The word holistic must be one of today’s most misused words. We frequently hear people make statements such as “I have a holistic doctor”, which is presumably intended to mean a doctor who is open to the use of natural medicines such as herbs as an alternative to prescription drugs. In fact, the term is frequently used to refer to naturopathy, homeopathy, herbalism, acupuncture, reflexology or any other form of alternative medical practice.

To appreciate the true meaning of the word holistic we need to look no further than the Ayurvedic approach to healthcare. Ayurveda recognizes that the same illness will have a different set of contributory factors from one person to the next. It is for this reason that in an initial Ayurvedic consultation the practitioner will go to great lengths to explore all aspects of the patient, not merely physical factors including all body systems but also any emotional, social, economic or environmental issues which might have played a part in creating an imbalance in the patient. Diet and daily routines figure prominently in the assessment. The more information that the practitioner can acquire at this time the more able he will be to draw up an effective regime for the individual.

This approach differs greatly from the mainstream trend of giving the same medicine to every person with the same set of symptoms. Taking menopause as an example, regardless of their individual differences women are commonly offered hormone replacement therapy. In contrast, at the YATAN Holistic Ayurvedic Centre, a treatment regime is only drawn up after a doshic assessment. Once a woman’s underlying imbalances are understood it is possible to give personalized advice on diet and exercise, but in the absence of this information, the regime is unlikely to be effective. For example, I have known women to be recommended weight-bearing exercises which in the event that the system is clogged would be liable to do more harm than good. In such cases, I would be more likely to suggest gentle yogic exercises which would cause no harm to the joints.

The Ayurvedic concept of holistic treatment is to treat the whole person. At the YATAN Centre, regardless of what we are treating we take into consideration all aspects of an individual patient, whether physical, mental, or emotional. Armed with this knowledge it is possible not only to customize medicines but also to give highly practical advice on diet, exercise, and lifestyle regimes. Following such a program the patient is bound to feel the benefits in a short time.