Holistic primary care is a different way of looking at health and wellness. A holistic practitioner sees the patient as a whole person, not just a collection of symptoms or body parts. The caregiver considers everything that affects your mind, body and spirit. This means that practitioners look at the patient as an individual with physical, mental and spiritual needs.
They consider everything from chronic diseases to genetic predispositions to social factors like income and relationships.
Holistic primary care
Holistic primary care is based on the belief that health and wellness are affected by more than just our physical bodies. Holistic practitioners believe that there is an interconnectedness between all living things and focus on treating the whole person rather than just their symptoms or disease.
Holistic practitioners believe that the body has an innate ability to heal itself when given the proper tools to do so. They also believe that everyone has an innate wisdom about their health needs and that it’s important for patients to be active participants in their own care.
The holistic approach can be used with any medical condition or ailment. However, it’s especially effective for treating chronic conditions such as diabetes and cancer because it helps patients manage stress levels, maintain healthy eating habits and incorporate exercise into their daily lives — all of which are key components in preventing future illnesses and maintaining good health after being diagnosed with a condition such as diabetes or cancer.
Principles of holistic primary care
The principles of holistic primary care are:
Humans have innate healing powers
Inherent in every human being is the ability to heal themselves. As a primary care provider, it is your job to help your patients access this power by providing them with the tools, resources and encouragement they need to achieve wellness.
Health is not simply the absence of disease or symptomology
You must focus on treating symptoms and addressing the underlying causes to restore the health of your patients fully. A holistic approach to medicine includes an understanding that health encompasses more than just physical well-being — it also encompasses emotional, spiritual, social and environmental aspects of life. While it’s important to treat patients’ physical problems first — because if you don’t, they won’t be able to make progress toward their other goals, you must also address these other areas so that patients can reach their full potential as human beings and thrive in all areas of life.
A patient is a person, not a disease
In conventional medicine, doctors treat specific diseases with drugs or surgery. Holistic primary care physicians treat their patients as whole people, not just their symptoms or diseases. They don’t simply write prescriptions for medications. They consider all aspects of their patient’s life, including diet and exercise, when helping them maintain good health.
Patient-practitioner partnership
Practitioners work together with patients to identify their goals for wellness, develop plans for achieving those goals and offer continuing support throughout the treatment processes.
Patients are active participants in their health and well-being, while practitioners provide information and support to help them make informed choices.
Caregiving at a deeper level
A holistic approach to primary care means that a caregiver sees the patient in the context of their entire life, including family and community.
Caregivers think about all these things when treating a patient. They consider their entire life — work, family relationships and other activities — and any social issues affecting their health, such as racism or discrimination.
An online family nurse practitioner program, especially a Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner, includes courses that teach students to prioritize patient-centered approaches. An online course such as the program offered by Texas Woman’s University, provides an excellent way to improve leadership skills and further your knowledge of advanced medical topics.
The role of social factors
Holistic primary care considers anything that affects health. This includes physical factors like genetic predisposition and chronic disease and social factors such as income, relationships and stress.
Wellness as a central concept
Wellness is a central concept in holistic primary care. Patients and practitioners work together to create a well-rounded plan for improved overall health. If a patient is already ill, the goal of treatment is not just to cure the illness but to improve the quality of life by addressing all relevant factors.
The practitioner will also provide preventive services such as routine physicals and immunizations that keep patients healthy when they’re at their best.
Conclusion
Holistic primary care is a patient-centered approach to healthcare that addresses the whole person, not just their physical symptoms. It takes into account each individual’s mind and body needs as well as the person’s family, culture and community.
Unlike traditional medicine, which treats sickness with prescription drugs or surgery, holistic care also focuses on the body’s innate ability to heal. Holistic health practitioners use a variety of treatments such as nutrition, exercise and herbs, in addition to conventional techniques, including medications and surgery.
