Holistic Medicine:
A Healing Science

Holistic medicine is a healing science that considers all factors when treating illness. The practitioner does not treat the disease or the symptoms as in traditional medicine. Instead the physical, mental and social conditions of an individual are taken into account; addressing the mind, body and soul.

Holistic healing integrates conventional medicine with complementary and alternative therapies to treat disease and promote optimal health.

It is not the disease or the symptoms that are treated but rather each individual. For an excellent introduction to the principles of holistic medicine and the main therapies and systems used, we recommend The American Holistic Medical Association Guide to Holistic Health: Healing Therapies for Optimal Wellness.

Disease is considered to be the end result when one’s physical, emotional or spiritual environment is out of balance. Therefore, the goal of holistic healing is to bring the individual back into balance.

Medications will be prescribed if appropriate however other alternative therapies such as meditation or massage or acupuncture may be also be advised. Typically more responsibility is placed on the patient to participate in their own health care.

Changing habits and lifestyle is frequently at the cornerstone of holistic medicine. You will work in partnership with your practitioner, making decisions together about your wellness.

The main benefit to this type of treatment is that you are being treated as a person rather than an illness. Typically treatments that are non-invasive and are the least likely to do any harm are used first.

Your unique circumstances and personal health situation will determine the type of health care professional that is right for you. There are holistic physicians, dentists, massage therapists and physiotherapists to name a few. There are some organizations that will help you find the right professional in your area or you can do a local internet search or seek referrals from your family, friends and co-workers.

Before you go for treatment it is important to understand that you will be held accountable and must do the work that is recommended.

Most illness today is the direct result of our lifestyles – the foods we eat and the exercise we get. Often following a diet such as the Meals That Heal Inflammation program is recommended as a place to start.

Holistic treatments do not fix problems, but rather give you the tools and advice that empower you to take control of your own life.

If you are not willing to change some aspects of your life, holistic therapies will not provide the results you desire.

Some people erroneously believe that holistic and homeopathic are interchangeable.

They are not.

The word homeopathy comes from the Greek words ‘homeo’ meaning similar, and ‘pathos’ meaning suffering. The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines homeopathy as “a system of medical practice that treats a disease especially by the administration of minute doses of a remedy that would in larger amounts produce symptoms in healthy person”.

In simpler terms, homeopathic remedies fall under the “law of similars” where “like cures like”.

Therefore holistic medicine is not anything like homeopathic medicine. Read Dr. Wiseman’s definition of holistic health here. Also, the book The American Holistic Medical Association Guide to Holistic Health: Healing Therapies for Optimal Wellness is an excellent resource about the various holistic healing therapies.

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