A Short Primer on Wellness: Origins to Application in Today's World

A Short Primer on Wellness: Origins to Application in Today's World

1. INTRODUCTION

Life remains precious, invaluable, and, most importantly, irrevocable. Living a fulfilling life comprises many aspects, including good health, fulfilling one's desires, and stable socioeconomic support. One's attraction to oneself, one's surroundings, and positive effects form the cornerstone of a satisfactory life.

2. WHAT IS WELLNESS?

Even though it is referred to extensively by healthcare professionals and the general population, the term wellness remains loosely defined. The lack of formal definition also forms the basis of disarray among professionals, their clients, and the general population. [1]

The simple meaning of wellness is well-being. It is an active process involving the coordination of the soul, mind, and body to become aware of surroundings and make decisions towards a happy, healthy, and fulfilling life.

What is the World Health Organization (WHO) definition of wellness?

"Wellness is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."

What is well-being?

The World Health Organization (WHO) definition- "Well-being is a positive state experienced by individuals and societies. Similar to health, it is a resource for daily life and is determined by social, economic, and environmental conditions." [3]

A simple understanding of wellness and well-being is a state of balanced health and mind achieved through actively pursued goals. Wellness is the opposite of illness.

3. ORIGINS OF THE CONCEPT OF WELLNESS AND WELL-BEING

Wellness and Well-being words appeared in the Oxford English Dictionary in the 16th century. 1 However, these modern words have ancient roots. [4] The concept of wellness and well-being was described thousands of years ago by various civilizations.

A. The Vedas and Ayurveda (10,000 years ago)

The four Vedas (Rigveda, Samveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda) emerged as an oral tradition passed on to generations about 10,000 years ago. [5] The Vedas were transcribed into Sanskrit around 5,000 years ago. The meaning of "Ved" is "to know".

The goal of the Vedas was to make humans aware of their true nature and seek delicate balance in various aspects of life to achieve a higher spiritual stage. [6] It provides knowledge of sun, water, soil, and co-existence principles, distinguishing between right and wrong. [6]

Ayurveda is part of Atharvaveda. Ayurveda is considered the oldest of the traditional systems of medicine. [7] Despite modern efforts over decades, the vast knowledge of Ayurveda remains largely unexplored. Ayurveda is an ancient holistic practice that creates balance and harmony between the soul, mind, and body. In particular, Ayurveda focuses on nutrition, a clean environment, physical, mental, and spiritual exercise, hygiene, and knowledge of medicinal herbs and surgical practices. The worldwide practiced science of Yoga and meditation originates from Ayurveda.

Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam is a Sanskrit phrase found in the Hindu text Maha Upanishad, which means "the world is one family." [16] This phrase describes the value of all life forms within and outside our world.

B. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) (4,000 years ago)

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) emphasizes the cultivation of harmony in life. Influenced by Taoism and Buddhism, TCM has eventually evolved into acupuncture, tai chi, and herbal medicinal practices. [2]

C. Ancient Egyptian Medicine (4,000 years ago)

The Egyptian civilization sprawled along the Nile River was known for scientific achievements, including medicine. [8] Extensive knowledge of Egyptian life is documented in stone carvings, clay, and papyrus. [8] Egyptian health practitioners used minerals, metals, animals, and plants to treat various disease states. [8] Cleopatra, the last queen of Egypt, used sour milk baths for chemical skin peeling. [9] Egyptian women used water vapors, mud wraps, and gold dust for beautification. [10]

C. Ancient Greek Medicine (2,500 years ago)

Greek physician Hippocrates, also considered the Father of Modern Medicine, described the disease as an imbalance between diet, lifestyle, and environment.[2]

D. Ancient Roman Medicine (2,000 years ago)

Ancient Romans used thermal baths for cleansing and purification purposes. They emphasized disease prevention through bathing techniques. Hydrology was a real science in the Ancient Roman period, when practitioners prescribed various thermal treatments for specific skin and other conditions. [10] Along with thermal therapy, herbal baths, mud packs, physical exercise, diet, and massage therapy were developed. Romans built gardens and parks aimed at improving the sense of well-being. [10]

E. Developments from the Mid-century to 1900s.

During the mid-century, various practitioners developed Homeopathy, Osteopathy, Chiropractic medicine, and different dietary therapies. [2]

F. 2000 and Beyond: Wellness Goes Global.

Governments of various countries studied the concept of wellness and the importance of well-being and developed programs for evidence-based implementation of wellness. [2] Private corporations further propelled this movement by offering workplace wellness programs. [2]

With the growing crisis of chronic diseases and the rising cost of modern medicine and surgery, both healthcare practitioners and the general population have focused their attention on wellness. The COVID-19 pandemic further promoted the focus on wellness.

4. PRINCIPLES OF WELLNESS.

Wellness and well-being comprise comprehensive yet straightforward principles. These principles have broad-reaching personal, social, regional, national, and global implications.

a) Emotional Wellness and Well-Being.

Emotion refers to a personal feeling of one's circumstance, mood, and relationship to others and surroundings. The National Institute of Health (NIH) describes emotional wellness as "the ability to successfully handle life's stresses and adapt to change and difficult times." [11]

Steps to encourage emotional wellness[13]:

1) Spending time with yourself to reflect and relax your mind.

2) Treat yourself with humor. Smiling and laughing help decrease stress and ease life's challenges.

3) Seek help and support, starting with family and friends.

4) Listen to others.

5) Share your thoughts with your loved ones and people you trust.

6) Practice gratitude. Sharing simple gestures and a voice of appreciation has a tremendous positive impact.

7) Practice timely breaks, managing sleep and waking cycles.

b) Physical Wellness and Well-being.

Legendary investor and billionaire Warren Buffett once said- "You have one body and mind, and they both have to last your lifetime. [12]

The mind senses the state of the body, which enormously influences emotional well-being.

Steps to encourage Physical well-being[13]:

1) Spend time for enough physical activity. Make it a habit of targeted physical activity for at least 30 minutes daily in single or multiple sessions.

2) Feel and listen to your body for positive (feel good) and warning signs.

3) Treat your body with regular rest times, including adequate sleep.

4) Consume healthy foods rich in anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidants. Be conscious of your calorie intake and spending.

5) Reduce consumption and application of alcohol and animal products and avoid inhaled substances and drugs.

5) Practice safe sex if you are sexually active.

6) Application of nature-derived products rich in anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidants.

c) Occupational Wellness and Well-being.

Most individuals spend significant time in activities that support their financial goals. Measures that improve occupational wellness have a substantial impact on overall well-being.

Steps to encourage Occupational well-being[13]:

1) Develop positive attitudes towards colleagues and teams.

2) Keep an open mind. Explore opportunities.

3) Set realistic goals and develop a diligent work plan to achieve them piece by piece.

d) Social Wellness and Well-being.

Social interaction refers to personal, occupational, and environmental relationships and their expression. [11] Social wellness promotes meaningful communication, conflict management, respect for others, oneself, and other cultures, traditions, and practices. [11]

Steps to encourage Social well-being[13]:

1) Reflect on your social needs and joyous activities. Set parameters of enjoyment.

2) Be supportive of family, friends, mentors, and community.

3) Recognize the value of your life and your ability and volunteer to make a difference in others' lives with your ability and skills.

4) Participate in focus groups and organizations with positive social, economic, cultural, and environmental impact.

e) Spiritual Wellness and Well-being.

Spiritual refers to the human spirit or soul. Spiritual beliefs may include religious faith but are not tied to a religion or religious practice.[11] 

Steps to encourage Spiritual well-being [13]:

1) Explore yourself. Spend time to think about you and your purpose in this world.

2) Make a ritual to practice Yoga, meditation, and other relaxation techniques.

3) Be curious, learn acceptance.

4) Explore other cultures and practices with an open mind.

5) Respect your culture and extend the same respect to other cultures and practices.

f) Intellectual Wellness and Well-being.

The brain is one of the most active organs in the human body. The brain invokes thoughts and leads to the thought processes that, in turn, result in behavior modification. Encouraging positive thoughts and modifying negative thoughts can favorably affect overall well-being and health.

Steps to encourage Intellectual well-being[13]:

1) Actively listen and be open-minded.

2) Hone your skills. Develop a hobby or side business.

3) Expand your surroundings by traveling and studying.

4) Read, paint, or develop crafts for your pleasure.

5) Engage in extracurricular activities and learn another language.

g) Environmental Wellness and Well-being.

Our surroundings will treat us the same way we treat our surroundings. Human endeavors to create a habitable world have impacted our planet with detrimental effects. Increased transportation and materials use led to the rapid destruction of forests, climate change, seawater, and marine environmental change. [14] Learning to respect nature and its creations is crucial to environmental wellness. [13]

Steps to encourage Environmental Well-being [13]:

1) Limit the generation of trash and dispose of trash properly.

2) Make a habit of visiting outdoors and promote responsible outdoor activities.

3) Reduce emissions by walking or cycling (biking) for your commute.

4) Conserve water whenever possible.

5) Rethink purchases. Reduce consumption. Re-use and Recycle when possible. [14]

6) Judicious energy use, including gas, electricity, and vehicles.

7) Buy local, nature-derived, and seasonal products.

h) Financial Wellness and Well-being.

Personal finance is an ongoing experience; one cannot acquire it in a classroom. Financial health requires basic financial education regarding income and expenses and financial planning and investing skills. [11] Money can provide a measurably longer and healthier life. [15]

Steps to encourage Financial Well-being [13]:

1) Live very well below your means, allowing for significant savings.

2) Receive adequate investing education and invest your savings.

3) Make a plan for debt elimination and implement it.

4) Set a modest budget and allow room for uncertainties.

5) Stick to necessities. Avoid impulsive shopping.

6) Perform Want and Need Analysis before making significant purchases. 7) Ask yourself-"do I want this or need this?"

5. WELLNESS IN SKINCARE AND HAIR CARE.

The skin is the largest organ in our body. Millions of nerve fibers carry sensations to and from the body's skin and scalp. Skin is a crucial part of mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Environmental, occupational, and financial well-being directly and indirectly affect skin's health. [14,17]

Steps to Improve Skin and Hair Wellness [18]:

1) Focus on preserving the skin's current status and work on improving skin health.

2) Prioritize nature-derived skincare that provides slow and natural results rather than quick fixes, rapid result promises, and injectables that provide instant appearance change.

3) Develop a skincare routine using bio-based, nature-derived products.

4) Be patient. Skincare is a long-term commitment; stick to what suits your skin.

5) Apply products that use nature's anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant substances.

SUMMARY

Wellness and well-being have ancient roots dating back to over 10,000 years. Various ancient civilizations have shared identical concepts of wellness. Over the centuries, wellness has evolved from an idea to a civilized, essential process.

Emotional, physical, social, occupational, spiritual, intellectual, financial, and environmental factors influence the wellness and well-being of an individual. 

Wellness of the skin directly affects other aspects of physical and mental well-being. Developing principles and staying on course to follow these principles is an easy step to achieving wellness and well-being.

The focus of Skin wellness should be preserving and maintaining current skin health and improving it further by using nature-derived high-quality skincare products. Dietary modification, behavioral changes, physical activity, and financial improvement are essential cogs in the wheel of optimal skin care.

Disclaimer-This website and content, comment, writing, or authors/contributors/writers do not provide or suggest medical, legal, or professional advice, opinion, or service. The information shared on this website is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

REFERENCES:

  1. Stará, J., & Charvát, M. (2013). Wellness: Its origins, theories, and current applications in the United States. Acta Salus Vitae1(2).
  2. https://www.globalwellnessday.org/about/what-is-wellness/
  3. https://www.who.int/activities/promoting-well-being#:~:text=Well%2Dbeing%20is%20a%20positive,social%2C%20economic%20and%20environmental%20conditions.
  4. https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/what-is-wellness/history-of-wellness/
  5. https://www.sanskritimagazine.com/brahmavarta-land-aryans-located/
  6. https://www.prathaculturalschool.com/post/vedas#:~:text=Giving%20a%20human%20form%20to,to%20reach%20higher%20spiritual%20goals.
  7. Jaiswal YS, Williams LL. A glimpse of Ayurveda- The forgotten history and principles of Indian traditional medicine. J Tradit Complement Med. 2016 Feb28;7(1):50-53. 10.1016/j.jtcme.2016.02.002
  8. Metwaly AM, Ghoneim MM, Eissa IH et al. Traditional ancient Egyptian medicine: A review. Saudi J Biol Sci. 2021 Jun 19;28(10):5823-5832. 10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.06.044
  9. Rajanala S, Vashi N. Cleopatra and Sour Milk- The Ancient Practice of Chemical Peeling. JAMA Dermatol 2017;153:(10):1006. 10.1001/jamadermatol.2017.3393
  10. Gianfaldoni S, Tchernev G, Wollina U et al. History of Baths and Thermal Medicine. Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2017 Jul 23;5(4):566-568.
  11. https://www.csupueblo.edu/health-education-and-prevention/8-dimension-of-well-being.html#:~:text=Wellness%20comprises%20of%20eight%20mutually,intellectual%2C%20environmental%2C%20and%20financial.
  12. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zee64YYd4kI
  13. https://shcs.ucdavis.edu/health-and-wellness/eight-dimensions-wellness
  14. https://kusum.us/blogs/news/nurturing-for-better-tomorrow-part-1
  15. https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/link-between-health-and-financial-well-being
  16. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasudhaiva_Kutumbakam
  17. https://kusum.us/blogs/news/leaving-your-happy-nest-evolve-from-engineered-to-natural
  18. https://kusum.us/blogs/news
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