Holistic Healthcare Systems

There are “systems” of healthcare which are considered complete in themselves and which at one time or another, in one place or another, have been used as primary medical care. They are considered alternative medical systems. The following two systems are comprehensive sources from which many western practices are derived.

Ayurvedic Medicine – or Ayurveda, is native to India and has been practiced for over 5,000 years. The theory considers the imbalances of stress, lifestyle, the physiology of the doshas, toxins, and social strife, which combine to cause disease. Ascertaining the dominance of the three doshas determines the specific interventions. Diet, sleeping, breathing, physical exercise, and postures are individualized and prescribed for dysfunction. Yoga is the movement system of postures designed to improve physiology and consciousness. Physical therapy includes herbal oils, heat, and therapies to cleanse the bowels. Meditation, including collective meditation, and herbal prescriptions are also used. Deepak Chopra, M.D., endocrinologist, and author, has sparked renewed interest among westerners in the mind-body approach known as Maharishi Ayurveda.

Traditional Oriental Medicine – including Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) began spreading throughout Asian countries about 2500 years ago. It is strongly influenced by the metaphysics of Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism, and has evolved into a sophisticated system of practices including acupuncture, Chinese herbs, qui gong (or chi kung), oriental massage, acupressure, cupping and moxibustion, and nutrition and diet. Over 1/4 of the world’s population rely on this form of health care. Oriental medicine considers the balance of "chi," or life energy, in diagnosing and treating disharmonies, embodied in the dichotomy of yin and yang. Meridians activate or disperse chi, and are found on the body surface as well as the organs. Professional focus in the U.S. has been on the development of acupuncture and herbal medicine, accompanied in most states by licensure.

The following systems are comparatively newer in origin.

Chiropractic – is considered to be primarily a manual healing method. Daniel David Palmer established the first School of Chiropractic ("chiropractic" = "done by hand") in the late 1800’s in Iowa. The theory of chiropractic is that "subluxation" or slippage in the alignment of the spine, and thus the integrity of the nerves exiting between the vertebrae, is correlated with pain, muscular dysfunction, and perhaps other ailments. Chiropractors perform "adjustments" for these problems by (rapid) thrusting and manipulation of the spine; and modern practitioners typically instruct in diet, lifestyle changes and exercises. The chiropractor (Doctor of Chiropractic, or D.C.) is licensed by the state. The professional research publication is The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics

Homeopathy – or homeopathic medicine, was developed by the famous German physician Hahnemann in the late 1700’s. It is based on his theory of similars, that "like cures like." In practice, a substance that causes specific symptoms in a healthy person will cure those symptoms in someone who is ill. Homeopathic remedies are most effective if individualized for each person, since considerations of mood, pain location, thirst, body type, genetic history, and other factors figure into dosage and formulation. Active ingredients typically work best when highly diluted, an aspect that is still not well understood. Homeopathy is practiced worldwide by physicians, and even those who do not practice it freely refer their patients to homeopaths. Homeopathy was widely practiced in the U.S. at the end of the 19th century, but declined as western medicine became organized and better funded. Homeopaths are licensed in three states at this time (not in MA).

Naturopathy – The Doctor of Naturopathy (N.D.), or naturopath, integrates traditional therapies including homeopathy, acupuncture, oriental medicine, herbal remedies, and manipulative therapies with scientific diagnostics and care. Naturopaths, or "eclectic" physicians, represented the dominant health care system in the U.S. in 1900 and were licensed in most states. Several physicians emphasizing natural therapeutics founded naturopathy in the late 1800’s in the U.S.. Today licensing exists in seven states, and most others have some legal provision for practice. The discipline is popular in other countries, particularly those of Europe, India, and China. Good research in the use of botanicals, nutrition, and women’s health has been published in the professional journal, the Journal of Naturopathic Medicine, the official journal of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians.

Osteopathy – is the oldest system of U.S. origin, developed by Dr. Andrew Still in Missouri in the 1870’s. The original emphasis was on the relationship of structure to function as it applied to surgical and obstetrical practices. Historically, manual methods have been the cornerstone of osteopathy, and many osteopathic techniques have been applied by other medical specialists and complementary practitioners. Included in this list of techniques are fascial and myofascial release, visceral manipulation, craniosacral techniques, lymphatic techniques, muscle energy or post-isometric relaxation concepts, strain and counterstrain, and fascial unwinding. Although these techniques are mainstream for the modern Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.), many physicians do not practice the manual therapies, possibly because insurance companies do not consider them an appropriate, reimbursable skill for a physician. Thus many D.O.s practice on an equal footing with M.D.s and are involved in all aspects of allopathic medicine, separated perhaps only by philosophy.