What is a Holistic Healer?

A holistic healer is a practitioner of a type of alternative medicine that seeks to alleviate pain and suffering by addressing the physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional condition of the patient. The practice of holistic medicine often combines ideologies and methods that are found with other healing disciplines, including the use of energy healing by way of channeling energy to unblock any obstacles to the flow of energy or life force through the body. Natural materials are sometimes used in the treatments, including healing crystals or healing gemstones.

When attempting to diagnose the underlying causes for the patient’s distress, a holistic healer will methodically consider each area or aspect of the individual that may be in a state of chaos. Questions regarding diet, exercise, and sleep patterns are often part of this investigative phase. In addition, the healer will consider the mental and emotional state of the patient, especially if there is some indication of stress, grief, anxiety, or depression. Seeking to engage the spiritual side of the patient to determine if issues there may be leading to physical or emotional stress that manifests as pain of any type is also important to the process.

Once a holistic healer identifies the possible causes for the patient’s discomfort, various types of treatments may be used to begin to alleviate the pain. Often, this means using a combination of techniques that help to restore a proper balance between body, mind, and spirit. This is believed to aid the body’s natural healing processes and expedite the patient’s recovery. For example, the healer may utilize energy healing along with aromatherapy to calm the patient’s distress and begin to ease mental and emotional strains. At the same time, the healer may help the patient make changes in lifestyle that include dietary changes, using herbs or other natural supplements to promote restful sleep, and engaging in a certain amount of exercise each day.

As with many types of alternative medicine, practitioners of holistic medicine are often self-taught or spend some amount of time as an apprentice of an experienced healer. Some healers specialize in certain types of ailments, while others focus on a wide range of complaints. When considering the services of any type of holistic healer, take the time to learn what type of training and credentials the healer possesses, and find out what type of reputation the healer has in the local community. Doing so increases the chances of working with a holistic healer that is considered honest, knowledgeable, and extends a sense of caring to his or her patients.