Many people today, dissatisfied with the state of medical care and the health care system, are looking for more and better answers to their health concerns. As the population ages, prescription medication is being dispensed at record numbers, and many people are looking for alternatives to improve health as well as reduce the strain on the budget. There is a growing trend toward considering a holistic viewpoint and combining traditional practices with a wider outlook, incorporating practices from other and older cultures with good results. The holistic discipline looks at the entire picture instead of treating an ailment or illness as if it stands alone.

Combining spirituality, diet, nutritional supplements and other forms of alternative medicine, the holistic point of view treats the body, spirit and mind as one entity. More and more physicians are seeing the benefit of integrating treatments such as acupuncture, aromatherapy and homeopathic remedies with more traditional types of treatment and diagnostic tests for many chronic and acute ailments. This approach can reduce or even eliminate the need for prescription medications, which in turn can reduce the side-effects and exorbitant expenses of such medications.

Holistic medicine is not new; many of the treatments used today have been used for centuries. For example, Hippocrates recommended celery to calm the nerves. There was no way to know it at the time, but celery possesses high levels of calcium, a mineral necessary for the health of the nervous system. Massage therapy has been shown in studies to reduce stress levels; many herbal remedies used over generations have been proven to work just as well as prescription medication in many cases. It is facts like these and much more anecdotal evidence that suggests maybe the old ways are as effective and safer than today's pharmaceutical answers to illness, or can be used in conjunction with contemporary treatments for optimal results.

However, people who are considering a Michigan holistic medicine physician need to be careful about choosing their health care provider. Since this part of the health care field is largely unregulated, a holistic practitioner does not need to be registered with the state. Therefore, it can be difficult to find a reputable doctor. It’s important to research a physician or practitioner before entrusting them with the important decision of handling health care needs. In spite of this, many people are finding both financial and health relief with opening their body and spirit to a holistic health care regimen.