Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Wholistic, holistic or integrative?

There are a lot of terms around to describe the attempt to integrate body mind and spirit into health. Some of the more common terms are integrative, functional, mind-body, holistic and wholistic. None of these terms yet conveys anything very specific about the practitioner or style of practice. I'd say this is in development, but if so it has been for a long time! When I first became interested in "wholistic" medicine it was spelled with a "W" and done mostly in church basements. The "holistic" moniker has often been used by chiropractors and often includes nutrition, supplements and the like as well as manipulation. Integrative and functional are more recent terms used by a variety of practioner types, including a few of us bolder MD's. It implies bringing together multiple disciplines to improve health and/or treating function rather than disease.

As I reflect on my preferences, I find myself gravitating toward the older "Wholistic" for a few reasons. The concept of "whole" including multiple aspects of body, mind and spirit. I know the actual root of "holistic" is "hol," the same root as Holy. It seems to imply more focus on the spiritual. Although this emphasis is not a bad idea given the subordinate position the spirit is usually given, a more even emphasis is more to my liking. I think as a wholistic practitioner I should be willing to address body mind and spirit in any combination and not value one above another.

Comments?

1 comment:

  1. I was leaning toward "holistic" at the beginning, but I think you've convinced me that "wholistic" encompasses more and is therefore more appropriate to what you are doing.

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