Rather than the typical medical treatment model of treating symptoms to try to achieve a cure, holistic medicine and holistic healing take a broader approach toward a person’s overall health and well being.
A holistic health practitioner will examine not only the body, but the mind-body connection that is integral to a person’s well being. In addition, the holistic healer will also probe other aspects of the human patient that are integral components of the whole person, such as one’s spirituality and emotions.
So the concept behind holistic healing is the entire person, not just the physical body or any other single aspect of the patient. And it seeks to find the cause of the medical problem, instead of trying to just treat the symptoms.
The way that holistic healing characterizes the cause of a medical condition is in looking at it as an imbalance in the otherwise harmonious functioning of a person. The concept then, is to correct any imbalances and maintain all of the aspects of the patient in a proper balance.
Holistic healers use a variety of tools and methods to treat their patients, from non-traditional healing to prescription medication. It all depends on the healthcare needs of the individual and what the healer determines is the best path toward helping that patient regain a balanced, healthy and harmonious life.