Holistic Practitioner: Heal Your Body, Mind, and Spirit

Most people are not aware of what a holistic practitioner is, even though they may be dealing with chronic pain or anxiety.

The problem with finding a holistic practitioner is that there's no prominent place to start looking for one. There are also many different types of practitioners, which makes it confusing.

This article will guide you through finding and working with a holistic healer so that you can get back on track to living your best life!

It includes information about how holistic healers work, things to look out for when choosing one, and much more.

What does holistic health mean?

Holistic health is a strategy for maintaining good overall health by focusing on the spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical aspects of wellbeing. It's the idea that we are all interconnected with each other and our environment, so staying healthy involves more than just looking after the whole body.

A holistic healer might treat you by using a range of different methods such as counseling, nutrition advice, or acupuncture to help you reach equilibrium in every area of life.

What does it mean to be a holistic practitioner?

Holistic health practitioners are people trained in the natural sciences who can use their skills and knowledge to assess the root causes of a person's problem.

Holistic practitioners may be medical doctors, nurses, psychologists, or other healthcare professionals interested in using holistic practices as part of treatment for patients.

Some common treatments include acupuncture (traditional Chinese medicine), herbal medicine, homeopathy, naturopathy (healing by natural means), and massage therapy.

Some holistic health practitioners might help people without any medical training at all. For example, they may have a deep understanding of the human body as a related entity with spiritual or energetic components but aren't licensed to diagnose and prescribe.

Some people may think that a person can be "holistic" if they eat healthy food or get lots of exercise. But, unfortunately, that's not the case! Being a holistic person means considering the whole human being - mind, body, spirit - to heal an ailment.

How do you become a holistic health practitioner?

You can become a holistic health practitioner by going to school for alternative medicine, massage therapy, or any of the other types.

Suppose you're not interested in becoming an actual licensed holistic healthcare provider. In that case, you might be able to find one who offers wellness services such as yoga classes, tai chi classes, and healthy cooking demonstrations.

For those of you looking for a practitioner specializing in meditation or medical qigong exercises, your options will be more limited.

However, with the increase in telehealth, searching for a more niche holistic health practitioner is getting more accessible than ever.

How long does it take to become a holistic practitioner?

Great question! It's very different depending on what type of holistic practitioner you want to be, as well as the time and money you're willing to commit in your pursuit.

A massage therapist can take 500 hours of training before they are qualified for their license.

An herbalist needs about 400 hours of training.

A chiropractor needs about four years of going to Doctor of Chiropractor school and an undergraduate degree.

However, if you wanted to be a holistic health practitioner outside of the medical field, you could get certified in a much shorter time frame. For instance, you could get a Tai Chi certification in about 100-200 hours, depending on your chosen program.

So the amount of time it will take for you to become a certified holistic health practitioner will vary depending on the type of wellness program you specialize in.

What is the difference between a naturopathic doctor and a holistic doctor?

A holistic doctor is someone who has taken a pre-med program and gone on to study the integration of conventional medical practice with alternative, preventive health care.

Holistic health measures would include things like massage therapy, acupuncture, or even mind-body medicine.

A naturopathic physician is someone who studies naturopathy in an accredited four-year graduate school program. They learn things such as traditional medicine, alternative medicine (like traditional Chinese medicine), homeopathy, nutrition, dietary counseling, and more.

A holistic healthcare doctor may not always be a licensed physician, and it's crucial to seek credentials when looking for a doctor.

Is a holistic doctor a real doctor?

As stated previously, a holistic doctor may not always be a licensed physician.

However, they can also be an herbalist or someone who practices holistic remedies and treatments in general.

 For this reason, it's important to ask for credentials when looking for one so you know if their practice includes things like western medicine as well.

What is an Osteopath?

An Osteopathic doctor is a medical doctor specializing in treating musculoskeletal conditions that affect the body's structural system. This includes joints, muscles, and bones. These doctors are also known as DOs.

They take on a whole-person health and wellness approach and believe that the body has an innate ability to heal itself, called self-healing or homeostasis.

They believe in diagnosing and treating a person as a whole instead of just focusing on one individual part of your health, such as your lungs, for example. In addition, they focus on prevention by teaching you how to strengthen your immune system and prevent future illness.

This doctor uses both conventional and holistic health treatments to provide the best possible health care for their patients. They work with physical therapists, acupuncturists, chiropractors, naturopathic doctors, and other holistic health practitioners to find a tailored solution to your needs.

How do you choose holistic health practitioners?

When you're looking for a holistic practitioner, it's important to find someone who fits your needs and approaches their work from an in-depth perspective.

Consider when they were trained, what types of treatments they offer (including if they can prescribe pharmaceuticals), how well-versed they are on nutrition/dietary counseling, and their empathy for you as a patient.

A holistic health practitioner should be compassionate towards their patients and address the physical, mental and spiritual needs.

What is alternative medicine?

Alternative medicine is an umbrella term for any practice that doesn't fit into the conventional definition of western medicine.

Holistic medicine includes practices like acupuncture, meditation, aromatherapy, and holistic health treatments, which encompass anything from herbalism to naturopathic medicine.

What exactly is herbalism?

Herbalism creates holistic medicine from plants, plant extracts, or certain minerals to treat health conditions. The use of holistic herbs can be traced back to ancient civilizations and has been used by people worldwide for thousands of years.

What exactly is homeopathy?

Homeopathy is a holistic healthcare method of treating and preventing illnesses using minimal amounts of substances. When used correctly, homeopathic remedies can give you relief from both acute and chronic symptoms.

What exactly is Ayurvedic Medicine?

Ayurveda is a holistic healthcare system that came from India and has been used for more than three thousand years to promote physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional wellbeing.

The health of the individual is determined by their constitution or dosha, which includes Vata (air), pitta (fire), and Kapha (water). The goal of Ayurveda is to keep the three doshas in a balanced state so that an individual can experience physical and emotional wellbeing.

Ayurvedic holistic medicine also includes dietary recommendations for maintaining balance within your dosha constitution and suggestions on how to incorporate exercise into your daily life.

What exactly is Traditional Chinese Medicine?

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a holistic healthcare system that originated in China and has been used for more than five thousand years to promote physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional wellbeing in the whole person.

The individual's health care is determined by their constitution or zang-fu, which includes yin/yang qi, six organs - heart, kidneys, lungs, liver, spleen, and stomach - five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, and water).

TCM healthcare practitioners include acupuncture as a primary tool to address physical pain, including chronic conditions such as arthritis.

What exactly is Naturopathy?

Naturopathic medicine is a holistic health approach that includes natural medicine, diet, and lifestyle advice. This type of medicine can be an alternative or complementary therapy for people with chronic illnesses by supporting the body's natural ability to heal.

The Naturopathic Doctor will work with you one-on-one to find a proper treatment plan for your needs and lifestyle. You may use naturopathic techniques such as herbal remedies, homeopathy, and nutritional supplements to promote health and wellness.

A naturopathic holistic health practitioner can also work with other healthcare practitioners in your areas, such as a conventional medical doctor or physical therapist. In addition, a Naturopath will often recommend lifestyle changes, including diet and exercise, for lasting change.

Conclusion

What type of success have you had with holistic practices and natural remedies? What was the result of your efforts, or how did it make a difference for you. Let us know in the comments below!