Holistic-What does it mean to you

[weezie]

After reading posts on Alternative therapys and one on steaming in which it was mentioned that steaming could be "holistic" I wanted to know what the word "holistic" means to you.

I was always of the understanding that it meant treating the person as a whole- body, mind and spirit. Is this actually possible as as a beauty therapist? Should we cross the boundary into the mind and spirit or should we really leave this to psychiatrists and spiritual leaders?

Is it just a buzz word used to promote alternative therapys?

What is it that clients are turning to beauty therapists for that they can not get from others?

I feel that is our duty of care to listen to a clients needs and provide a sensitive treatment to promote mental and physical well being through touch and caring, but feel that some therapys and practicioners cross the line providing pseudoscience to the client taking them down a path away from conventional medicine that could help them more.

I have experiened colour therapy (for a friend to practice) at a time that I was very vunerable and it made me cry because of the buzz words "pain" and "release" that the therapist was using. I have also practiced aromatherapy on a client (which I no longer do) and they felt I had "healed them".

Any thoughts?

x

 

[Sassy Hassy]

I haven't ventured into holisitic therapies because I believe this is a special skill, and almost to a point that to be a truly good holistic therapist you have to have a gift for it, to be able to treat mind, body and spirit.

I actually used to use a nail supplier who said their gels were holistic , it just seems to be a buzz word of the moment.

 

[naturalnails]

Holistic to me means treating the whole body - as in mind, body and spirit - all that from a gel, now that would be good, unless it means it gets everywhere LOL.

Like Sass, I think it is a real specialised skill.

 

[weezie]

Holistic nail products!!!

I think it's definately become just a buzz word banded around and used as a sales tool. This also happened with the word Microdermabrasion also there are many made up ingredient words like "made using new flexi-hydroelastipearlising technology" (I just made that one up!)

 

[Sassy Hassy]

Sorry it's slightly off topic, but I always say when one of the new hair ads come out and they say using "nutrileum technology" or "pentapeptides" and the likes. I mean come on who the hell sits there and goes "yippee and long flaiming last they put nutrileum in the shampoo, about flaming time!" Most people haven't got a clue what they're on about. Have to say I'd love some of the Hydroplastipearly thingymabob, sound cool lol!

But going back on topic I think if I ws looking for a holisitic therapist I would seek out someone that specialises in that alone, it's very specialist IMO

 

[weezie]

Sorry it's slightly off topic, but I always say when one of the new hair ads come out and they say using "nutrileum technology" or "pentapeptides" and the likes. I mean come on who the hell sits there and goes "yippee and long flaiming last they put nutrileum in the shampoo, about flaming time!" Most people haven't got a clue what they're on about. Have to say I'd love some of the Hydroplastipearly thingymabob, sound cool lol!

But going back on topic I think if I ws looking for a holisitic therapist I would seek out someone that specialises in that alone, it's very specialist IMO

So true about the shampoo! and I better get on to patenting that word!

I think these holistic practices should be practiced only by those who have been passed on their knowledge through ancient practitioners rather than those just having a go to make a quick buck. But I also think that people who try them out should understand their origins are through eastern philosophy and religion "faith" not "fact".

 

[BABSann]

Body massage is classed as being a holistic treatment,my certificates are with the international institute of health and holistic therapies.I class it very much as an holistic treatment.

 

[Axiom]

I think these holistic practices should be practiced only by those who have been passed on their knowledge through ancient practitioners rather than those just having a go to make a quick buck. But I also think that people who try them out should understand their origins are through eastern philosophy and religion "faith" not "fact".

That's all very well and good, but how many "ancient practitioners" are still around to pass on their knowledge?? :wink2:

The nature of any treatment, whether it is related to beauty, nails, holistics or whatever, is that it will evolve and grow over time as we discover new things about ourselves and the world around us. As a crude example, just because the ancient Chinese used a particular herb or root as part of their medicinal practices hundreds of years ago, it doesn't mean that we should be using the same herb today if we have since found out it is toxic...

And not all "holistic" therapies are of ancient Eastern origin. Off the top of my head: reflexology is based on the zone therapy studies of an American doctor during the early 20th century, the Bowen technique hails from Australia, Craniosacral therapy and kinesiology were orginally offshoots of osteopathy and chiropractics, modern aromatherapy was pioneered by a French chemist in the 1920s...

Whilst I agree 100% with your concern about therapists who are just out to make a quick buck, I think we need to be a bit careful about clumping all "holistic therapies" (and therapists) under the same banner :green:

Andy x

 

[weezie]

When I say passed on by ancient practitioners I mean practiced by those who have roots in these traditions not just someone who is poking around!

Ingram who you speak of is actually the most recent well known researcher into the use of Reflexology 1930's. There is a lot of confusion over the true origin but there is evidence it was practiced in ancient Egypt 2330 BC and even earlier in China 4000 BC.

I suppose everything gets adapted...I just think if it's that great a diagnostic tool as people who "believe" make out then why would we not use it in hospitals instead of medical diagnosis? it would be a lot more efficient than waiting for lab results!!!

 

[oey]

This is an interesting thread - to me holisitic is treating someone to make them feel better as a whole.

Therefore to me this could include having a facial, having enhancements, manicures, pedicures etc as when you have had a treatment in the main you feel alot better about your self - inside and outside.


Also giving these treatments is holistic and seeing someone after they have had benefit from your treatment make you as the therapist feel better as well.

 

[BABSann]

When I say passed on by ancient practitioners I mean practiced by those who have roots in these traditions not just someone who is poking around!

Ingram who you speak of is actually the most recent well known researcher into the use of Reflexology 1930's. There is a lot of confusion over the true origin but there is evidence it was practiced in ancient Egypt 2330 BC and even earlier in China 4000 BC.

I suppose everything gets adapted...I just think if it's that great a diagnostic tool as people who "believe" make out then why would we not use it in hospitals instead of medical diagnosis? it would be a lot more efficient than waiting for lab results!!!

Nobody should be diagnosing anything.We are not medically qualified therefore we should refer to a medically qualified person if we are unsure about anything.Holistic treatments cover such a huge area that I think people should be very careful.Recently I had a client come to me that told me her boyfriend has been given 6 months to live.Approx,he has cancer.She was broken hearted,as you would be.I wont bang on about it as the story is in my journal,anyway after she had left the salon my next lady told me that she had just had a cancerous lump removed from her eye,we got talking and she said that she very much believes in healing therapy.She went on to tell me about a guy who lives near me who apparently cured a guy,who had been diagnosed with bowel cancer.He was given I think,6-12 mths.Now this was through a healer.It was in all the papers.I dont know what to think,I didn't see the article in the paper but my boss said she did.It was even on the news.Now that is a very different type of holistic treatment than massage,however they are both holistic treatments.Holistic therapy means different things to different people,for me it's very much about the well being of my client and the outcome of their treatment.I totally lose myself in my massage,in fact it's one of my specialities,however I would never,ever start trying to diagnose.

 

[oey]

Nobody should be diagnosing anything.We are not medically qualified therefore we should refer to a medically qualified person if we are unsure about anything.Holistic treatments cover such a huge area that I think people should be very careful.Recently I had a client come to me that told me her boyfriend has been given 6 months to live.Approx,he has cancer.She was broken hearted,as you would be.I wont bang on about it as the story is in my journal,anyway after she had left the salon my next lady told me that she had just had a cancerous lump removed from her eye,we got talking and she said that she very much believes in healing therapy.She went on to tell me about a guy who lives near me who apparently cured a guy,who had been diagnosed with bowel cancer.He was given I think,6-12 mths.Now this was through a healer.It was in all the papers.I dont know what to think,I didn't see the article in the paper but my boss said she did.It was even on the news.Now that is a very different type of holistic treatment than massage,however they are both holistic treatments.Holistic therapy means different things to different people,for me it's very much about the well being of my client and the outcome of their treatment.I totally lose myself in my massage,in fact it's one of my specialities,however I would never,ever start trying to diagnose.

Exactly my point Babs.

We need to make it clear to our clients what we as individuals mean by holistic - if it just helps to make them feel better then let them know.

I have recently started to do Reiki (trained about 6 months ago) and to me i dont go down the line of "healing" as is sometimes portrayed, I explain it is to help them to relax - physically and mentally - if that helps them to recover from something quicker then all well and good, but i dont do it to heal them from an illness!

 

[Axiom]

Ingram who you speak of is actually the most recent well known researcher into the use of Reflexology 1930's. There is a lot of confusion over the true origin but there is evidence it was practiced in ancient Egypt 2330 BC and even earlier in China 4000 BC.

Ingham's work on reflexology arose from her studies at the Shelby-Riley school of chiropractics, the proprietors of which championed Dr Fitzgerald's research into Zone Therapy as a method of alleviating pain. There is certainly pictorial evidence that foot massage was practiced by ancient civilisations, but we have no way of knowing whether the massage used by the Egyptians, for example, used reflex points bearing any resemblance to our modern "foot maps" (which even today seem to vary from person to person, lol!). Indeed, although there are some similarities between the acupuncture points used in Chinese medicine and the Western reflex zones of the feet, there are also many differences.

I suppose everything gets adapted...I just think if it's that great a diagnostic tool as people who "believe" make out then why would we not use it in hospitals instead of medical diagnosis? it would be a lot more efficient than waiting for lab results!!!

Lol, I agree completely - I love reflexology, but would never use it as a diagnostic tool or claim it can "cure" anything. Interestingly, I believe researchers in Southampton were recently conducting studies into the use of reflexology as an anaesthetic for minor medical procedures - this harks back to it's roots in Zone Therapy, it seems we've come full circle!! :green:

(sorry, gone off topic a bit there!)

Andy x
Edited to clarify points

 

[bombini]

This is what i found from the Oxford Dictionary online when i typed in Holistic;

The treating of the whole person, taking into account mental & social factors, rather than just the symptons of a disease.

Holistic treatments may not work for everyone eg, Aromatherapy but not all medicines work for everyone either. I am qualified in Aromatherapy but don't practice it on clients, i mix up blends for myself thats about it some work & some don't.
I believe that Aromatherapy is not part of the Beauty Therapy NVQ anymore its a totally seperate qualification.

 

[oey]

This is what i found from the Oxford Dictionary online when i typed in Holistic;

The treating of the whole person, taking into account mental & social factors, rather than just the symptons of a disease.

Holistic treatments may not work for everyone eg, Aromatherapy but not all medicines work for everyone either. I am qualified in Aromatherapy but don't practice it on clients, i mix up blends for myself thats about it some work & some don't.
I believe that Aromatherapy is not part of the Beauty Therapy NVQ anymore its a totally seperate qualification.

Thats interesting as my nvq level 3 colleages did aroma at college and just finished this summer!

 

[bombini]

Thats interesting as my nvq level 3 colleages did aroma at college and just finished this summer!

I can't remember where i read it but my friend has just finished lv III to & she said they'd replaced it with Indian Head Massage, I will have a look in my drawers, maybe ive dreamt it or misheard:o

 

[oey]

I can't remember where i read it but my friend has just finished lv III to & she said they'd replaced it with Indian Head Massage, I will have a look in my drawers, maybe ive dreamt it or misheard:o

hehe - what us women keep in our drawers hey!

they also did indian head massage too! - not sure which were optional or compulsary units though.

 

[BABSann]

Think different colleges vary their course content,here aromatherapy include when doing level 3.Indian head is extra.

 

[bombini]

Im going mad then ! I think they must have swapped aromatherapy for Indian head then as it was the other way round when i was there, i can see why they've done it as Indian head seems to be more popular around here

 

[BABSann]

Im going mad then ! I think they must have swapped aromatherapy for Indian head then as it was the other way round when i was there, i can see why they've done it as Indian head seems to be more popular around here

Here Aromatherapy is very popular,we dont get much call for Indian Head massage,funny how different areas vary so much