The word holistic is formed from the old English ‘hool’. It means whole in psychology. A holistic theory assumes the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. It takes into consideration your biological inheritance, past experience, the world around you.

The historical point of view of holistic health is very old. It’s based on the principles that underlie the healing arts of more than 2,000 years in the Orient and Western World. Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, is also the Father of Holistic Healing. At that time medicine; science, philosophy, and history were not separated – but integrated.

In the 17th century, the Cartesian Philosophy started to create a division between the body and mind. This division led to the separation of the physical and mental health systems. Until the 19th century medical writers recognized the influence of feelings; grief, despair, discouragement, faith, confidence and peace of mind, at the onset and outcome of an illness.

With the rise of experimental methods the mind’s power was lost as medicine. Cast out as soft data. It wasn’t scientific enough. You can ask yourself though; if the mind and spirit are weak can the body really be strong? An imbalance in one area affects other areas because they work together.

Modern medicine deals with treating symptoms – providing cures.
Holistic Health focuses on well-being rather than on dis-ease and dis-comfort. It recognizes your authority over your body. It encourages you to change your lifestyle from being oriented to dis-ease to ease and well-being.

In 1987, the American Holistic Medical Association defined holistic health as “a state of being in which an individual’s body, mind, emotions and spirits are in tune with the natural, cosmic, and social environment.” It used to be a state in which most of us entered this world.