What is Holistic Medicine?

 First, contrary to common misconception, holistic medicine is not anti-science. It draws on science-backed treatment methods. The only major difference between holistic and traditional medicine is how the two view the patient, sickness, and treatment.

Most conventional medical practices provide medical solutions to treat symptoms, like surgery and medication. Such solutions do work, except most only treat the symptoms, not the root cause of those symptoms. That’s where holistic medicine comes in.

A holistic doctor will take a deeper, broader look at the patient, the condition, and its symptoms. The doctor would then combine traditional medicine (e.g., surgery, therapy) and complementary alternative medicines (CAM), like Massage, Meditation, or Yoga, to treat the cause of the symptoms. In addition to the belief that treatment involves addressing the cause of a condition, not just relieving its symptoms, other principles underpin the practice.

Holistic doctors see the patient as a person, not a disease; thus, they believe a condition shouldn’t define an individual. They also believe that people have inborn healing powers, which explains why CAM practices, like meditation, are popular treatment techniques among holistic doctors. They also believe that treatment is not a one-way affair and that the patient and the practitioner must work as a team. Holistic medicine practitioners also favor disease prevention over treatment.

Overall, holistic practitioners believe that good health results from the health of the whole – the emotional, spiritual, mental, physical, and social wellness. Because of this holistic approach to healthcare and treatment, there are numerous holistic treatments. Some focus on nutrition. Others focus on the nervous system to cure chronic conditions (Acupuncture, Chiropractic care, etc.). Then there’s Naturopathy, which uses natural remedies like herbs to boost overall health. There’s also Aromatherapy, which uses the sense of smell to deliver healing.

As diseases become increasingly difficult to treat due to drug resistance and other factors, more people are starting to seek holistic medicine. The reasons for this shift include more personalized treatment, the combination of conventional treatment methods with CAM, and the empowerment of patients to take control of their health and to help their bodies heal on their own.

These advantages result in better health outcomes. The only major downside is that most insurance companies do not cover some holistic treatments, like Yoga, leaving the patient to cover treatment cost out of pocket. Also, because holistic treatments rely on the patient and the doctor working as a team, patients who are unwilling to put the work in may not see its full impact.

If you’re looking for a holistic practitioner, be careful where you look and whom you work with. The American Holistic Medical website keeps a list of certified holistic doctors. Start your search there. If you have to work with someone not listed on the website, be sure to find as much as you can about them; if you can get a recommendation from someone you trust, even better.

Most holistic treatments are safe and effective. However, you should not delay treatment or self-medicate. You should always seek professional help first. Some holistic practitioners are “real” doctors with medical degrees; others are not licensed doctors. The most important thing to remember is that holistic medicine is a complement to conventional medical care, not a substitute.