Not too long ago medicine was a blend of art, science, myth, magic and superstition. Then modern technology came along and was so successful in wiping out the worst killer diseases that we started to believe all illnesses could be cured with the right magic bullet. Older techniques were discarded-the good along with the bad. Western medicine dismissed any approach that wasn't created and tested in a laboratory. Recently, however, as we have become more interested in healthful eating, exercise, meditation and other self-help techniques, there has been a resurgence of interest in nontechnological approaches to medicine and health. Holistic is the word generally used to describe these recent changes in approach to medicine and health.

What Holistic Means

Holistic defines an approach to health or treatment that deals with the whole person or system rather than treating isolated symptoms. In some ways, Western medicine treats symptoms the way a mechanic treats car problems-if there is a bad part you fix it, clean it up a little or replace it. Holistic view: Each individual must be viewed as a whole person with emotional, physiologic (body) and Biochemical needs. If there's a basic problem with the overall system and you fix only the symptom, you tend to create other problems. For example, if someone who has frequent colds takes a lot of antibiotics or antihistamines, these drugs will have a negative effect on the body. Also, if the symptoms are covered up, the person will continue to ignore the underlying problem and may leave themselves vulnerable to something more serious, such as emphysema or heart disease. The symptom is a friendly signal — the body's way of tapping you on the shoulder to warn you that if you don't look at your life you'll have more trouble later on.

Holistic treatment looks at the overall picture, including the person's psychological state, job, relationships, finances, environmental factors, etc. The person who gets a lot of colds may not be eating, sleeping or exercising properly, may be under a lot of pressure, or may be working in a chemical laden environment. Scientists are even beginning to talk about spiritual or positive outlook, which also seems to have an effect on health.

There is no quick Holistic fix. We're so used to quick foods, quick weight-loss diets, quick beauty and quick-self-help advice that are part of our hurried, achievement-oriented lives that we expect a quick cure when we're sick. We see illness as something to get rid of so we can get back to work as soon as possible, rather than viewing it as a warning signal. Holistic medicine deals with the notion of health, a condition of the well-treated body that all of us should enjoy. The focus is on creating health, not simply curing illness.

Western Versus Holistic Medicine

The word "holistic", like "stress", is one of those words used indiscriminately. There are holistic astrologers, holistic reflexologists and holistic psychic healers. It's a case of a useful word having been appropriated by so many people that it now raises the hackles of the medical establishment. Recently holistic medicine has been evaluated by the FDA as an alternative to main stream that may be useful.

It is important that holistic medicine is not antithetical to Western medicine. Many medical doctors who scoff at the word holistic actually use holistic methods. A traditional physician who questions you about your lifestyle, asking how much stress you are under and about your eating and exercise habits, and who is willing to work with you toward improvement in those areas, rather than just whipping out his prescription pad for every ailment, can reasonably be said to have a holistic approach. Holistic medicine doesn't mean you shouldn't get the best neurosurgeon if you need brain surgery. But that surgery should be decided upon by you and your general practitioner as part of what's best for you as a whole person, considering all aspects of your life.

Many people are put off by the very thought of making big changes such as starting to exercise and diet after a lifetime of being sedentary and eating rich foods. But each of us is different, and there are many ways to reach our individual systems. Some of us are reachable through diet, some through relaxation and meditation exercises, some through physical exercises and some through psychotherapy. To keep looking for remedies that don't involve your doing much is really a way of avoiding the implications of what hostilic means. To make a real change you must find out what will work for you as an individual. But it can't be a "quick fix" — it has to be an approach that will affect your entire life permanently.

A diet high in green and yellow vegetables results in lower cancer mortality among elderly persons, says, Dr. Graham A. Colditz, of Harvard Medical School. Cancer mortality was studied in 1,226 subjects — strawberries and tomatoes had the strongest inverse relationship and the risk of cancer death among those eating the highest amount of such vegetables was only 0.3 of that in those eating the least . Gender, smoking, and total food intake were not related to cancer mortality. Some factor other than carotene may provide the protective effect seen with intake of green and yellow vegetables.

One of the dietary changes, recommended by the National Research Council is simply eating more vegetables, fruits and cereals. The evidence is not conclusive; a dietary change may not guarantee protection, but it does seem to be involved in cancer formation. In most cases, 10 to 30 years will have elapsed between the initial exposure to a carcinogen and the first detection of a cancer. During this latent period, we may be able to prevent the development of the cancer. Vegetables high in Vitamin C may act to prevent the reaction between oxygen and compounds on the cut surface of a fruit such as apples (anti-oxidant effect).Although some reports suggest that low vitamin C consumption is associated with increased cancer rates, particularly of the esophagus and stomach, the evidence is still inconclusive. A large population study in China (where these cancers are prevalent) is underway at this time.

Fibre also exerts a protective effect by decreasing the transit time of carcinogens in our food through the colon, limiting cell exposure. Certain sulfur-containing compounds in vegetables in the cruciferous group ( kale, kohlrabi, broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts,cauliflower) stimulate the carcinogen-detoxifying enzyme systems in the small intestine and liver. People who eat these vegetables frequently develop fewer cancers, particularly colon cancers.

Carotenoids compounds which are precursors of Vitamin A — abundant in green and yellow vegetables such as apricots, cantaloupes, carrots, spinach, squash-protect against many cancer types including lung, larynx, esophagus, stomach and colon. This evidence comes not only from laboratory experiments but also from analyses of disease patterns among certain groups of people.

Saponins, found in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, are a class of nutrients comprising sugars hooked up to an alkaloid, steroid, or triterpene compounds. Some varieties are 100 times sweeter than sucrose and healthy. Researchers are investigating these compounds for their functions as immune system effects ranging from increasing antibody formation to anticarcinogenic and antitumor actions. Saponins also have a cholesterol lowering effect which reduces the risk of heart disease. Dietary phytochemicals have been studied for their role in preventing chronic diseases as well as fighting microbes, fungal infections, and tumor-suppression. Foods ranging from soybeans, chickpeas, asparagus, bean sprouts, tomatoes, potatoes, oats and spinach contain saponins in high amounts and these substances can be extracted from certain tropical plants such as the rosary pea, Chinese sweet leaf tree and from the roots of the Brazilian legume, Periandra dulcis, the most potent sweetener, the compound periandrin V., with roughly 200 times the potency of sucrose. In addition to their health benefits, saponins are tasty as well. The new "food pyramid" recommendations including five servings of fruits and vegetables daily now provide more reasons to be included in a healthy diet for increased longevity.