What Is Holistic Health?

Our Bodies, Ourselves: What Is Holistic Health?

To some, the term “holistic health” may conjure images of crystal healing or pseudoscience, a mystical, magical approach to get healthy without going through traditional medical treatment. If that were the case, it would be easy to dismiss the whole field as superstitious nonsense, but many of the practices and techniques that comprise holistic health are becoming increasingly common, and medical researchers are finally beginning to study the health benefits that can emerge from holistic health practices such as mindfulness meditation and yoga. You may even be integrating some holistic health practices into your life without knowing it!

A Whole-Body Approach

Holistic health is concerned with the person as a complete system. The American Holistic Health Association identifies its primary goal as promoting well-being in several related internal and external processes:

• Physical processes, like breathing, sensations of pain, or circulation
• Psychological inputs, such as stress or overall happiness
• Social and spiritual aspects, such as relationships, living situation, and beliefs

The whole-person approach is especially apparent in holistic health fields like chiropractic, acupuncture, and massage, where practitioners seek to treat both physical maladies, like back pain or headaches, alongside mental ailments such as anxiety and stress. Diet and exercise play a big part in holistic health, as do the attitude and behaviors of the patient.

Connects Mind and Body

Holistic health holds to the belief that the physical and mental are innately connected. The decisions we make, the things that annoy us and make us happy: all of these can have a major impact on our physical health. It doesn’t seem that far-fetched: an angry person might have high blood pressure, and someone who eats a healthy lunch may find they perform better at mental tasks through the afternoon.
Holistic health holds to the belief that body & mind are innately connected. Click To Tweet
Mindfulness meditation and biofeedback, these two fields increasingly studied by practitioners of traditional medicine, both relate to this mind-body connection, and recent studies have supported the connection between mental and physical well-being: in an overview of mindfulness meditation in healthcare applications, a 2015 peer-reviewed study supported the use of meditation for the adjunct treatment of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and chronic pain.

What Holistic Health Isn’t

It isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to health, but instead encompasses a series of lifestyle changes that can all contribute to optimal health. The American Holistic Health Association notes that the practice is not primarily intended to treat symptoms or cure illness, but rather to prevent chronic disease and teach patients to take responsibility for their own health. A patient seeking this treatment shouldn’t expect to be instantly cured, but should expect an ongoing process of working with a health practitioner to discover which techniques contribute to their overall health and wellness goals.
Holistic health helps prevent chronic disease and improve wellness. Click To Tweet

Can Holistic Health Do It Alone?

Holistic health shouldn’t be viewed as a replacement for a traditional doctor, but instead as an enhancement. If you’re sick, by all means, see a traditional doctor! Especially in cases of extreme illness, it’s important to seek regular care from specialists who have access to the latest medically-accepted practices and procedures.

That said, many medical doctors are also integrating some this approach into their practices. Doctors taking a holistic approach might ask their patients about aspects of their life that could have an effect on symptoms, diseases, or treatments such as:

• Recent major life changes
• The patient’s habits, such as diet and exercise
• Activities that may have contributed to illness or injury
• The patient’s interest in alternative or complementary treatments

If you’re interested in making the health program part of your life, try going to yoga, or setting aside a few minutes a day to sit quietly and meditate. Over time, you may soon experience a boost in your overall well-being.