Holistic medicine refers to an alternative form of medicine that regards the patient as a whole and does not focus on the affected part of the body during a particular illness. Holistic medicine regards the psychological, physical, and social well-being of a patient. Holistic medicine is sometimes referred to as holistic health.
Holistic medicine takes into account various aspects of a patient's lifestyle. While treating a patient, a holistic professional will require analysis of physical, nutritional, environmental, emotional, social, spiritual, and lifestyle values during assessment. Holistic medicine tries to use alternative methods of treatment before, or in conjunction with, more accepted Western style drugs and surgery to treat conditions in patients. Some types of alternative treatments considered in holistic medicine include acupuncture, chiropractic treatments, homeopathy, massage, and naturopathy.
Holistic medicine includes a diverse field of medicine in which alternative approaches and therapies are used before mainstream medicine. The use of mainstream medicine along with holistic medicine is commonly referred to as integrative medicine.
Synonyms
Holistic Health
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