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Wellness is a term that is becoming very common in our modern era. But what exactly constitutes *wellness*? Does wellness mean that we are fine specimens of physical health or does it go beyond the physical? Perhaps it is necessary to consider all facets of our body in order to determine whether we are truly *well*.

Most people consider themselves to be well if they suffer no symptoms of serious illness or disease. They may be plagued by problems such as insomnia or headaches but nothing life threatening. Therefore they are relatively well. Or are they?

We are inundated with advice about how to remain healthy. However, this can lead to an overload of information, leaving people confused and often contributing to a general dissatisfaction with how people see themselves. It becomes easy to find fault with ones self when we get sick. We may blame ourselves for our illnesses because we may have been eating or drinking too much, not exercising, or allowing ourselves to become stressed. After all, if we believe all that is portrayed in the media, we should all be able to achieve perfect health.

When we consider the achievements made in modern medicine in recent decades, health issues which used to be fatal are often now treatable. Considering these accomplishments, it seems incredible that something as simple as the common cold remains an everyday problem.

Looking into alternative treatments, the maze is even more difficult to negotiate. There is such an array of alternative therapies available, it is difficult to know which one is best for our individual needs.

The viewpoint of conventional medicine and alternative medicine are completely different. Conventional medicine measures wellness by the absence of symptoms. If you show no physical signs of illness, then you are considered to be well. When illness is present, normally through external factors such as bacteria, the usual treatment is drugs or surgery.

Alternative medicine, or holistic medicine, on the other hand, concentrates on the entire body. The person, as considered in holistic medicine, consists of body, mind, emotions, and spirit. The concept of wellness in holistic medicine is the condition that arises when all of these aspects of self are working efficiently and in harmony.

Holistic therapies are as preventative as they are curative. They not only boost our system when needed but can also be used to maintain good health. In conventional medicine, it seems that maintaining our health is seen as having only one set of rules for everyone. However, in holistic medicine, each person is seen as an individual whose needs for health maintenance are something that the person chooses for him or her self. It is simply a case of finding a balanced lifestyle to fit within our own limitations.

It is common to both strands of medicine, however, that there are three main aspects to the pursuit and maintenance of good health. These are:

1.Diet,
2.Exercise, and
3.Relaxation

Diet

Diet is obviously a very important constituent of wellness. The results of too much alcohol consumption and a failure to follow a nutritious diet are well documented. The incidence of morbid obesity continues to grow and this leads to a variety of other problems related to the general concept of wellness. There may be a number of reasons that people fail to eat a balanced diet. These reasons may be physical, psychological, or even economic.

Emotional problems may lead to comfort eating or to overeating or undereating. There are also illnesses such as anorexia and bulimia that affect the way a person eats and the resultant lack of wellness that the person experiences.

Exercise

Exercise is another important component of wellness. It our bodies are not kept in good working order through physical exercise, they deteriorate. A fit body not only leaves you feeling physically well but also improves the psychological and emotional health. Studies in the late 1970s found that exercise can be as successful as therapy in the treatment of depression.

Holistic therapy considers that there can be a blockage or imbalance in the energy flow and that exercise rebalances that energy, leaving the person feeling calm and revitalized. The exercises that originate in the East, such as tai chi and yoga are specifically designed to work on this energy. This is also the purpose of shiatsu, acupuncture, reflexology and acupressure.

Relaxation and stress management

Inability to cope with the problems that face us results in stress. These events can be happy or sad and, according to many in the medical profession, this stress may be responsible for around seventy percent of illnesses. This is due to the fact that tension leads to our immune system becoming weak and leaving us vulnerable to some illnesses.

The main way to reduce stress is through relaxation. Everyone relaxes in a different manner, whether it be through listening to music, painting, or going for a walk.

Physical relaxation is just as important as mental relaxation and this can be achieved through yoga or even through self hypnosis.

Psychotherapy or counseling can help us to identify ways in which to cope more effectively with stressful situations and to give more meaning to our life. It may also help to identify and address any unresolved conflicts affecting our lives.

So, the concept of wellness is a combination of a variety of therapies, all being important in their own way. Basically, they each take a different line of attack while aiming to work on all levels. Psychotherapy and hypnotherapy concentrate on the emotions, the mind and the spirit. Homeopathy concentrates on the physical and the spiritual aspects as well as massage, nutrition and herbal medicine. Conventional medicine concentrates mainly on physical symptoms of disease and advice on diet and other things that affect the physical body.

Obviously, there are several aspects to the concept of wellness. What works for one person may not always work for another. It is therefore a case of finding what works for you and looking after all facets of your self.