Wonderful World of Holistic Health

*Originally written on 7/5/23 and has been reposted due to updates or technical issues.

Where you were born, how you grew up, and who you spend the most time around likely influences how you treat your symptoms when sick.

What is your go to remedy for a cold?

If you live in certain areas of the United States, you might purchase over-the-counter medicine such as nasal spray or cough syrup to ease your symptoms. If you live in most Asian countries, you might be more likely to reach for items in your pantry and kitchen such as warm broth, cinnamon, ginger, etc..

I am not saying that one way of treating yourself is better than the other. It is however very interesting to look at the different ways people handle the same problem.

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To help clarify these differences, let’s take a look at a few definitions.

Holistic Health: 

An approach to wellness that addresses the physical, mental, social, emotional, and spiritual components of health.

Western Medicine:

A medical system in which healthcare providers/ medical doctors treat patients with drugs, radiation, or surgery. Also referred to as biomedicine, conventional medicine, and orthodox medicine.

Eastern Medicine: 

A medical system that is based on the belief that qi (the body's vital energy) flows along channels in the body and keeps a person’s spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical health in balance. This includes acupuncture, diet, herbal therapy, meditation, physical exercise, and massage. Also referred to as TCM and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Functional medicine: 

A form of biology-based alternative medicine that focuses on identifying the root cause of said disease by encompassing several unproven and disproven methods and treatments.

3 benefits of functional medicine:

1. Highly Personalized

-Functional medicine focuses on the specific individual and treats them accordingly.

2. Science-Based

-Functional medicine relies on the data they collect to determine why a patient is experiencing certain symptoms.

3. Focuses on Root Cause

-A functional medicine practitioner does a deep dive into the patient’s medical history, genetic, biochemical, and lifestyle factors to get a complete picture of what the problem could be and how to treat it.

Definitions continued...

Inflammation:

Stress on your microbiome. Occurs when the body releases chemicals that trigger an immune response to fight off infection or heal tissue that has been damaged.

Why inflammation can occur:

Primary causes of inflammation are lifestyle habits such as high stress jobs and diet choices like high intake of sugar and vegetable oils. Tissue can be damaged by toxins found in daily products we use, pathogens (bacteria/ germs), heat, trauma and so on.

Chronic Inflammation: If symptoms of inflammation have not abated within the year, it is considered chronic. 

*See chart below for symptoms

Of course if you are experiencing these symptoms, you should not jump to the conclusion that you are chronically inflamed. Take a deep breath and consult a medical professional.

With all of that being said, the way in which we approach our health—whether through the lens of Western medicine or Eastern practices—is deeply personal and often influenced by our culture, upbringing, and individual experiences.

I believe that by understanding these different approaches, we are able to make informed decisions about our health. It also provokes respect and empathy for the diverse ways people care for themselves around the world.

So, whether your go-to remedy for a cold is a steaming bowl of ginger tea or a trip to the pharmacy, what matters most is listening to your body.

Thank you for reading!