as
art therapy, hypnosis, imagery, meditation, psychotherapy, spirituality
and prayer, and yoga. These approaches can be used with conventional
medical treatments such as chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy,
and hormone therapy. Combining these different methods can help a
person take control of his or her situation and attain a feeling of
total wellness -- spiritually, physically, and mentally.
Some supporters of holistic medicine claim, however, that
conventional medicine does not work, and that only the holistic
approach to cancer and other diseases is effective. They may offer a
"cure" based on individual stories of success or personal experiences,
which are very hard to prove. Some of the types of cancer that they
claim can be cured by holistic methods include cancers of the bone,
breast, tongue, liver, lung, throat, skin, testicle, prostate, ovary,
uterus, stomach, intestine, colon, brain, pancreas, spleen, kidney, and
bladder, as well as leukemia, lymphoma, and melanoma.
What does it involve?
The field of holistic medicine is very diverse and broad. Some
providers define holistic oncology as including emotional and spiritual
care, while others focus on these aspects to the exclusion of the
physical. There are many different techniques and approaches in
holistic medicine, depending on the practitioner, the person, and the
illness. All, however, stress the use of treatments that encourage the
body's natural healing system and take into account the person as a
whole.
Holistic medicine can involve the use of conventional and
alternative therapies but focuses mostly on lifestyle changes. A
holistic approach to stomach cancer might include reducing sodium
intake, increasing intake of antioxidants through food or vitamins,
eliminating Helicobacter
pylori (a bacteria in the stomach), quitting smoking,
improving oral hygiene, avoiding foods that contain genotoxic agents,
and increasing the amount of vegetables and fruits consumed.
Holistic medicine can also include natural supplements that
cause the same changes as conventional drugs. For instance, synthetic
interferon is currently used to treat some people with cancer. A
holistic approach might be to take high doses of intravenous vitamin C
instead, in an attempt to stimulate the body's production of its own
interferon.
The American Holistic Association says that healthy lifestyle
habits will improve a person's energy and vitality. Those habits might
include exercising, eating a nutritious diet, getting enough sleep,
learning how to breathe properly, taking antioxidants and supplements,
and using acupuncture, acupressure, healing touch, craniosacral
therapy, yoga, qigong, and other methods.
What is the history behind it?
Holistic medicine has its roots in several ancient healing
traditions that stress healthy living and being in harmony with nature.
Socrates promoted a holistic approach. Plato was another advocate of
holism, advising doctors to respect the relationship between mind and
body. Hippocrates emphasized the body's ability to heal itself and
cautioned doctors not to interfere with that process.
It was not until 1926, however, that Jan Christiaan Smuts
coined the term "holism," which gave rise to the more integrated
concept of psychosomatic medicine now known as holistic medicine. In
the 1970s, holistic became a more common term. Today, holistic medicine
is known as an approach to life and health that brings together the
physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of a person in order to create
a total sense of well-being.
What is the evidence?
Although there has been research on various complementary
methods that may be considered part of a holistic approach, scientific
research generally does not focus on holistic medicine by itself as a
cure for cancer or any other disease. Available scientific evidence
does not support the idea that alternative practitioners are more
effective than conventional physicians in persuading their patients to
improve their lifestyle. Nor have available scientific studies shown
that any of these approaches are effective or cost-effective against
any disease if holistic methods are used without conventional medical
treatment.
Some health care professionals suggest that cancer pain and
some side effects of treatment can be managed with a holistic approach
that includes the physical, psychological, and spiritual factors
involved with each person. Increasingly, the health care team comprises
a diverse and varied group of health care professionals. Members of
this team are drawn from the specialties of medicine, nursing, surgery,
radiation therapy, oncology, psychiatry, psychology, and social work.
In addition, the team may call on dietitians, physical therapists, and
the clergy for support. Health professionals realize that a person's
health depends on the balance of physical, psychological, social, and
cultural forces. However, available scientific evidence does not
support claims that holistic medicine alone can cure illness.
Are there any possible problems or
complications?
These
substances may have not been thoroughly tested to find out how they
interact with medicines, foods, or dietary supplements. Even though
some reports of interactions and harmful effects may be published, full
studies of interactions and effects are not often available. Because of
these limitations, any information on ill effects and interactions
below should be considered incomplete.
Adopting healthy habits related to diet, exercise, emotional,
and spiritual well-being is considered important to maintaining good
health. In fact, studies have shown that certain dietary changes and
regular exercise can reduce your risk of some kinds of cancer. However,
relying on healthy habits or holistic measures alone and avoiding or
delaying conventional medical care for cancer may have serious health
consequences.
Additional Resources
More information from your American Cancer
Society
The following information on complementary and alternative
therapies may also be helpful to you. These materials may be found on
our Web site (www.cancer.org)
or ordered from our toll-free number (1-800-ACS-2345).
References
Barrett S. Be wary of “alternative” health
methods. Quackwatch Web site. Accessed
athttp://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/altwary.html on
February 10, 2004. Accessed May 23, 2008.
Cancer and the impact of family history. Network Newsletter.
Spring 2003. The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Web
site. Accessed at
http://www.mdanderson.org/publications/network/display.cfm?id=31d5ee07-ba4e-45c8-8a81c1519793162b&pn=8f5f110c-a318-46ea-8d0bd00e7d3770ed&method=displayfull
on May 23, 2008.
Carson JW, Keefe FJ, Lynch TR, Carson KM, Goli V, Fras AM,
Thorp Sr. Loving-kindness meditation for chronic low back pain: results
from a pilot trial. J
Holist Nurs. 2005;23:287-304.
Curry SJ, Byers T, Hewitt M, eds. National Cancer Policy Board
and the Institute of Medicine National Research Council of the National
Academies. Fulfilling the Potential for Cancer Prevention and Early
Detection. Washington DC: National Academies Press; 2003.
Deming S. Center for Research on Minority Health: working with
the community to end health disparities. OncoLog.
2003;48:4-6.
Hassed C. Cancer and chronic pain. Aust Fam Physician.
1999;28:17-21, 23-24.
Kohara H, Miyauchi T, Suehiro Y, Ueoka H, Takeyama H, Morita
T. Combined modality treatment of aromatherapy, footsoak, and
reflexology relieves fatigue in patients with cancer. J Palliat Med.
2004;7:791-796.
Kushi LH, Byers T, Doyle C, Bandera EV, McCullough M,
McTiernan A, Gansler T, Andrews KS, Thun MJ; American Cancer Society
2006 Nutrition and Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee.
American Cancer Society guidelines on Nutrition and Physical Activity
for cancer prevention: reducing the risk of cancer with healthy food
choices and physical activity. CA
Cancer J Clin. 2006;56:254-281.
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
March 23-24, 1998: AMPAC Meeting Minutes: IX. Public Comments.
Robins JL, McCain NL, Gray DP, Elswick RK Jr, Walter JM,
McDade E. Research on psychoneuroimmunology: tai chi as a stress
management approach for individuals with HIV disease. Appl Nurs Res.
2006;19:2-9.
Note: This information may not cover
all possible claims, uses, actions, precautions, side effects or
interactions. It is not intended as medical advice, and should not be
relied upon as a substitute for consultation with your doctor, who is
familiar with your medical situation.
Last Medical Review: 11/01/2008
Last Revised: 11/01/2008
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