Holistic medicine is a treatment method for illness that takes into account a patient's entire well being, including mental, physical, spiritual and emotional health. Holistic medicine practices date back some 5,000 years, to early China and India. In the western world, holistic medicine made its way in the 20th century as an alternative to American allopathic medicine.
For clients experiencing problems with drugs or alcohol, factors such as self-esteem, socioeconomic background and living environment all play a role abusing or addiction to substances. Many rehabilitation facilities are turning to holistic programs and treatments that go beyond traditional psychological therapy and medications to treat substance abuse.
Holistic Rehab Beginnings
As many as 98.3 percent of rehabilitation centers offer alternative programs for substance abuse treatment, according to the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services, including acupuncture, social services and mentoring.
Other holistic treatment services, such as meditation, massage therapy, yoga or acupuncture, are still a relatively new trend in western addiction treatment programs, but their rising popularity may bring a new wave of studies and surveys to track the effectiveness of such holistic addiction treatments.
Massage Therapy
A 2007 article published in Massage magazine details how massage therapy can help clients with cocaine addiction as they go through the recovery process. It is thought that massage helps clients relax and reduce worry, which in turn reduces their stress and the brain's release of the stress hormone, cortisol. Massage also is known to improve breathing and allows the clients the experience of touch in a non-clinical setting.
All of these factors in combination can help those with cocaine addiction focus on the therapy at hand, and allows clients to be more self-aware of their bodies, their surroundings and their addiction.
Yoga Therapy
When discussing the yoga in a holistic addiction treatment setting, the benefits are remarkably similar for addicts as they are for non-addicts. For those with addiction, these yoga benefits simply affect their health in a different way.
Like massage therapy, yoga can help clients reduce stress and reduce the production of cortisol. Designed to prevent relapse, and help clients deal with relapse should it occur, participating in yoga as an addiction treatment helps clients make better decisions about his or her health. In addition, yoga as a holistic addiction treatment helps addicts maintain focus on their recovery.
A 2008 study in the Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse reports that a 90-day yoga program resulted in a reduction in addictive behavior, depression and anxiety among other factors of reduction.
Holistic Future
As the methodologies of holistic addiction treatment continue to evolve, the need for scientific study on the effectiveness of holistic programs such as yoga and massage therapy is becoming more and more urgent. This does not mean, however, that holistic addiction treatment does not have its place, nor that it does not have real and tangible results for clients in the recovery process.
Readers looking for more information on how to find holistic programs locally can visit the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration website. A substance abuse facility locator can help determine the addiction treatment facilities in your area.
