Holistic Health: 5 Main Principles of Optimising Your Health Level

Holistic health is about much more than going to your physician for treatment of an illness or an injury. Often, holistic healthcare includes spiritual support, counseling for emotional concerns, and stress management tools. Modern medicine often refers to some of the aspects of holistic health as integrative care.

The primary goal of holistic healthcare providers is wellness of body, mind and spirit. Cardiac care for someone struggling with loneliness is more effective with community support for the patient. High blood pressure medication can be effective, but learning to manage your stress effectively is also crucial. 

History of Holistic Healthcare

Holistic healthcare has been in practice for more than 5,000 years. Both Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic health practitioners have long worked to balance and heal the whole person. Modern holistic healthcare practitioners have combined the benefits of western medicine with care for the mind and spirit. A wellness practice is also part of modern holistic health, as is a careful review of daily choices.

5 Main Principles of Holistic Health

Physical

Part of holistic health is making positive choices on your own. Your dietary choices, both for optimum energy and maximum nutrition, can be done with a bit of meal planning and a food journal. While we all know that we need proteins, healthy carbs, fiber, roughage, Vitamins and minerals, every person’s body has a tolerance for what is effective and what is too much. Your food journal can help you track food choices that aren’t working for you.

Monitor the condition of your aging body. It is natural to lose collagen as we age. This may lead to a loss of elasticity and muscle tone. However, if you notice a big change in your strength or flexibility, it’s a good idea to get your HGH levels checked. A sudden drop in HGH could mean a problem with your pituitary or thyroid gland. Properly managed, an HGH prescription can help maintain strength and flexibility. Buy HGH online only from professionals who require bloodwork and from reputable sources. Never take any hormone supplement without a prescription. 

Social

It’s said that we are a combination of the people we spend time with. We are also impacted by the quality of those relationships. If you and your family are constantly feuding, or if you and your partner have lost the joy of communication, you may be a very lonely person in a crowded room.

You may need to boost your social connections with additional activities. If people are pushing your buttons, volunteer at an animal shelter to enjoy connection without the need for talking. Join others in your community for a cleanup of a park or other shared property. Making a difference in the world can be hugely beneficial to you.

Emotional

Emotional stability can be hard to hang onto during times of high stress. Recent world events have put all of us under stress. To enjoy a healthy emotional release, you may be someone who prefers to be alone. Watching a movie that brings you to tears and enjoying a good cry all on your own can be incredibly cathartic.

However, if your thoughts and emotions are constantly negative, you may need to develop a meditation practice to better manage these feelings. Meditation is the process of clearing your mind so you can become aware of what is crossing your mind. Be gentle with yourself as these thoughts come up. Observe the idea or thought and send it on its way. Use a timer and focus on a lit candle to avoid frustration or agitation as you build your meditation habit.

Spiritual

Spiritual care for holistic well-being can be as simple as connecting with your church family or as complex as going on a pilgrimage. There is tremendous power in connecting with others who believe as you do. Religious and spiritual connections are also a wonderful way to honor those who came before you.

Many people in the 21st century have broken away from the religious traditions of their ancestors. This doesn’t mean that they can’t participate in spiritual practices and healing. Major religions express different versions of the Golden Rule, or the do unto others as you would have done unto you instruction.

A simple way to boost spiritual connections is to work from your pain points. If you have suffered 

• hunger, volunteer at a soup kitchen
• cold, learn to make blankets and donate them to warming centers
• isolation, volunteer at a senior center
• disregard, volunteer at a homeless shelter 

Pain points are a great way to determine where to put your limited time and energy. As you care for others, you feed yourself.

Mental

Protecting your mental health from a holistic health standpoint is all about monitoring your input. What news are you watching? What blogs do you read? If you can’t sleep because you think the world is falling apart and all of your viewing and study supports that, your chances of improving your sleep are slim.

In addition to adjusting your input, make sure you are monitoring your self-talk. It’s very easy to take the negativity in the world and turn it in on yourself. The “gotcha” culture seen in social media makes it hard to make a mistake, apologize and move on. Keep a list of your goals for your own well-being and when you make a good choice, put a checkmark next to the item. Celebrate your wins to redirect your thoughts.

Controlling your input is really the key to holistic health. What are you using to feed your body, mind and spirit? If your sense of wellness is out of balance, check your consumption and make an appointment with a trusted practitioner.