1. What is a Holistic Lifestyle?
Holism is the approach to health of treating the whole person: the body, mind, spirit, within the context of social, economic, hereditary and environmental factors. It is the belief in the healing power of nature, patient responsibility, emphasis on prevention, promotion of a healthy lifestyle, and the use of natural substances that strengthen the body.

2. What is CAM?
Complementary or alternative medicine is often referred to by the acronym CAM. There is discussion by practitioners of natural or holistic medicine as to the accuracy of the words alternative or complementary as it suggests either/or which is contrary to the holistic model. Nevertheless it is the term most commonly used in the European community where natural practices are more widely integrated into mainstream health care. In North America CAM is used as reference for resources, research, legislation and in conventional medicine. We use it here for communication access. A more accurate term reflecting holism is Integrated Medicine.

3. What is Energy Medicine?
Energy Medicine works with the subtle energy fields and meridians that are part of the human form beyond the physical as well as the effects of universal energy patterns on our bodies. When we cut our finger we clean and bandage the wound and then allow the healing process to commence. Invisible forces, energies, take care of that. We can optimize the natural healing potential by clearing any energetic obstacles to the natural healing response. These may be emotional, psychological, or spiritual. What occurs in our physical body may have been initiated in the emotional or spiritual realm. We may have cut our finger because we were stressed, distracted or preoccupied. All healing is on an energetic level, but specific therapies may include prayer, remote healing, sound therapy, and an array of other remedies.

4. What is Integrative Therapy?
Integrative therapy or medicine recognizes the holistic principal and looks to all therapies that promote healing and wellness.

5. What is meant by the term healing?
In holistic terms, optimal health for a person is achieved in the balance of body mind and spirit. Imbalances may result in disease in the body, depression or aggression in mental disorder, and despair or anxiety in the lack of spiritual meaning to life. Because social, economic, hereditary, and environmental factors influence us, many times the stresses we encounter are signposts that elements of our lives need correction. Healing, then, does not always mean getting well, but in achieving the balance that brings us happiness and peace no matter what our physical or environmental state.

6. Do these therapies take the place of conventional medicine?
In the Holistic context, patient responsibility requires that we seek the best solution to bring the factors of body, mind and spirit into balance. Science and technology have made leaps in diagnostics and many treatments. It is the patient’s responsibility to become informed of the best route to wholeness.
Many times it takes a physical illness to bring us to the awareness of the imbalances in other areas of our lives. The body often needs immediate physical interaction to support it while other factors may be explored and implemented in the pursuit of a healing balance. Certainly whatever treatment is prescribed will be augmented, supported and optimized by non invasive and nurturing healing practices.

7. Why is there so little scientific or clinical evidence about the benefits?
Compliance with conventional allopathic medicine requires a scientific protocol of research and evidence. In the context of holism, it is as impossible to extract and identify the healing element of say an essential oil as it is to identify the essential organ that is the effective element of a healthy body.

Also given the multiple factors that holistically influence health, it is impossible to isolate and prescribe a single one size fits all protocol. Anecdotal evidence will ultimately have to suffice to guide an individual in their regimen of treatments, practices, and lifestyle choices.

8. What is Bill C6?
Bill C6 is the Bill presently under discussion by the Canadian Government to legislate CAM – Complementary or alternative medicine and natural products. While it is the official opinion of LightBeam that some safeguards may be required, these governances are best advanced
• By preserving the public’s freedom to choose,
• By the public becoming informed through this and other sites that foster awareness; and
• By the uniting of practitioners for the common purpose of promoting responsible practices and accountability.
These objectives apply to similar legislation in the United States. LightBeam will continually seek and feature models in other countries where these principles are more established.

9. How do I know what therapy is right for me?
The holistic model puts patient responsibility at the forefront. You are in charge of your own health and wellness or for those you care for. By learning about different therapies and preventive lifestyle practices like meditation, and by developing an intuitive sense – what ‘feels’ right, you can begin to put together a regimen that works for you.

Begin here to gain a simple understanding, go to LightBeam Community and ask questions of actual therapists or read other people’s entries and become informed. Check out the links and resources on this site and other’s until you feel comfortable in making a choice.

If you are dealing with a present health concern, find a qualified holistic or allopathic professional and present your questions and what you have learned to them for feedback and advice. Health and wellness is a team effort with you as captain.

10. How do I choose the right practitioner for me?
Each practitioner brings their life experience to a treatment protocol. Getting to know various therapies and different practitioners will help you make a more confident choice.

Sometimes it is important to know what questions to ask so that you are most comfortable with an individual practitioner. Again, trust what ‘feels’ right to you. Deciding one practitioner over another is not an expression of which is better, but of the one whose life experience best serves your treatment. It is very subjective and a professional practitioner will honour that choice and even refer you to an associate who might better meet your individual needs. On the LightBeam Community site you will be able to confer with several therapists in the same discipline and you will quickly understand what I have described.

11. Some of these therapies sound weird.
To step out of the conventional material world model where tangible science prevails, it may seem a leap to consider the effectiveness of flower remedies, crystal therapy, or aromatherapy. However, each one of these has been documented for thousands of years in Chinese, Egyptian, and Aboriginal cultures. They have stood the test of time because of their effectiveness.

Modern pharmaceuticals utilize many of the isolated elements. For example aspirin was originally derived from White willow bark and wintergreen. The tiniest of crystals are used in watches and computers for clear communication of frequencies. Aromatherapy? Roses are the choice of romance because their essence – their scent – opens the heart and brings calm.

Some of these remedies are non invasive and some like herbal medicines, need to be used with respect and authority. An herb like digitalis can be a healing agent or a poison. Knowledge, wisdom, and respect must guide choices always.

12. Where can I get more complete information?
LightBeam continues to source relevant references and the most current sources. However, LightBeam is the starting point only and supports the individual to gain the criteria here for informed questions and then to seek powerful answers in more incisive texts and sources.

13. What is the LightBeam Community?
The LightBeam Community is the niche social network to promote the dynamic dialogue between holistic practitioners and the public. It is interactive, colloquial, informative and most of all fun. It is for general information rather than answers to specific ailments. LightBeam recommends that an individual become informed of therapies, and seeks a qualified professional either holistic or allopathic to act as a guide and reference point.