Holistic health is a practice that acknowledges the interconnectedness of the body, mind, and spirit! It’s based on the idea that a whole system is made up of interdependent parts. For example, the ecosystem here on Earth is made up of air, forests, water, plants, and animals. For life to continue to flourish, all those pieces need to be in harmony. If something happens that affects one of these parts, it’s felt throughout the whole system! Similarly, the human body is a system of connected, interdependent parts.

Holistic health practices focus on healing and balancing all of these aspects of wellness — looking at health as a whole, rather than pieces that function separately. A holistic health practitioner is likely to prescribe both traditional medicines, as well as lifestyle changes such as improved nutrition and sleep, connection to a community, spiritual support, energetic healing, mindfulness, and more to help balance physical, mental, emotional, energetic, and spiritual health.

Holistic health as we know it today began with ancient healing practices that originated thousands of years ago. These ancient practices stressed living a healthy, balanced life. Traditions such as Ayurveda, acupuncture, the study of chakras, meridian lines, and energy healing originated in the East, in countries such as India and China. These practices made their way around the globe, but as scientific medical advances were made in the West, healthcare began to focus mainly on quick fixes through pills and medicine instead of healing through lifestyle changes.

As time has gone on, people have begun to circle back to that original knowledge of healing by holistic means. A holistic health lifestyle has grown in popularity each year, as holistic methods offer easy-to-implement lifestyle changes that support the whole person.

Examples of Holistic Health Practices

Chiropractic Care

Acupuncture

Yoga

Massage

Qigong

Earthing/Grounding

Cupping

Reflexology

Mindfulness

Mantra Meditation

Visualization

Metta (Loving Kindness) Meditation

Movement Meditation

Progressive Relaxation

Herbal Supplements

Meal Planning

Intuitive Eating

Whole Foods

Hydration

Essential Oils

Fasting

Detoxing (chelating heavy metals, liver cleanse, etc)

The Emotion Code

The Body Code

The Belief Code

Magnetic Healing

Sound Baths

Reiki

Electromagnetic Therapy

Emotional Freedom Technique

Principles Of Holistic Health

Mind

MIND

BODY

SOUL

Holistic health is characterized by the treatment of the whole person – mind, body, and soul – taking into account mental and social factors, as well as physical symptoms of disease. Principles of holistic health rest primarily on the idea that our bodies have an innate ability to heal themselves. Holistic health uses both modern medicine as well as alternative health methods to treat symptoms of physical, emotional, and mental distress.

Holistic health pursues the highest level of functioning and balances every aspect of the human experience. This includes physical, mental, social, emotional, spiritual, and social conditions. Balance between these concepts may achieve a well-rounded, healthy, happy state of being.

  • LOVE: Treatment performed on any living thing is done with kindness, respect, acceptance, and grace.

  • WHOLE PERSON: Each living being relies on the health of the physical body, mind, and spirit to achieve true wellness.

  • PREVENTION: Health is best maintained first through prevention. Limiting behaviors that harm the whole person is the first step to disease prevention. Regular activity, diet, and mental health are used to create a positive flow of energy in the body to prevent imbalance and inflammation.

  • INTEGRATION: A holistic approach not only looks to relieve troubling symptoms and modify contributing factors, but holistic health also aims to resolve the source of the symptoms – this may include alternative health practices combined with traditional medicine.

  • INHERENT HEALING: Living beings possess innate powers of healing within themselves. Practitioners help to facilitate these processes through mindful study and treatment.

  • COOPERATION: Practitioner-patient care is built on autonomy, valuing the insights and needs of both parties.

  • CUSTOMIZATION: Holistic health looks at the individual – their distinct social circumstances, genetics, family history, temperaments, mental health, and many more individualized aspects that lend to their complete well-being to create a treatment suitable to that individual’s needs.

  • WILLINGNESS: Holistic health relies on the ability to be open, to learn, to explore, and to understand unfamiliar possibilities.

Beginning Your Holistic Health Journey

With mindfulness, self-study, and attentiveness, anyone can create a holistic lifestyle. Starting holistic health practices is as simple as tuning in and trusting that your subconscious knows what will benefit your body, mind, and spirit.

  • Keep a journal: Document the actions you take and how they make you feel. Record any negative symptoms you experience, as well as the experiences that make you feel good! As you record your experiences you’ll begin to see what areas of your life could use holistic healing support.
  • Remember who’s in charge: You are in control of your health. One of the important aspects of holistic healing is the belief that you can do so much more that we realize to heal yourself. In holistic health, healing begins on the inside, rather than externally.
  • Seek to learn and understand: Many wonderful holistic healing books have been written on a wide range of healing modalities. Reading about different healing practices can be a great way to get acquainted with them, and see what interests you most.
  • Take advantage of free resources: Discover Healing is happy to provide free resources for those curious about exploring the world of energy work! Check out our resources to get started.

Finding Certified Holistic Practitioners

As holistic health rises in popularity, it has become easier to find wonderful credentialed practitioners nearby that can help beginners just starting out in holistic healing. As you search for a holistic health practitioner near you, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Method of Healing

Depending on what areas of holistic health appeal to you most, you’ll want to find a healer who aligns with your needs and values — who can help you arrive at the health goals you desire! Learn more about holistic health modalities here.

Credentials

Holistic health practitioners with credentials have taken the time to learn and perfect their craft, and have the title to prove it! While different modalities of healing have different training requirements, looking into credentials should give you a good idea of the training a healer has received.

Reviews

Many healers will have reviews available to read on their websites. Taking a quick look through your potential healer’s testimonials is a great way to familiarize yourself with their work, and make sure that others have benefited from their help.

Trial Sessions

Try a healing session with a practitioner, and see how you feel. If you’re comfortable and feel supported by the practitioner then you may want to schedule a second session! However, if that particular style of healing doesn’t feel right for you, trust your inner knowledge, and try seeking out another healer.

Interested in working with a Discover Healing Certified Practitioner? Our Emotion Code, Body Code, and Belief Code Practitioners would be happy to help guide you through starting your holistic health journey! Find a practitioner to work with today.