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Beyond Traditional Medicine: How Wellness Travel and Coaching Are Revolutionizing Womens Health
- COLLEEN O'NEILL MULVIHILL
- Mar 14
- 5 min read
Beyond Traditional Medicine: How Wellness Travel and Coaching Are Revolutionizing Womens Health
Throughout history, the term ‘traditional medicine' has encompassed a diverse range of
healing practices, from food and herbs to water therapy and sound therapy. This rich
heritage, deeply rooted in our past, includes the healing practices of ancient Romans
with their baths, ancient Egyptians with their oils and poultices, and ancient Greeks with their sound therapy and vegetarian diets.
On what is now United States soil, generations of native tribes used herbal remedies
and natural food to heal their fellow tribal members. Generations passed along methods
and modalities to preserve health and well-being by cohabiting with the land and
embracing her gifts. When British settlers arrived, many were deathly ill from their trans-Atlantic voyage; native Americans shared healing remedies and even assisted in caring for the sick.
Traditional medicine has existed for as long as humans have roamed the planet. So why
is it that in the United States of America in the year 2025, despite spending the most on healthcare, we are the sickest and most likely to die young when compared to other
high-income nations? Women, in particular, are facing unique health challenges, with
high rates of chronic conditions such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and
autoimmune conditions.
The Emergence of New Traditional Medicine in the USA
The early 20th century saw the emergence of a powerful pharmaceutical industry. John
D. Rockefeller, already a titan in the oil industry, invested heavily in this burgeoning
field. He and others recognized the profit potential in pharmaceuticals, leading to
increased funding for research into synthetic drugs and the development of new
medications. This shift towards pharmaceuticals was driven by both financial interests
and the scientific advances that made drugs more effective and easier to standardize.
With the rise of conventional medicine, traditional and holistic practices found
themselves on the sidelines. Herbal medicine, acupuncture, and other non-invasive
therapies, once integral to healing, struggled for recognition and funding. The
dominance of pharmaceutical and surgical methods now considered the 'gold standard'
of medical care, led to the marginalization of these traditional practices.
Yet, despite all the gold-standard advancements, new pharmaceutical drugs, access to
care, and money, we are a very unhealthy nation. Everyone knows someone with
cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and autoimmune conditions.
We take medicine to control these diseases, yet if the medicine effectively worked to
heal the condition, there would be no reason to stay on that medication for years. But
we all know people who do. Maybe you’re one of them. If you’re ready to take back your
power and carve your own path toward healing, I’ve got some information you’ll want to read.
The Paradigm is Shifting
In a country where women’s health is under scrutiny, often marginalized, and, in some
cases, vilified, there is a growing demand for a paradigm shift. Women are no longer
willing to accept the status quo. They are demanding better treatment options and
pushing for access to what was once considered traditional care.
However, if we choose therapies such as acupuncture, chiropractic, nutrition, ayurvedic,
or thalassotherapy, we often pay out-of-pocket, avoiding the conventional system
altogether. Despite the challenges, these alternative therapies hold the potential to
provide significant relief, giving us hope and optimism as we navigate our health
journey.
Navigating our journey alone can be difficult. Because of this, many women are hiring
health coaches, nutritionists, and even life coaches to help them carve a path toward
holistic health and well-being. Working with a health coach allows a woman the time
and space to “peel back the onion” and discover the root causes of symptoms. Having a
trusted confidant, a support system, professional guidance, and a personalized plan can
be truly life-changing.
Navigating our journey alone can be difficult.
In my many years of health coaching, there was still one piece of the health journey
puzzle that I consistently witnessed women struggling with. Most of my clients are
professional women who work inside and outside the home, raising families while
breaking glass ceilings. They are the go-getters, the women in charge, who tend to put
everyone else’s needs ahead of their own. Their number one challenge when it comes
to taking back their health and well-being? Their home and work environment.
Health Coaching Combined with Wellness Travel is Revolutionizing Women’s Health
Their number one challenge when it comes to taking back their health and well-being? Their home and work environment.
When I discovered how difficult it was for women to prioritize their health because of
their home and work environments, I had a thought. What if I could give these women
the gift of time away in the perfect environment that would allow healing to begin?
From there, the idea continued to develop. What if we began health coaching at the
front end of the trip so we got crystal clear on our goals, designed and planned a
perfectly curated wellness travel experience that supported those goals, and continued
health coaching post-trip? From that idea, my business, Holistic Health Traveler, was
born.
Here are three very compelling reasons why this method works:
1) Holistic Personalization and Empowerment:
Integrating health coaching with wellness travel allows for a deeply personalized
approach to health and well-being. Health coaches work with women to identify specific
goals and challenges, creating customized plans beyond generic advice. This
empowers women to take charge of their health by aligning their lifestyle changes with
their personal needs and aspirations, fostering a sense of ownership and self-efficacy in
managing their health.
2) Enhanced Stress Management and Mental Resilience:
Wellness travel offers an escape from daily stressors and an opportunity to engage in
practices such as meditation, yoga, and mindfulness in serene and supportive
environments. When combined with health coaching, these experiences equip women
with practical tools and strategies for managing stress and building mental resilience.
The supportive environment and structured learning provided by coaching help women
integrate these practices into their everyday lives, leading to sustained physical and
psychological well-being.
3) Long-lasting Lifestyle Transformations:
The synergy between wellness travel and health coaching facilitates sustainable
lifestyle changes. While travel provides immersive experiences that inspire and educate,
coaching ensures that the insights and habits acquired are reinforced and maintained
post-trip. This dual approach supports women in breaking old habits and adopting new,
healthier routines that align with their unique health goals. As a result, women
experience immediate benefits and long-term improvements in their physical and
emotional health.
A Comprehensive Approach to Women’s Healthcare
These aspects collectively offer a comprehensive and transformative approach to
women's health, setting the stage for meaningful and lasting change. Wellbeing takeson a new paradigm when a woman allows herself the time to step away, enter a healing environment, and let her body do what it innately knows how to do—heal naturally.
The goal of combining health coaching with a curated wellness travel experience is to
offer a holistic approach not found in today’s traditional Western medicine. This
approach puts a woman back in control of her healing journey and utilizes healing
methodologies that appeal to her, all while she receives the support of an experienced
health advocate. It’s an approach that’s time has come, and I am totally here for it!
Meet the expert:
Colleen is a certified holistic nutrition consultant, health coach, and transformational wellness travel coach. She has published over 50 articles on wellness and travel and co-
authored The Wellness Bucket List: 1000 Escapes and Experiences to Enrich Your Mind, Body, and Soul. Her business, Holistic Health Traveler, helps women over 40 journey to better health through curated wellness travel and comprehensive health coaching.
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