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INTRODUCTION

Holistic medicine is a term for a group of different treatments that focus on treating the whole individual and complete systems rather than specific illnesses. The major types of treatments include: herbal medicine, homeopathy, naturopathic medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, ayurvedic medicine, nutritional therapies, stress reduction therapies, and massage. Emphasis is placed on quality nutrition and general health to prevent disease and maintain balance in the body. Aside from only physical health, the mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects are also taken into consideration (Krapp and Longe, 2001). The basis of many holistic therapies originated thousands of years ago in several countries of the Far East, such as India, China, and Japan. Still to this day, these countries use many of their ancient remedies that are just now beginning to gain popularity in the United States.

Although natural therapies have made numerous attempts to gain a foothold in the United States, it has often been discredited and denounced by conventional medicine and medical professionals, yet it was reported that 2.5 million Americans used homeopathic remedies in 1990. So why now are so many Americans turning to this naturalmedicine? People have discovered the utility (Ebadi, 2002). Holistic medicine is much more widely accepted by medical doctors (MDs) than it has been in the past due to the fact that scientific research is now beginning to explain and prove the efficacy of many herbs utilized for different treatments. Centers of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) are being established across the country at top universities, such as Columbia, NYU, Yale, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, and many others. There is also the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM, 2004), which is a government organization that funds research on CAM.

CAM is also becoming more popular in the US because the majority of treatments are non-invasive and have minimal side effects when used properly. Many people are dissatisfied with effectiveness and cost of conventional medicine, and the natural treatments are relatively inexpensive compared to conventional medications (Ebadi, 2002). Insurance companies may cover some different types of treatments when administered by a certified practitioner (Krapp and Longe, 2001). There is now greater appreciation for natural and organic products (Ebadi, 2002).

Depression and anxiety are two mental conditions in the top ten health complications for which herbal medications are most frequently used (Meltzer-Brody, 2001). A study in 2000 at Yale University showed that patients with mental conditions are 25% more likely to turn to CAM than people without such complications (Peart, 2000). Stress is another mental state that greatly decreases the quality of life and has many harmful physiological effects. Stress causes the body to release a hormone called cortisol, which is one of the chemicals responsible for the body’s “fight-or-flight” response. Unfortunately, in America’s present fast paced society cortisol levels are maintained at high levels for long periods of time, which have detrimental effects on the body and reduce the body’s ability to fight off disease. Chronic stress may be a factor in the development of many serious disorders such as high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, obesity, depression, and accelerated aging (Horner – Holy Basil). The United Nations labeled occupational stress as the twentieth century worldwide epidemic (Ahmed, S.H.). Relief from stress as well as other mental health issues is obviously in need of remedy. I will be specifically be focusing on the treatments and therapies for improving mental health and well being.

Questions or Comments, email Dr. Verna Case

This website was created as part of a Davidson College biology course.