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Tiger
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Tiger
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Ok, no one LAUGH - but please tell me the difference between "holistic", "alternative" and "natural" health?

It is sad, but I had the impression they were all the same - no prescription drugs......

With them being on this forum as separate forums, I thought I would ask?

Thank you smile

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Angela,

I think this is a very good question! I see that no-one has yet weighed in with an answer, and I'm not surprised. There is a big overlap between these three descriptions - I think you could even say that they mean pretty much the same thing.

If I were forced to differentiate between them, I would say that Natural Health is mostly to do with organic living, with an emphasis on preventing disease through a healthy lifestyle.

Alternative Health is also about healthy living, with an emphasis on avoiding mainstream medicine wherever possible and seeking to prevent and treat disease by other means, such as homeopathy and other therapies.

Holistic Health also encompasses - you guessed it - a healthy lifestyle, and puts its emphasis on the interaction and interdependence of the body, mind and spirit; seeking to maintain health by striking a balance between the three aspects of the whole self.

My own view is that all of these lifestyle descriptions have the same goal - good health - and that within each there will be those who embrace the approach wholeheartedly and those who do the best they can without stressing about it. I belong to the latter group!

Whether or not to go with prescription medications is an individual choice, whatever your lifestyle. I would go for a natural remedy as my first port of call if I were unwell, but I would not hesitate to see the doctor and take medication if I felt I needed to. A natural life is fine, but antibiotics and effective pain relief are good too, when you need them.

This is just my personal opinion; I'm sure someone can clarify things much better than I have! Please come in and offer your views.

Grace


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I believe that the world is waking up to alternative medicine. I think that the term holistic simply refers to the whole being-mind-body-spirit because it takes the whole being to respond effectively and accomplish a total healing. Natural, I believe, just means without the use of unnatural or man made drugs. With a shortage of doctors, the possible horrific side effects of drugs and their effectiveness, natural cures and healthy living are becoming the norm in many families and it is about time!!!!!

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Tiger
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Thanks to both of you for the response smile

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Jellyfish
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I never cared for the term "holistic health" being that its root is Holy and brings a conotaation I think not helpful.

I prefer the word "wholistic Health" and it is what you see more in literature to infer encompassing the whole mind, body, spirit complex.

Alternative health is not necessarily natural health. It is what ever resides outside of conventional, AMA, state and pharmaceuticl condoned practice. Many therapies in alternative are not natural

Natural health could be a sub category of Alternative health.. natural health encompasses all medicines from a living source or that connects one to the living source, such as organics, vitamins, homepathy, diet, fasting, massage, meditation, yoga, water, air , light and has traditionally been within the realms of Naturopathic medicine.. traditionally I say. Naturopathic medicine is not all natural these days either and generally fits better under Alternative Health. Many naturopathic doctors are trained to and do prescribe drugs.

Last edited by Arrow - Stomach Issues; 12/13/10 04:25 PM.

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Grace, You explained the differentiation perfectly!!! I've tried to explain these differences in the past and you did a great job!

Last edited by StacyPhD; 12/28/10 04:04 PM.
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Thank you StacyPhD, I appreciate that! I wasn't at all sure that I'd explained the differences properly, so it's good to know you agree.

Grace



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Amoeba
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Wow, thank you for the great explanation. I am very pro holistic or "wholistic", natural, and alternative medicine; But it will be nice to have a grip on when to use which word. Thanks!


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