Since many of us try holistic health: definition, benefits, tips to focus on holistic health when it comes to caring for our mental state, let’s take a look at how a more holistic approach to mental wellness may be beneficial. Naturopathy, which you might hear called natural medicine, is a type of holistic medicine. Naturopathy uses only natural remedies, such as herbal medicine and acupuncture, to help your body heal itself.
By combining these modalities, holistic medicine empowers patients to take an active role in their health and wellness. Holistic health is an increasingly popular approach to wellness that considers the whole person—body, mind, and spirit—in the pursuit of optimal health and well-being. Unlike conventional medicine, which often focuses on treating specific symptoms or diseases, holistic health emphasizes the interconnectedness of all aspects of life. This philosophy encourages balance in physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual areas to achieve lasting health. By addressing the root causes of illness rather than simply managing symptoms, holistic medicine promotes long-term well-being and disease prevention.
Instead of waiting for illness to strike, holistic health encourages daily practices that support resilience. These therapies are not magic bullets, but tools that can support the body’s natural healing capacity. Unlike pharmaceutical drugs, which often target specific symptoms, herbs are chosen to support the whole person. A herbalist might create a personalized blend based on your constitution, symptoms, and lifestyle. Holistic health is a philosophy and a lifestyle that sees you not just as a body or a collection of organs, but as a whole person—mind, body, spirit, and emotions all intricately connected. In this framework, optimal health isn’t just the absence of disease; it’s a dynamic state of balance and vitality across all areas of life.
Acupuncture, a key practice in TCM, involves inserting tiny needles into specific points on the body to restore energy flow and balance. It’s used to treat a wide range of issues from pain to digestive disorders to infertility. Exercise has been shown to improve mood, reduce anxiety, boost memory, and enhance sleep. From a holistic lens, regular movement keeps energy flowing—not just blood and lymph, but also your life force, known as Qi in Chinese medicine or Prana in Ayurveda.
By implementing these practical tips, individuals can achieve a more balanced and holistic approach to health, addressing key aspects of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness. Let’s explore each pillar and learn some practical tips to optimize health and resilience. The basis of holistic health is to treat the whole person rather than just one specific condition. In fact, the definition of holistic comes from “the whole,” focusing on a person’s complete self rather than just one particular issue they’re experiencing.
Holistic health also inspires greater self-care, which can increase self-esteem, self-regulation, personal growth, optimism, and dignity. Wendy Wisner is a journalist and international board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC). She has written about all things pregnancy, maternal/child health, parenting, and general health and wellness. Techniques such as acupuncture, yoga, and deep breathing have also been effective for many purposes.
In holistic healing, fostering this connection can be a powerful force for transformation. Spiritual health is perhaps the most personal and elusive aspect of holistic wellness. It’s about meaning, purpose, and connection—whether to God, the universe, nature, or your inner self. In holistic health, emotions are treated not as problems to be fixed, but as signals to be heard. Chronic physical ailments are sometimes linked to repressed or unresolved emotions.
You should also find out about insurance and payment options before you begin your treatment. Because many holistic approaches are not covered by insurance, your therapist may not accept insurance as a form of payment. Check with your insurance provider to find out what services are covered before you begin treatment. You might start your search by talking to your primary care physician to see if they can refer you to a local holistic therapist.
He has a master’s in acupuncture and oriental medicine from South Baylo University and a master’s in business administration from the University of Illinois. He completed his residency in internal medicine at the University of California in Los Angeles and a fellowship at the Center for East-West Medicine at UCLA. He has held academic appointments at the University of California in Irvine and the University of Queensland in Australia. To find a holistic practitioner in your area, visit the American Holistic Health Association website. There you can use an online provider search to find a practitioner near you.
Courtney Payne is our Front Desk / Client liaison and is the friendly face out front that you will see when you visit our clinic. Courtney is passionate about supporting our clinic’s mission to help people regain their health, and she keeps things running smoothly in the clinic. She is excited to welcome you in and answer questions that come up along your health journey. Integrating holistic lifestyle tips into your daily routine is a gradual and achievable process. Acupuncture uses tiny needles, suction cups, and pressure points in specified points of the body to activate and strengthen these meridians for different purposes. Research is ongoing, but many users swear by acupuncture as an effective method for easing health issues and types of discomfort.
