What Is Holistic Medicine?
Holistic medicine is a whole-person approach to health care that looks at the biological, behavioral, social and environmental parts of your health together, rather than just treating one disease or organ system. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the American Academy of Family Physicians call this whole-person approach integrative health or integrative medicine.
Integrative care brings conventional medicine and complementary approaches, such as meditation, yoga or acupuncture, together in a coordinated way. Complementary approaches are used alongside conventional care, not in place of it.
In a 2012 national survey, more than 30% of US adults and about 12% of children used health care approaches outside conventional medical care. Most people who use them also use conventional care.
Holistic Medicine at a Glance
| Also called | Integrative medicine, integrative health |
|---|---|
| What it is | Conventional medical care coordinated with evidence-based complementary approaches |
| Common parts | Lifestyle change, meditation, yoga, acupuncture, massage and supplements |
| Who it's for | People with cancer, ongoing pain, ongoing tiredness or fibromyalgia, and anyone who wants to improve overall health |
| Evidence | Varies by practice. Meditation and acupuncture have research support for some conditions. Reiki has not been clearly shown to work. |
| Main risks | Supplement side effects and drug interactions, and delaying proven treatment |
| Replaces regular medical care? | No. Complementary approaches are used with conventional care. |
What Does Holistic Medicine Include?
Holistic medicine includes conventional care plus complementary approaches, which NIH groups as psychological, physical or nutritional, or a combination.
Lifestyle medicine
Lifestyle medicine rests on six pillars: healthy eating, physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, avoiding risky substances and positive social connections. An American College of Lifestyle Medicine expert panel reached consensus that lifestyle medicine is an essential part of primary care for patients of all ages.
Mind-body practices
- Meditation and mindfulness: focusing on one thing, such as the breath, a sound or a repeated word, or, in mindfulness, paying attention to the present moment without judgment. In 2022, 17.3% of US adults meditated.
- Yoga, tai chi and acupuncture: practices that combine physical and psychological elements
- Relaxation techniques: such as breathing exercises and guided imagery
Physical and nutritional approaches
- Physical: massage therapy and spinal manipulation
- Nutritional: special diets, herbs, vitamins, minerals and probiotics, often sold as dietary supplements
Reiki
In Reiki, a practitioner places their hands lightly on or just above you, aiming to direct energy that supports healing. There's no scientific evidence that this energy field exists.
Does Holistic Medicine Work?
Whether holistic medicine works depends on the specific practice and condition, because the research behind each approach varies widely.
- Chronic low back pain: the American College of Physicians' 2017 guideline strongly recommends starting with non-drug treatments, including exercise, acupuncture, mindfulness-based stress reduction, tai chi, yoga and progressive relaxation.
- Anxiety and depression: a 2018 analysis of more than 12,000 people with diagnosed conditions such as anxiety or depression found mindfulness-based approaches worked better than no treatment and as well as established treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and antidepressants.
- Sleep: mindfulness meditation improved sleep quality more than education-based programs, with effects no different from cognitive behavioral therapy and exercise.
- Reiki: not clearly shown to be effective for any health purpose
- Supplements: large, rigorous studies of a few supplements often found they didn't work for the conditions studied.
Much meditation research is preliminary, and results may have been interpreted too optimistically.
Who Is Holistic Medicine For?
Holistic medicine is for anyone who wants to improve overall health and wellness. Integrative practices can help people with cancer, ongoing pain, ongoing tiredness or fibromyalgia manage symptoms and improve quality of life.
What to Expect From Holistic Medicine
Holistic medicine starts with an open conversation with your provider about your health, your goals and every product or practice you use. Expect to:
- Review your medicines and supplements for side effects and interactions
- Discuss what research shows about any approach you're considering
- Learn practices such as meditation or yoga through a class, an app or a video
- Choose any outside practitioner as carefully as a conventional provider, and confirm they'll work with your other clinicians
Risks and Safety of Holistic Medicine
Key risks of holistic medicine come from supplements and from delaying proven treatment, which can have serious consequences. "Natural" doesn't always mean safe.
- Dietary supplements don't need FDA approval before they're sold.
- Some supplements raise bleeding risk or affect anesthesia. St. John's wort can make some antidepressants and birth control pills less effective.
- Some botanical products, such as comfrey and kava, can harm the liver.
- Meditation usually carries few risks, but a 2020 review estimated that about 8% of participants had a negative effect, most often anxiety or depression.
Holistic Medicine vs. Alternative and Functional Medicine
Holistic medicine works with conventional care, while alternative medicine replaces it.
| Approach | Relationship to conventional care | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Holistic (integrative) | Coordinates conventional and complementary care for the whole person | Medication or physical rehabilitation combined with acupuncture or yoga |
| Complementary | A non-mainstream approach used together with conventional care | Acupuncture to help with side effects of cancer treatment |
| Alternative | A non-mainstream approach used instead of conventional care | NIH advises against using unproven approaches this way. |
| Functional medicine | Sometimes similar to integrative health; sometimes closer to naturopathy | Varies by practitioner |
Holistic Medicine at GENEVA in Alpharetta / Johns Creek
At GENEVA Primary Care & Med Spa in Alpharetta, GA, a provider evaluates your health concerns, goals, medicines and any complementary approaches you use. Based on that evaluation, your provider recommends care at GENEVA or a referral to a specialist.
You can start with a primary care visit or learn about wellness and longevity care. GENEVA serves patients from Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Roswell and Cumming.
Related Terms
- Functional Medicine
- Chronic Disease Management
- Anxiety Disorder
- Depression
- Joint Pain
- Annual Wellness Exam
- Preventive Screening
Holistic Medicine FAQs
Is holistic medicine evidence-based?
Holistic medicine is only as evidence-based as each practice within it, and the evidence varies widely. The American College of Physicians recommends acupuncture, mindfulness-based stress reduction, tai chi and yoga as first-line options for chronic low back pain. Reiki hasn't been clearly shown to work for any health purpose, and large studies of a few supplements often found no benefit. Ask your provider what studies show, and be wary of claims based on personal stories.
What is the difference between holistic and integrative medicine?
Holistic and integrative medicine both describe whole-person care, and integrative medicine is the term used by NIH and the American Academy of Family Physicians. NIH defines integrative health as bringing conventional and complementary approaches together in a coordinated way, with an emphasis on treating the whole person rather than one organ system. Mayo Clinic describes it as combining the most well-researched conventional and complementary treatments. Because the terms vary in meaning, ask any provider how they choose approaches and whether they coordinate with your other clinicians.
Does Reiki actually work?
Reiki hasn't been clearly shown to be effective for any health-related purpose, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Studies have looked at pain, anxiety and depression, but most were not high quality and their results were inconsistent. There's also no scientific evidence that the energy field Reiki relies on exists. Reiki hasn't been shown to cause harm, but it shouldn't replace or delay medical care for a health problem.
Can meditation help with anxiety and sleep?
Meditation may help with anxiety, depression and sleep, though much of the research is preliminary. A 2018 analysis of more than 12,000 people with conditions such as anxiety or depression found mindfulness-based approaches worked better than no treatment and as well as established treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy and antidepressants. A 2019 analysis of 18 studies found mindfulness meditation improved sleep quality more than education-based programs. Don't use it to replace care for a medical problem.
Is holistic medicine safe?
Meditation usually carries few risks, but the safety of holistic medicine depends on the specific product or practice. Dietary supplements call for extra caution. They don't need FDA approval before sale, some can increase bleeding or affect anesthesia, and St. John's wort can make some antidepressants and birth control pills less effective. Comfrey and kava can harm the liver. Tell every provider about all the supplements and practices you use.
Can holistic medicine replace my regular doctor or medications?
No, holistic medicine is meant to work alongside conventional care, not replace it. Using a non-mainstream approach in place of conventional medicine is called alternative medicine, and NIH advises against using any unproven product or practice as a substitute for medical treatment or as a reason to put off seeing a provider. Stopping, or not starting, a proven treatment can have serious consequences. Talk with your provider before stopping a medicine or skipping a recommended treatment.
Can a primary care provider offer holistic medicine?
Yes, a primary care provider can take a whole-person approach and coordinate lifestyle and complementary care with your medical treatment. The American Academy of Family Physicians says physicians best serve patients when evidence-based integrative approaches are offered alongside conventional care. At GENEVA in Alpharetta, a provider evaluates your concerns, medicines and goals, then recommends care at GENEVA or a referral to a specialist. Bring a list of every supplement you take.