‘Holistic health’ is quite the buzz word these days, but what does it mean? As someone who offers holistic health coaching, I’ll share the concept from my eyes, as I see it.

‘Holistic’ when referring to medicine describes the treatment of the whole person, taking into account mental and social factors, rather than just the symptoms of an illness.

So that’s pretty straight-forward. Holistic health coaching is about supporting someone to a place of health, considering all factors – physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.

Holistic health coaching practitioners often have a mix of professional trainings, including acupuncture, naturopathic medicine, homeopathy, some form of energy healing modality. As we work to heal ourselves and facilitate healing in others, we see the gaps in our knowledge and continue to fill them to better serve our clients and the world as a whole.

The Traditional Medical Model

The traditional medical model is a little bit like car mechanics; when your car breaks down, they assume it’s the engine, they check it, work out if it’s the whole engine that needs replacing or if it’s a part which can be fixed.

They do the same with the body; you turn up with a symptom, they identify which organ is causing it (if they even know), and they offer you a medicine, scan or referral to a specialist, depending on what’s going on for you.

But they have a very reductionistic view on the human body. What they don’t consider is, maybe the issue you have with your brain is coming from your gut? Maybe your blood pressure is coming from the stress of your repressed grief, or unexpressed anger? Maybe its inflammation? Maybe your infertility is not your weight, but your blood sugar? Maybe all your symptoms are stemming from unresolved trauma?

Allopathic Medicine vs. Holistic Health Coaching Methods

A holistic model of health understands that everything is interconnected. Much like food and lifestyle can impact health, so can a spiritual emergency.

So if you see an allopathic doctor because of your mental health, it’s likely they won’t look past your brain. There is a hormone or a neurotransmitter in there somewhere which they can alter with a pill. That’s their job, and what they are trained to do.

If you see a holistic practitioner about your mental health, they will ask you about your childhood, your experience of life, your relationships, your diet, gut, check if your detox pathways are open. They will spend a considerable amount of time trying to get the whole picture and put the pieces together for you.

If you see a holistic practitioner for skin health, they will most likely address detox pathways, your diet, and your gut health. They’ll also look at hormonal imbalance and inflammation. They may suggest supplements, but a good practitioner won’t rely on those alone.

If you see a doctor for the same issue, you will likely be recommended the contraceptive pill to ‘see what happens’. It may help, but now your cycle is repressed with synthetic estrogen, and there are other consequences associated with that solution (personality changes, for example). The same thing happens with anti-depressants; take the pill, we will see what happens.

Healing vs Managing

True holistic medicine is about healing (that is, finding wholeness in your body and mind), and YES, you can heal. But there is a responsibility on your part to follow lifestyle recommendations which will most likely include things like movement, stress-reduction, or dietary changes. You may need to stop drinking alcohol, go to bed earlier and stop engaging in toxic relationships.

Holistic Health is more work in the short term, but the payoff could be huge.

Allopathic medicine is a great emergency solution (and there are some health conditions of which allopathic medicine is the only solution). It is also pretty great if you’re having a crisis and aren’t in a place to make life changes. You may not be ready. But eventually, if you don’t take the holistic route, the side effects associated with medical treatment can end up backfiring and causing more complex problems down the line.

In summary, I think it’s really healthy to weigh up both options when facing a health challenge. Explore the holistic path, and the mainstream path, and see which resonates for you. See what you have capacity for.

Healing is not for everyone, and that’s ok, but you would be surprised what you’re capable of when you move past symptoms and the stress of chronic illness, and I write this because I believe in you.

When I started, I read books and looked for stories of people who healed. Once I believed it was possible, I went all in on the journey, and I would do it all again if I had to.

Jen X