Those who are born with a true “mountain spirit” are adept at being self-reliant. Being isolated, often purposefully, from the trappings of modern society takes a certain resolve, an uncanny ability not only to endure extreme conditions, but also to be able to truly fend for oneself. 

One big part of surviving in this fashion is carrying and using the knowledge passed down by generation after generation of traditional, sustainable living.

This includes ancient techniques for hunting and gathering, for nesting and proper preparation for the seasons, as well as techniques for preventing and treating illnesses with what we can find in nature. 

Mountain folk, more than most, understand the benefits of holistic medicine. 

Once, holistic medicine, or natural practices of any kind, were classified as quackery. The idea of a natural approach to medicine with a focus on the whole person and on preventive care was seen as outmoded.

Compared to the Western ideal of reactionary medicine, with a hyper focus on the specific illness or body part, techniques that were centuries-old and developed in the East were considered rudimentary next to good ol’ American “modern medicine.” 

Our modern lifestyles have since put the denigration of holistic care to rest as we have witnessed our environment and standard practices grow more toxic, and our society become more fast-paced and complex, to the point where some trust in “modern medicine” has waned.

With the need for inner balance growing in an increasingly imbalanced world, holistic approaches have become more accepted. 

Holistic wellness practices encompass multiple techniques and forms, all born from natural resources. They also affect the multiple realms of being: the body, the mind, and the spirit; and how the interconnectedness of those realms can be balanced with the world around us.

Today, holistic care is often sought for everyday physical care, such as dieting and exercise; natural supplements have often become the preferred alternative to weight loss pills, and empowering exercises like Tai Chi and Yoga are being offered at traditional gyms.

There are now aisles in grocery stores and co-ops dedicated to homeopathic remedies to ease physical maladies, presented as better options than over-the-counter chemical offerings. 

Aromatherapy, sound therapy, chromotherapy, and even acupuncture are all ancient holistic techniques that have become popular again to address mental health, to help us navigate our daily stresses and anxieties, and in some cases, even to treat depression.

These practices, which were once so commonly dismissed, are rooted in the very foundations of traditional and modern medicine, including the 6th century Indian art of Ayurveda, which uses natural techniques, including herbal medicines, aromatherapy, ancient massage, to balance physical, mental, and spiritual energies with one’s environment.

Holistic care is also rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, which has a focus on the balancing and harmonizing of one’s physical and mental being in order to prevent disease; and also stems from the teachings of Hippocrates, who is known as the “father of modern medicine.” 

Today, holistic practices that trend “down the hill” make their way up here and combine with the priceless institutional knowledge coveted by dedicated mountain folk. This creates opportunities to become one with the mountains in health, in spirit, and in strength.