Holistic approaches to wellness focus on the whole person rather than just a particular health issue. This defines Asian wellness practices that address physical, emotional, and psychological needs through natural practices.-By Malibu Kothari

Physicians are increasingly embracing Asian practices in wellness. An increasing body of evidence shows treating the whole person is more effective than focusing only on a single medical condition, and Asian cultures have rich wellness traditions that promote healthy living throughout one’s lifespan rather than waiting until symptoms appear that require lifestyle changes. Indeed, fresh scientific exploration has found that “old” Asian wisdom has great value in modern lifestyles and medicine, especially as life becomes more complex and stressful.

Pursuing Harmony in Mind and Body

There are four main sets of Asian practices for approaching health holistically: Chinese Medicine, Ayurvedic Medicine (India), Japanese Medicine, and Korean Medicine. There are some differences, but all are based on similar core principles. First, people have different metabolic styles, which drive personalized wellness and preventive health strategies. The second principle is that nutrition plans should be individualized to the body type while incorporating cultural food traditions. Also, connecting with nature through exercises that promote a healthy body while reducing stress and increasing mindfulness is important to well-being.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is rooted in Taoism and emphasizes pursuing harmony between people and the environment. The main elements are Qi (vital energy) and yin and yang (opposing but complementary forces). There are five environmental elements, which are wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. It includes acupuncture, meditation, diet, herbal therapy, exercise, cupping therapy, and massage, as well as Qigong and Tai Chi, mind-body practices involving meditation combined with gentle movements and breathwork. At least 23 centuries old, TCM is a lifestyle that can prevent or heal disease or restore balance between forces. Wellbeing depends on maintaining harmony between yin and yang. Herbal therapy is an essential element with herbs specific to the person blended to function together, so a vast array of herbs and minerals are used.

Another holistic lifestyle management system is Ayurvedic Medicine, which originated in India over 5,000 years ago. The word "Ayurveda" is derived from Sanskrit, with "Ayur" meaning life and "Veda" meaning knowledge or science. Ayurveda is often called the "science of life" or the "art of living wisely." There are several fundamental principles. Doshas, known as Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, are three recognized fundamental energies. They govern physical and psychological functions. Ayurvedic medicine aims to maintain or restore balance in the doshas to promote health and prevent illness. This is achieved through personalized dietary and lifestyle recommendations, herbal remedies, detoxification therapies, yoga, meditation, and other holistic practices. There is great emphasis on the role of diet and nutrition in maintaining health and preventing disease. Foods are classified according to their taste and their effects on the doshas. A balanced diet is recommended based on an individual's constitution and the current state of imbalance. Yoga, meditation, pranayama (breathwork), and mindfulness are recommended to reduce stress, enhance relaxation, and promote inner harmony.

Japanese medicine has indigenous medical traditions called Kampo medicine. It incorporates herbal medicines (Kampo formulas) derived from natural sources such as plants, minerals, and animal products. Kampo practitioners diagnose patients based on traditional principles, such as the balance of Qi (energy) and the Five Elements theory, and prescribe individualized herbal formulas to restore health and balance in the body. Other elements of Japanese medicine, many of which are integrated with Western medicine, are acupuncture, Shiatsu, and Anma (applying pressure, stretching, and massage to the body), and herbal medicine using native plants and botanicals.

Traditional Korean medicine is also deeply rooted in the principles of natural healing, personalized care, and the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit. The unique aspect is Sasang Constitutional Medicine. It focuses on individualized treatment based on one’s constitutional type: Tae-Yang, Tae-Eum, So-Yang, So-Eum. Each type has its own characteristics and susceptibilities to certain diseases. Herbal medicine is a core element to prevent and treat various health conditions. It leans into acupuncture, cupping therapy, and physical therapies and exercises which include Jeongseong (therapeutic massage), stretching exercises, breathing techniques, and mind-body practices like Tai Chi and Qi Gong. Dietary choices are focused on balancing Yin and Yang energies and the Five Flavors of sour, sweet, bitter, salty, and spicy.

Quality of Life as Important as Longevity

As people live longer, there is awareness that longevity does not necessarily mean improved quality of life. How people manage their lifestyle through the decades often decides the quality of their life in their senior years. Krishnamurthy Jayanna, faculty member at the M S Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences and the Centre of Integrative Health and Wellbeing in Bangalore, India, proposes a complementary medicine model he calls Integrative Lifestyle. The integrative health and well-being lifestyle combines modern medicine, meditation, yoga, Ayurveda, and healthy diets, addressing physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, vocational, and social dimensions.

The growing popularity of Chinese medicine and other Asian medicine practices in the U.S. reflects the fact that people who embrace the elements report a positive experience. Until the 1970s, Asian medicine was not considered a meaningful practice and was illegal in many states. When acupuncture was legalized, Asian medicine practices gained more interest. As of 2022, there were 52 U.S. accredited Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine schools. However, that is not the end of the story. People are incorporating various practices into their daily lives. The meditative practice of yoga is taught and practiced in 48,547 Pilates & Yoga Studio businesses in the U.S. as of 2023. The herbal market was $165 billion in 2023 and still growing. There are over 4,000 Qi Gong and Tai Chi studios and Tai Chi bubble tea retailers and herbal apothecaries are all rapidly gaining popularity.

The practice of integrated medicine is no longer unusual. It is common to hear people talking about using massage and meditation coupled with aromatherapy to reduce stress, following healthy diets specifically designed for their individual constitutions and health conditions, and doing yoga stretching exercises for maintaining flexibility. Instead of pharmaceutical concoctions, people are reaching for herbal formulations for reducing pain and following customized diets to promote energy and general health. Thus, while once the purview of “hippies” in the 70s, Asian medicine has gone mainstream. Western medicine is still critical, of course, but many physicians blend Western and Asian medicines for the best results, especially when long-term care is needed.