These beliefs help to form an individual’s relationship to the concepts outside their existence. In the medical world, there are a number of set ideologies stemming from the patient’s perspective. Such ideologies can often hinder the medical encounter and participate in the misdiagnosis of the individual. Health care professionals are often seen as people with extensive medical training, a great deal of education, and usually someone who comes from a wealthy background. When these assumptions are made, the patient can sometimes feel inferior to the doctor, which may lead to the patient’s refusal to fully participate in the medical encounter. While engaging in a typical medical encounter, the doctor may throw around medical terms that come naturally to him or her, these terms can be confusing for the …show more content…
In order to avoid gaps between the doctor and the patient, a more even playing field of the medical encounter must be produced.
Holistic Medicine: “Holistic Medicine is the art and science of healing that addresses care of the whole person – body, mind, and spirit. The practice of holistic medicine integrates conventional and complementary therapies to promote optimal health and to prevent and treat disease by mitigating causes.” (American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine) Integrating holistic medicine into the Western medical approach may assist in diagnosing patients more effectively. Holistic alternative medicine uses a variety of therapeutic or preventive health care practices, such as homeopathy, naturopathy, chiropractic, acupuncture, and herbal medicine. Holistic medicine focuses on balance of mind, body, spirit, and environment. As Socrates eloquently states, “the part can never be well unless the whole