Holistic healing refers to a treatment strategy that promotes cooperation among everyone involved in medical care, with the aim of achieving optimal mental, physical, emotional, spiritual, and social health. The goal is optimal functioning as well as a sense of well-being, no matter the health status of the individual, leading to a more harmonious and balanced life that is lived to the fullest. Often the terms complementary medicine, alternative medicine, preventative medicine, or natural medicine are the same as holistic medicine because each of these treatment methods focuses on treating the individual as a whole human being rather than treating an isolated part of the body or condition.
Holistic healing covers a wide variety of treatment methods, including surgical procedures and pharmaceutical drugs, after other methods have been exhausted. It emphasizes lifestyle changes that improve health, empowers the individual through education, and encourages one to take responsibility for their health. The health care professional and the patient will work together to create the best possible treatment plan. This relationship between the practitioner and the patient is the foundation of holistic medicine.