{"id":1793,"date":"2021-04-14T13:58:00","date_gmt":"2021-04-14T17:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.therecoveryvillage.com\/?page_id=1793"},"modified":"2022-05-03T02:41:55","modified_gmt":"2022-05-03T06:41:55","slug":"holistic-therapy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.therecoveryvillage.com\/treatment-program\/addiction-therapies\/holistic-therapy\/","title":{"rendered":"Holistic Therapy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Learn about the history, benefits and types of holistic and alternative therapies as well as how they\u2019re used.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Holistic therapy and alternative therapy have become increasingly popular in mainstream medicine over the last 30 to 40 years. As demand for these services has skyrocketed, many treatment centers and facilities have begun providing holistic therapies and staff who are trained in integrative health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is Holistic Therapy?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Despite its many names, integrative health, complementary medicine, alternative medicine and holistic medicine all describe similar services. So what is holistic therapy?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Holistic therapy refers to the treatment of a person\u2019s health with regards to their mind, body, spirit and emotional state. Holistic therapy may include non-medicinal treatment methods. It often aims to deliver optimal health by using natural or culturally sanctioned remedies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Physical, spiritual or emotional imbalances can cause disruptions in a person\u2019s overall health. Holistic remedies seek to achieve or restore balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Principles of Holistic Medicine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Holistic medicine is a practice centered around the belief that wellness depends on the whole person<\/a>. Practitioners of holistic medicine believe that positive changes require high self esteem and that people have the power to heal themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Holistic medicine asks participants to become self-sufficient and self-reliant, but also to know when to ask for help. This help should use a team approach that involves active listening from a therapist or practitioner. Staying connected to others is important and helps create a sense of grounding. The practice also asks people to be forgiving of themselves and to not expect perfection. One of the most critical principles of holistic medicine is this: Holistic practice asks participants to live life consciously rather than on autopilot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Complementary vs. Alternative Therapy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Though they sound interchangeable, complementary and alternative therapy describe two different approaches to treatment. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, the most important distinction<\/a> between complementary and alternative therapies is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n