Not everyone realizes the importance of a holistic approach to healthcare. Like the terms organic and natural, the meaning of “holistic” isn’t perfectly clear, and can even sound to some like an elite, or even unnecessary luxury. But the meaning of holistic healthcare is in fact quite simple — and crucial to know about if you want to eliminate pain, reduce stress, and be the healthiest you can be.
Holistic healthcare takes into account a patient’s entire being — body, mind, and spirit — and aims to balance all three.

Why is it so important for each and every one of us to take a holistic approach to our own well-being? Because our bodies are full of interconnected parts, and our mind and spirit make a big impact on our physical wellness. Conventional medicine targets individual symptoms, but doesn’t always look at the big picture for underlying causes.

With holistic medicine, practitioners look at your body as a whole, accounting for possible reactions throughout your mental and physical self to get you back into a balanced state. For instance, if a new medication to relieve stress is keeping you up at night, it’s not really doing its job like it should. Instead of prescribing a sleeping pill on top of the existing medication, a holistic healthcare provider would first look for alternatives to nip the problem in the bud, rather than layering on additional medication.

Holistic healthcare is about results, minus the side effects.

Holistic medicine is an approach to healthcare that many doctors and acupuncturists take, so look for the word “holistic” when you’re researching your next healthcare provider. It’s a logical, rational approach to wellness that everybody can benefit from. After all, a patient is more than his symptoms!