Is Holistic Healing a Good Option for You?

As Tejas took the crowded yellow line from Green Park Station to M.G. Road, he was doubting his decision of consulting a holistic practitioner. Amit had been recommended to him (with glowing references) by a friend. “He really helped my college professor. You should go meet him at least once. I mean, what’s the harm?”

About a year and a half ago, Tejas had hit rock bottom with his health. Plagued with chronic migraines, a torn meniscus, depression, and crippling anxiety, he had tried various forms of treatment but with little success. Now he’d written off ever being free of those dreadful prescription pills or being able to take a morning jog around Deer Park—the one thing he’d enjoyed doing so much.

Tejas walked up the shallow oaken steps to Amit's clinic and continued to wonder if this guy could really help him. When all else had failed? Then again, Tejas was desperate. He was ready to try anything at this point.

Sitting in one of the peaceful patient rooms at the clinic, Tejas looked at the person sitting across from him. Amit didn’t fit his image of a holistic practitioner. Truth be told, he looked quite… normal. Amit smiled encouragingly at him. Continuing his explanation of the process he followed, he said, “Tejas, we don’t just treat symptoms here. We focus on the underlying problems to get to the root of the issue. And we use all forms of healing practices, both conventional and unconventional, that keep your overall well-being in mind.”

Half an hour later, Tejas was lying down on the exam bed watching Amit place two-inch long glass vials labeled with various minerals on his stomach. His right arm was raised, and Amit started tapping it, almost like he was tuning a musical instrument. Next came the pins—fast and precise—landing between the bridge of his nose and forehead, in his temples, arms, shoulders, stomach, and parts of his legs. Finally, he draped a blanket over Tejas' body to keep the heat in before dimming the lights and leaving the room.

As Tejas stared up at the ceiling, he felt the calming music free his mind and flow through his body. His limbs started tingling, and his breath steadied as he dozed off, feeling the most comfortable he had ever felt. That was when he knew; he was onto the start of something remarkable.

Two and a half years later...

Tejas has been off his medication for over a year. Last weekend, he jogged all around Deer Park like he had the wind beneath his feet. He practiced yoga several times a week, slept better, and had a much better diet. He also dealt with his anxiety and depression in a completely different way now; a wonderfully unexpected outcome from his sessions with Amit. And although he still experienced bouts of anxiety at times when things in his personal and professional life became overwhelming, he was generally happier and more at ease than he'd ever been.

The Growing Popularity of Holistic Healing

In recent years, holistic healing practices have grown in popularity, mostly because people are simply not satisfied with standard medical practices. Doctors and nurses usually do not have the time to give personalized attention to their patients, often making the latter feel unsure and nervous about the treatment. People also turn to holistic healing when the effects associated with their conventional treatments become too hard to endure.

Compared to this, holistic practitioners dedicate substantial amounts of time listening to their patients, thus making them feel safe and included in the treatment process. They take a ‘holistic’ approach and treat the whole person rather than the disease.

In plain-speak, when you pay a visit to a holistic practitioner for a migraine headache, you won't walk out the door with just a prescription slip. The practitioner will also consider other aspects of your life that may be causing your headaches, like stress and personal problems, diet and sleep habits, and other health problems. Your treatment plan may involve conventional medicine to ease the symptoms, but it will also include other non-conventional healing practices like acupuncture, massage, aromatherapy, and even lifestyle modifications to prevent the headaches from reoccurring.

Like many things, holistic healing may or may not suit everyone, especially if the individual is suffering from chronic illnesses. However, the best way to go about it is to first consult your physician/medical specialist and include holistic practices that do not affect the overall treatment regime.

At the end of the day, the choice is yours to make. But before you come to a decision, arm yourself with information—lots of it. This will help you understand whether it's the right option for you and, if it is, what to expect from it beforehand. Finally, if a treatment doesn’t feel right or comfortable, always speak up. It’s your body, and you have the right to be in control of what happens to it.