When you hear the word “holistic,” there may be a few things that come to mind. Holistic, derived from the Greek word “holos,” or “whole,” means viewing something entirely rather than in segments. A holistic approach to problem-solving may mean taking a step back to look at the bigger picture instead of just focusing on the issue at hand. A holistic review of a college application requires educators to look at the entire profile, including test scores, extracurricular activities, and experiences.
In the health world, a holistic healing approach treats the entire person rather than specific symptoms. For those recovering from addiction, a holistic health doctor or trained practitioner will want to know different aspects of a person before coming up with a specific treatment program.
What Is a Holistic Healing Approach?
A holistic healing approach to recovery takes the full body into consideration. It focuses on the mind, body, and spirit to address the underlying cause of why the addiction may have happened in the first place. This may include unlocking childhood trauma, getting to the root of mental health disorders, and figuring out what is leading to chronic stress.
Holistic healing is often called whole-person healing. Instead of focusing on the absence of drugs or alcohol, practitioners will provide a treatment plan tailored to physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual healing. Practitioners will likely bring in different modalities, such as yoga, meditation, herbalism, and energy work. Together, these different practices can help unravel what is really going on with the individual, rather than working from a surface level.
Through this approach, patients are empowered to take a proactive role in their recovery. It requires them to do some inner work, focusing on themselves to eventually treat foundational issues. As opposed to masking symptoms and moving on, the ultimate goal is lifetime wellness. Different coping mechanisms and lifestyle adjustments will be addressed during the work, practical habits that patients can take with them beyond the recovery journey. Holistic healing can bring up a lot of emotions, which is why working with a professional therapist or practitioner is needed.
Traditional Holistic Healing Models
Traditional holistic healing models combine mind-body practices, nutritional therapies, and spiritual expression.
Mind-Body Practices
One of the most widely recognized and practiced mind-body techniques is yoga. The combination of gentle movement and breathwork is known to promote relaxation, emotional regulation, and stress reduction. Yoga is used frequently in Ayurvedic teachings, one of the oldest holistic medical systems originating from India. Other examples of mind-body practices include Tai chi, Qigong, breathing exercises, and meditation.
Nutritional Therapies
A healthy body begins with good nutrition. Practitioners will often include nutrition in their practice because it can support the body’s ability to heal, especially during rehab for substance abuse. Proper nutrition can repair damage and help with mood regulation. Focusing on a whole foods diet full of lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats can be a supportive addition to a recovery journey.
Spiritual Expressions
During recovery, some patients may lean on their faith and other spiritual work. Spiritual counseling involves finding a new sense of purpose, revealing an individual’s values and key beliefs. Meditation and prayer are two commonly used examples of spiritual expressions, but others may include talk circles, smudging, and sweat lodge ceremonies. For many, spiritual practices can be extremely meaningful and lead to sustained outcomes beyond those experienced during the initial recovery journey.
New Holistic Healing Models
While the traditional holistic models are still commonly used, advancements in technology have led to the creation of newer models, including digital therapeutics, microbiome mapping, and integrative medicine.
Digital Therapeutics
The rise of software-based apps, wearable devices, and other connected technology tools has led to a more personalized approach to holistic healing. These platforms can help practitioners from various perspectives. They can lead to around-the-clock monitoring, giving insights to practitioners regardless of where the patient is physically located. They can also help with reinforcement, sending messages to patients to help them stay on the path. Additionally, they can check different health metrics, such as heart rate, to ensure a safe, effective recovery process.
Microbiome Mapping
Increasingly, research is pointing to the gut (or microbiome) as the epicenter of wellness. New microbiome maps and tests can predict the presence of pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and even parasites. With this information, holistic healers can develop treatment plans that address the root cause of disruption, which may have contributed to substance abuse. This evidence-based approach can lead to better treatments and lifestyle changes, such as dietary supplements and herbal remedies to promote healing from within.
Integrative Medicine
With this new technology, many holistic health practitioners are using an integrative medicine approach, which focuses on patient-centered treatments. By combining the traditional holistic practices with newer technology findings and research-based discoveries, practitioners can come up with a plan that is specific to the patient’s healing process. This may look like prescribing anxiety medications along with herbal remedies for gut health, while also creating a nutrition plan. With this, patients will likely experience a 360 approach to their recovery, one that is based on numerous holistic health modalities.
Conclusion
A holistic health approach can be advantageous to someone recovering from addiction. By going beyond the symptoms and looking at their physical, mental, and spiritual health, practitioners can address the root causes that may have led to their addictive habits in the first place. New technology is advancing just how holistic health can be conducted, leaning on new technology and wearable devices.
Spencer Hulse is the Editorial Director at Grit Daily. He is responsible for overseeing other editors and writers, day-to-day operations, and covering breaking news.
