Holistic

Holistic Medicine

Holistic medicine (pronunciation: /hoʊˈlɪstɪk ˈmɛdɪsɪn/) is a form of healing that considers the whole person -- body, mind, spirit, and emotions -- in the quest for optimal health and wellness.

Etymology

The term "holistic" comes from the Greek word "holos" which means "whole" or "all". It was first used in this context in the 1920s by South African statesman Jan Smuts in his book "Holism and Evolution".

Related Terms

• Alternative Medicine: A term that describes medical treatments that are used instead of traditional (mainstream) therapies.
• Integrative Medicine: A healing-oriented medicine that takes account of the whole person, including all aspects of lifestyle.
• Wellness: The state of being in good health, especially as an actively pursued goal.
• Mind-Body Connection: The belief in the ability of the mind to influence physical health.
• Naturopathy: A system of treatment that avoids drugs and surgery and emphasizes the use of natural agents (such as air, water, and herbs) and physical means (such as tissue manipulation and electrotherapy).

See Also

• Complementary and Alternative Medicine
• Mind-Body Therapies
• Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Ayurveda

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Holistic
• Wikipedia's article - Holistic

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