What is a Holistic Doctor?
A holistic doctor is a medical professional who has obtained qualifications in different forms of complementary medicine in addition to completing a medical degree. As their job title suggests, holistic doctors employ a holistic approach to health. This means they treat the whole person of the patient, which includes the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of their being, rather than just the symptoms that they present. In doing so, they manage to correct imbalances in the body that cause disease while activating its natural ability to heal.
What Conditions Can a Holistic Doctor Treat?
Prescribing dietary and lifestyle changes, exercise, meditation, massage or other complementary therapies, apart from conventional medicine, is a holistic doctor's strategy in alleviating pain and discomfort associated with any disease. They develop a treatment plan that aims not only to treat the symptoms of disease but to ultimately restore the health and wellbeing of the patient. A holistic doctor can treat a variety of conditions, ranging from a mild cough to conditions linked to chronic stress and inflammation.
How Much Does a Consultation With a Holistic Doctor in Perth Cost?
A holistic doctor conducts an in-depth assessment of their patient's health to identify the underlying cause of their condition. It can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour and a half. Aside from the duration of the physical examination, the remedies to be used and the doctor's level of experience will also factor in the consultation fee. It's worth noting that many practitioners offer online consultations which may cost less than a face-to-face session. In Perth, an initial consultation with a holistic doctor typically ranges from $120 to $160.
How Many Holistic Doctors are There in Perth?
About 30 to 40% of general practitioners in Perth and other parts of Western Australia practise a form of complementary such as naturopathy, Ayurvedic medicine, osteopathy and Traditional Chinese Medicine among others. Moreover, research shows that more than 75% of GPs who don't employ natural therapies in their treatment approach would refer their patients for such therapies if their condition requires it.
How Many People in Perth Consult a Holistic Doctor?
More than half of the adult female population in Perth and suburbs in Western Australia seek treatment from holistic doctors for a variety of conditions. According to a 2007 study on the use of complementary medicine in Australia (Xue et al.), the majority of patients in WA would visit practitioners who employ energy healing and meditation in their treatment plan.
