For many seniors, it’s no secret that health care costs are rising. However, Western medicine often focuses on repairing what is already broken rather than preventing disease in the first place. This is where holistic medicine can benefit everyone, especially seniors.
Although many avoid mentioning “holistic medicine” as a New Age mysticism, these techniques are scientifically based. Many methods don’t include a profit motive, so you can use them with confidence knowing that they are backed by decades (sometimes centuries) of efficacy rather than a desire to get rich quick. Let’s take a closer look at how holistic medicine can positively impact older adults.
What exactly is holistic medicine?
Those who work in mental health care know better than anyone how the circumstances in a patient’s life can impact their overall health more than any medical treatment. Antidepressant drugs can correct chemical imbalances, but they cannot eliminate poverty. However, traditional therapy sessions can be supplemented by teaching patients holistic techniques that fit their budget.
Holistic medicine evaluates the entire patient, including conditions that add to the disease. It covers the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of health. It treats the symptoms that cause the most pain and the underlying causes that exacerbate the pain, resulting in true healing rather than temporary relief.
For example, a patient who sees a holistic doctor for chronic pain and depression will undergo a lengthy interview. If it turns out they rarely move their bodies or get fresh air, their doctor may recommend seemingly unconventional treatments, such as spending a few afternoons a week in the park.
However, numerous studies show that spending more time outdoors results in the following benefits for people of all ages:
- Prevent obesity: Getting outdoors allows you to move more and combat issues of excess weight and depression that come from feeling uncomfortable with your body.
- Maintain healthy vitamin D levels: Vitamin D affects your immune response and mood.
- Reduce stress, anxiety and ADHD: Gazing at natural landscapes can reduce the production of stress hormones and improve concentration.
While some holistic techniques require a fee, such as professional massage, many are free. You can visit a holistic therapist to develop a plan that works for you. However, you can also build a personalized plan on your own, including a few of the methods listed below that will work for you, without spending a dime on consultation.
10 Holistic Medicines for Seniors
Holistic medicine is not as esoteric as the word sounds. It often involves common-sense life changes to improve overall health and reduce disease risk. Here are ten of the most common variations, although there are too many patterns to fit in one article.
1. Diet
Eating right can have a huge impact on your overall health. If you suspect an allergy may be hiding behind your chronic symptoms, try an elimination diet. While many people suffer from one of the eight major allergies, allergies to certain oils or additives are less well-known and can cause severe symptoms in some people.
Other holistic eating tips work for everyone. For example, reducing consumption of ultra-processed foods and increasing intake of brightly colored vegetables and fruits can benefit anyone. You may not need to make huge changes to experience the benefits. Some rules of thumb that work quickly include:
- Ditch the white color: White sugar and white flour are absorbed quickly and raise your blood sugar before causing a crash. Neither form reduces the risk of diabetes, and type 2 diabetes increases the risk of other chronic diseases, especially in older adults.
- Eat the rainbow: Different plant colors are associated with different phytonutrients, so eat at least three colors at each meal to get everything you need.
- Watch your fat: You need healthy fats like omega-3s. Although some doctors have expressed concern about the high levels of vegetable oils in the American diet, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are generally heart-healthy. Olives and avocados are good choices, and the saturated fat in coconut oil seems to behave differently than the saturated fat in animal products.
2. Exercise
Your body loves to move, but if you don’t use it, you’ll lose this ability as you age. Regular exercise is essential for physical and mental health. The trick is to find a movement you like and personalize it to your taste.
For example, many people find the buddy system effective in helping you stick to your goals. However, introverts who have recently received orders to return to the office may be overstimulated and crave the release that comes with long solo hikes. Try the online quiz to learn about your exercise personality and choose exercises that fit your unique and beautiful body.
3. Acupuncture and acupressure
Acupuncture is an ancient technique. According to Eastern practitioners, it controls the flow of chi, or life energy, through the body. Westerners believe that acupuncture can activate various nerve fibers and thus produce therapeutic effects.
Although the needles used in acupuncture are so thin that most patients can’t feel them, it’s okay if you’re nervous. Shiatsu uses similar pressure points, but without the need for needles if you have a phobia of needles. Although practitioners must be licensed, most treatments cost $150 or less. You don’t need insurance, but your insurance may cover the cost of treatment – call your insurance company to check.
4. Massage
A good therapeutic massage can release muscle knots and relieve stress. While nothing can replace a professional massage, there are some techniques you can master to use on yourself or your partner.
You can also find self-massage equipment. For example, many seniors like to rest on massage recliners. These devices improve your circulation, delivering oxygen-rich blood to where it’s needed, such as overworked muscles that support your spine.
5. Aromatherapy
Many people turn their noses up at aromatherapy, but there is evidence that it actually works. how? It activates odor receptors in your nose, sending messages to your brain, which in turn sends signals to the rest of your body. Studies show it can relieve anxiety and boost immune responses. Best of all, you can buy diffusers for under $20 just about anywhere, and essential oils are only a few bucks a bottle.
6. Herbal medicine
Every medicine on pharmacy shelves comes from nature. While science has isolated certain compounds for medicinal purposes, these substances are found in a variety of herbs and contain other beneficial nutrients that can make them more effective for certain people.
For example, some people with arthritis have found success with turmeric, black pepper, and ashwagandha tea. Black pepper enhances the anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin in turmeric, while ashwagandha acts as an adaptogen to combat the effects of oxidative stress on joints.
7.Yoga
Yoga is a form of exercise that can be practiced by anyone of any age, but it is so much more than that. A combination of deep breathing and gentle movements activates your parasympathetic nervous system. This is a part of the nervous system that helps you relax, but in many older adults it is underactive, leading to disease.
Some forms of yoga you might explore include:
- restorative yoga
- Yin yoga
- Hatha Yoga
- astanga
- hot yoga
- power yoga
- chair yoga
8. Lifelong learning
Many older adults play puzzles to avoid the cognitive decline associated with aging. Anything that gets your brain involved in the game can be holistic medicine if you do it with care and purpose.
For example, if you haven’t practiced French since high school, you can use a language learning app to refresh your French skills. Studies show that learning a second language can delay the onset of dementia.
9. Social activities
Loneliness plagues many older adults and can increase their risk of dying from almost any disease. You may not think of socializing as holistic medicine, but it is. Humans have an innate need for connection with others, and isolation can have detrimental effects on mental health.
Older people can be isolated, especially when friends and partners die. They can maintain an active social life by:
- class in library
- Volunteer service
- Participate in local politics
10. Biological feedback
Professional biofeedback treatments can cost a lot of money, but the technology is all around you. The world of wearable devices is vast, and many of them let you download heart rate variability (HRV) training apps. Consider using one of these tools along with other lifestyle changes to get real results on how they impact your overall health.
The positive impact of holistic medicine on older adults
Holistic medicine treats the whole patient, including lifestyle factors that influence the development of the disease. They can be prevented and treated, and provide the opportunity for true cure rather than temporary relief of symptoms.
Best of all, many holistic techniques are free, making them perfect complementary therapies for physical or mental conditions. They are suitable for people of any age, but are especially beneficial for seniors who want to enjoy a better quality of life in their golden years.
