The Evolving Natural Therapy Landscape and the Holistic Approach
Natural therapies look for the underlying cause of symptoms by considering current physical, mental and emotional states of health and wellbeing. They will work to restore the body’s natural balance, leading to a more sustained and rewarding quality of life. The use of natural therapies has grown over the years and is widely used today alongside conventional medicine.
A study from The School of Health revealed that millions of adults are relying on natural remedies and therapies to maintain a normal healthy lifestyle. One in five Brits are now relying on the Natural Health Service over going to a doctor and receiving medical treatments. 48 per cent prefer to find their own treatment while 21 per cent are taking up natural alternatives such as homeopathy, nutritional therapy, therapeutic massages and herbal tonics.
Mani Norland, Principal at The School of Health, which commissioned the report via OnePoll.com, said: “People feel more empowered to take responsibility for their own health and do their own research, and the survey shows that many choose natural medicines because they feel they are safer, less toxic with little or no side effects”.
The study was conducted in 2018 and it would be interesting to see what those stats would be today. Mental health is also important to consider, in recent years the awareness of addressing mental health has increased significantly, particularly with campaigns such as “Britain get talking” by ITV. Statistics show the importance of addressing this sometimes ‘taboo’ subject. Mind UK reported that in England, 1 in 6 people report experiencing a common mental health problem (such as anxiety and depression) in any given week. Also, 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year.
I wonder how many people link their mental and physical health, or if they are seen and treated separately, as is often seen in conventional methods. According to The King’s Fund, “Physical health problems significantly increase the risk of poor mental health, and vice versa.” This is not surprising at all. “Around 30 per cent of all people with a long-term physical health condition also have a mental health problem, most commonly depression/anxiety.” On the flip side, “People with severe mental illnesses also have significantly higher rates of physical illness – with a dramatic effect on life-expectancy.” Worryingly, “Many of those with diagnosable mental health problems receive no formal treatment, which raises the question of whether current service models are fit for purpose and whether resourcing is adequate.”
Holistic Room has been built to make natural therapies more accessible in the UK, to promote experienced practitioners that can help you achieve your health goals, in addition to promoting a way of treatment that is inclusive of you and your specific needs. The holistic approach to treatment means you won’t get put into a box, or you won’t be seen as “your symptoms”, rather your symptoms will be viewed as a part of what you are experiencing along with any physical and emotional concerns which make you uniquely you. Every human being is unique, every condition and the experience of it is unique, so why shouldn’t the treatment you receive be unique?
Over to you, is self-care a priority for you? Do you prefer to see a natural health therapist over going to see your GP? If so, is it on a need basis, or do you have treatments as a preventative measure? We’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences if you’d like to share!
Are you ready for greater health and wellbeing? Search Holistic Room for qualified holistic health practitioners for your unique needs, or email us at support@holisticroom.com and we’ll get back to you promptly.