Lesson 1.3
Holism as a Concept
The term holistic refers to the parts of something being intimately interconnected. The definition given by the Oxford dictionary further explains that holistic means ‘explicable only by reference to the whole.’ When we work as natural clinicians, herbalists, or any other kind of natural practitioner, using a holistic approach to healing should be a part of our framework. It is fine to recommend herbs to alleviate symptoms, but our end goal should be to help our clients find the root cause(s) of imbalance and understand how they feel. As you will learn, the medicinal properties in plants can affect multiple areas of the body, not just the area you are intending to address, which is why it is important to have a holistic approach to health. This is also a huge selling point to clients, should you wish to work directly with them - if you can help a client resolve a secondary symptom simultaneously, this is a huge win.
Not every herbalist will teach you to look for root causes, but as for me, I have made it my life’s work. When working with a client, I see very little long-term value (beyond the relief of an acute problem) in simply giving someone an herb to ease a symptom without discussing other potential factors that may be at play. Herbal Alchemy, will equip you with the tools to use a functional medicine approach (searching for the underlying cause) when it comes to addressing one’s health issues. When you feel that solving a concern is outside of your scope as an herbalist, it is highly appropriate (and recommended) to refer someone to another type of qualified practitioner. They can even work in tandem with you if you are still learning how to identify triggers and complex causes. As Herbalist, you will always be learning; it is safe (for both you and client) to acknowledge when a request lies outside of your ability or comfort zone.
You should also be aware that not everyone will care about finding the root cause of their health concerns. Some will be very compliant and do what you recommend, but others will be impatient and focused only on symptoms, likely to fall short in your requests and may even temporarily stop taking your calls until they get back on track. And yet there are some who agree to your plan initially but do very little or become uncompliant and disagreeable. You can’t avoid these situations; however, once you find and build your voice, you can be upfront about the way you operate. What does mater though, if you want to be a really good herbal practitioner, is that you are equipped with the tools and knowledge to be able to share with a client how his/her symptoms may be connected to a larger issue (even if you aren’t the one to address them). From this point, it is up to the individual if he or she wants to address the concerns on a deeper level.
Later, we will learn how to trace a symptom or concern to an organ and system in the body for profound results. With this is mind, it is also important to remember our role as Herbalist, and that we are not doctors intending to cure a disease. Although you will learn to avoid using this type of language, it is also vital that your clients do not assume you are working outside of your scope.
With all of this said, there will be times when you simply cannot have the conversation about the “bigger picture” even when you have a strong sense of what may be going on with someone. These times might include:
Having limited time with someone in passing about an herb or condition
Vending, selling, or speaking at an event where conversations are not practical or timely
Posting content to your website or social media on a health topic or herb
What does the phrase holistic health mean to you? How can you as a budding herbalist promote a holistic approach to health and wellness in each and every client (or yourself)? We now know through research and practical experience that addressing our physical health is not enough for total wellness. We must look at factors that affect that our spiritual, mental, emotional, and lifestyle habits as well. Imagine working with a client who purchases $200 worth of herbs but makes no lifestyle changes at home. He continues his poor diet, doesn't create healthy sleep habits, has a volatile relationship with his partner, and dislikes his job. How impactful can his herbal regimen be if the other areas are not addressed? He may, in fact, have success for a while, but it is not sustainable to only focus on the physical factors. Yet again, more proof that taking a holistic approach is so important! We can’t do it all, but we can certainly expose our clients to the other factors in life so they can choose how they wish to bring balance to these areas.
