Self-Care as Primary Health Care: Use by Holistic Health Advocates

Abstract

Self-care, regarded as a component of holistic health, is often ignored as a major form of health care delivery even though it is used world wide. Self-care is provided primarily by women in the home and is most often a preliminary method of dealing with common disorders. IIolistic health advocates tend to have completed graduate school, and are white, middle-class persons employed in the human services. They regard themselves as very healthy, despite the lack of faith in having regular check-ups with a physician; and they prefer to treat themselves and their families. Physicians are used as a last resort by the women after self-care remedies such as vitamins, rest, and diet prove not to yield the desired results. While self-care may have limitations, the documented benefits of its use may well outweigh its risks.