How is Holistic Medicine Different than Conventional Medicine?

Conventional medicine focuses on treating symptoms of health conditions using medication and invasive techniques. Holistic medicine works differently because it addresses the connection between mind, body, and spirit. Holistic medicine strives for balance and overall wellness to help people enjoy a healthy life. 

What is Holistic Medicine?

Holistic medicine seeks to understand you as a whole, unique person with mental, emotional, and physical health needs. When any one of these areas becomes out of balance or stressed, you may experience this in all realms of your life. A naturopathic physician like Dr. Doug Cutler will use a detailed lifestyle assessment and advanced testing as part of a holistic approach to care. Holistic medicine treats the person, not just a set of symptoms, and seeks to discover and remove the root cause of the imbalance. 

How is Holistic Medicine Different than Conventional Medicine?

These two systems of medicine take fundamentally different approaches toward healing. They even differ in their concept of what healing means. For conventional medicine, “healing” might mean that the physical symptoms improve when treated. A holistic medicine practitioner would not consider a person healed until the complex underlying causes of the condition had been resolved. 

Conventional medicine often makes assumptions about the root cause of a condition without assessing all the relevant factors. If you went to see a conventional doctor due to difficulty sleeping, you might get a sleeping pill. You will probably sleep, but you will not have addressed the cause of your sleep issues. Holistic medicine will assess your stress levels, habits, and other factors and help you make changes to improve sleep naturally. Your holistic medicine practitioner may also recommend dietary changes or herbal supplements. 

What Methods Does Holistic Medicine Use?

Holistic medicine is a broad term that encompasses several other types of treatment. Herbal medicine offers a holistic approach by using plant-based treatments that help the body restore balance. Functional medicine focuses on the interrelated and intertwined functions of the body’s organs and systems, seeing symptoms from one organ as part of a system out of balance. Holistic medicine often uses lifestyle changes, a personalized nutrition plan, and stress relief to help the whole person feel healthier.