?Holistic medicine – what is it

“Medicine is not a science, but an art,” said a famous doctor. “And its primary goal is not the preparation of medications and formulas but the understanding of life processes before attempting to direct them.” Indeed, contemporary medicine incorporates the holistic (broad) approach to the causes of illness. The alternative medicine revolution in the world views the spiritual roots as an inseparable component of the systems of the body.
Alternative medicine began to flourish in the 70’s and continues to spread in Israel and the world as an integral element of clinics and hospitals. The secret behind this change in approach is not that scientists began to market a new health product, but that laymen chose, at first in a trickle and later en masse, to look to holistic natural medicine before turning to surgery and strong medications and treatments.
The falling of the walls between West and East in the 80’s accelerated the process of the infiltration of the methods and techniques of China, India and the Far East into the West. An example that characterizes this integration is the term energy, a Western term that became popular because of Chinese medicine. This type of medicine teaches that all human beings possess energies that flow and connect to the universe and influence the inorganic, plant and animal worlds.
Many methods of healing and diagnosis have developed over time. However, although some have scientific research proving their integrity and effectiveness, professional caution is still required to classify the various systems and to establish their integrity and quality. As a result of the development of holistic medicine, however, there is the unwanted side effect of people inexperienced in holistic medicine that have joined the field and can cause harm through non-professional treatment. Today, due to greater awareness on the part of the public and institutional authorities, there has been improvement in this area. It is now possible to turn to recognized colleges and clinics that function according to professional criteria.
Paradoxically, it seems that alternative medicine is part of the modern development of our generation and not a unique phase of human history. Why? Take an ancient, exotic method of healing, shake off the dust of age from it and incorporate it into Western clinics. It seems to be another modern system that leaves behind the old science called medicine and perhaps also the old religious outlook and knowledge, but that is not the case. The opposite is true. Alternative medicine reaches to the same conclusion that Judaism has been stressing for thousands of years: that the human being is a complex unit, and in order to keep this unit functioning properly we have to be aware of the many factors that influence the human being, who is comprised of body and soul. Experts in alternative medicine try to implement a system that is a composite of the new and the old. There is no doubt that the original source of the attitude towards the human being and the world as one big complex is in Judaism. Shelem Institute for Holistic Studies uses this principle as a basis for striking the perfect balance between the true roots of alternative medicine, the techniques of the Far East, Western know-how – all in keeping with the principles of Judaism and halacha.

Eldad Nakkar, professional administrator and lecturer at Shelem