Definition of Holistic Medicine and Healing

Although the official definition of holistic medicine and healing is relatively new, its practice predates history.

Holistic medicine and healing has roots tracing back to ancient China and India over 5,000 years ago. The emphasis was on healthy living and living in harmony with nature.

Down through the ages people the world over have believed that all parts of our being are related. No part exists or can be treated in isolation. The cause and cure of all disease is within the mind and body of the person.

Socrates taught that treating only one part of the body would have poor results and to take it as a whole.

Hippocrates emphasized the body's ability to heal itself and warned doctors not to interfere with this process. He was aware that there are many contributing factors to health. These included weather, emotions and food. His famous quote, "First do no harm," is part of the oath all doctors take.

What is Holistic Medicine?

The official definition of holistic medicine, according to the American Board of Holistic Medicine (ABHM) and the American Holistic Medicine Association (AHMA) is

"the art and science of healing that addresses the whole person-body, mind and spirit. The practice of holistic medicine integrates conventional and complementary therapies to promote optimal health and to prevent and treat disease."

You may be surprised to see that this holistic definition includes conventional allopathic medicine as well as alternative therapies. It encompasses all modalities of diagnosis and treatment. This includes everything from pharmaceuticals to acupuncture to energy healing to chiropractic and herbal remedies.

Although holistic practitioners and like-minded folks favor holistic complementary and alternative methods as the treatment of choice whenever possible, they know that sometimes using conventional medicine is necessary. Yes, that even includes surgery and drugs if they are the best courses of treatment for your health concern at the time.

As part of their holistic definition, many holistic practitioners also include an emphasis on education, personal responsibility and love of self and others. This means loving yourself enough to do what it takes to improve your health in all areas of your life. It is an ongoing journey and a personal commitment to wellness. There is a partnership between you and your doctor with the ultimate decisions and responsibility being your own.

Hopefully, as the practice of medicine evolves, there will be less need for a definition of holistic medicine and healing apart from conventional medicine as we know it today. Already many doctors are training to become holistic physicians and therapies that were once considered "alternative" are now in the mainstream. This is only the beginning.



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