Holistic medicine blends both conventional and alternative therapies to create healing. It focuses on treating the mind, body and spirit together rather than just alleviating physical symptoms, according to the American Holistic Medicine Association. Holistic physicians, according to the group, "believe that unconditional love is life's most powerful medicine."
Types
The term holistic medicine encompasses a broad spectrum of healing methods. At one end, and in line with mainstream care, is a focus on healthful lifestyle habits, such as eating nutritious foods, avoiding tobacco use, getting enough exercise and controlling stress, according to the American Cancer Society. At the other is a nearly complete rejection of conventional medicine in favor of alternative therapies such as acupuncture, healing touch, herbal supplements, hypnosis and yoga.
History
Some of the techniques involved in holistic medicine date back hundreds, or even thousands, of years. Acupuncture, for example, got its start around 1000 B.C., according to the Ponce School of Medicine in Puerto Rico. Socrates and Hippocrates both advocated for holistic approaches to medicine. The concept in modern form took shape around 1926 when South African statesman Jan Christiaan Smuts introduced the term "holism." The field has grown steadily in the United States since the 1970s.
Benefits
Holistic medicine respects the individual patient's beliefs, habits and lifestyle, according to the American Holistic Medicine Association. Practitioners believe the person is more important than the illness. Treatment begins with modalities least likely to be harmful and is often less expensive than mainstream surgery or drugs.
Warning
Relying exclusively on holistic medicine could be dangerous when dealing with serious conditions such as cancer, according to the American Cancer Society, because modern science has not show that such an approach is effective. Additionally, the group notes, some herbs can cause harm, especially when combined with prescription medications. Full data on side effects and potential reactions is often not unavailable or incomplete.
Related Terms
Several other phrases tend to come up during discussion of holistic medicine and are sometimes used synonymously. "Alternative medicine" pertains to techniques, such as crystal therapy and homeopathy, not accepted by the mainstream medical establishment. Such methods are generally noninvasive and do not involve prescription medications, according to HolisticMed.com, an informational website on the topic. Like holistic medicine, "complementary medicine" and "integrative medicine" refer to alternative therapies used alongside conventional techniques such as drugs and surgery.
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