How to Take a Holistic Approach to Health

So much of American medicine focuses on treating the illness, rather than the whole person. Oftentimes, it seems easier to throw medicine at a cough or a cold, without exploring further to make sure the cough isn't a result of a chronic post-nasal drip because of allergy or sinus issues. If you're tired of treating symptoms to make a condition better, rather than treating the condition as part of your whole body, you're not alone. The latest data from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) shows 4 of 10 adults and 1 in nine children are using some form of complementary medicine. This is not to say you should ditch all your prescription medications in favor of homeopathic remedies -- in fact, that's the last thing I'm advocating -- but rather to encourage you to take a look at the bigger picture, and how everything fits together using complementary medicine. Consider the Snowball Effect It's no surprise that after you spend days limping because you hurt your ankle, your other foot may start to hurt. It's picking up the slack and carrying all of the weight, instead of just its usual half share. When one thing goes wrong in the body, it makes it easier for other things to happen, too. Stress and weather patterns may trigger a fibromyalgia or arthritis flare-up that leaves you nearly bedridden for days. The stress of not being able to carry out your normal daily duties, or the guilt you feel for being a burden on someone else may contribute to ...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news