In recent years holistic/natural health care has been gaining a lot more attention and it is understandable as to why. Conventional medicine is great and there is a time and place for that, however more people are turning to a more holistic approach for their health care.
There are now more professionals available in the holistic/natural health industry than a few years ago. Personally, for years I had never even known about Naturopathic doctors, Functional medicine doctors or even a Natural health consultant. That was until I started doing research on my autoimmune conditions because I was not satisfied with the answers the Rheumatologists gave me.
I have heard countless of doctors say that during their training they are drilled with the symptoms of conditions and illnesses and what prescription medications need to be given for those conditions, and most of them maybe have one semester of nutrition education. That is why many doctors go into specific specialties. It is wonderful to have specialists, because like I said we also need conventional medications and treatments, however it usually focuses on the quick fix. Maybe if you are one of the “lucky” ones that go through various testing to find the problem, there are usually very seldom an answer that does not require prescription medication.
This is what makes the holistic/natural health practices so beneficial to our health and wellness. The focus is always to find the root cause of the problem and they teach preventative care through lifestyle changes, nutrition, herbal treatments and more.
For this reason, I think that it is important to educate more people about the holistic/natural health practices that is available and how important preventative care is. I am sure that if more people take a preventative approach to their health, our health care system would catch a breath and not be so overwhelmed with conditions and illnesses that could have been prevented or reversed, and truly leave room for the life-threatening illnesses and emergencies. Honestly in my opinion it would be beneficial if hospitals and walk in clinics would have natural practitioners available.
Below I am adding a list of types of holistic health care practitioners and what they do, perhaps this will encourage you to research and add a Holistic health care practitioner to your health care team.
"Functional medicine doctors use a more holistic approach to treat chronic conditions. This includes taking your lifestyle, genetics, mental health, and environment into account when making a treatment plan. (WebMd)"
"Also known as NDs or naturopathic doctors, naturopaths are healthcare providers who use natural therapies to support and stimulate healing. They offer a wide range of services to people of all ages, including acupuncture, drawing blood, and dispensing and prescribing drugs. (College of Naturopaths Ontario)"
"A natural health consultant is a professional who has extensive knowledge about natural health, herbs, vitamins, minerals, and nutrition. They may also be familiar with additional areas of practice, such as acupuncture or massage therapy, although the consultant may not be trained to perform these procedures. They may also advise on lifestyle modifications or a holistic diet, which may involve teaching clients about using supplements, minerals, or juice therapy to improve their health. Natural health consultants may also refer individuals to licensed practitioners or other health care providers.(Learn.org)"