What Does It Mean to Be Truly Healthy? A Holistic Perspective

When you think of the word "healthy," what comes to mind? For some, it simply means not being sick. But being "well" involves so much more than the absence of illness. Holistic practitioners take a broader view, understanding that true health encompasses the whole person—mind, body, and spirit.

A Holistic Approach to Health

In the modern world, health is often simply (and narrowly) defined by the absence of disease or illness. However, as a clinical herbalist, I view health through a broader, more interconnected lens. Health is not just a physical state but a balance of the body, mind, and spirit. A holistic approach to health emphasizes the interdependence of all areas of our lives, (our physical health, mental and emotional health, social health and spiritual health), aiming to nurture each one to achieve true wellness.

The human body is more than individual parts and processes. While each system is responsible for carrying out its functions, they are all interconnected and dependent on each other.  Imbalance in one affects them all, which is why a holistic approach to health is so important.

Herbal medicine, rooted in ancient science and wisdom, offers a natural and integrative path to wellness. Unlike conventional medicine, which often focuses on relief of symptoms, herbalism seeks to address the underlying causes of illness.

Let’s look at stress, a nervous system process, as an example. Some of us experience headaches when we’re stressed, which could be related to a rise in blood pressure, or from tension. Others may experience unpleasant digestive issues. Others still may suffer from insomnia, or moodiness, or body aches, or memory issues, or skin rashes. Each individual person is unique.

Often, if we don’t take a step back and look at the big picture, we don’t realize our symptoms could have a seemingly unrelated cause.

Ultimately, a holistic approach to health invites individuals to take an active role in the process. It encourages a deeper understanding of the body's needs and promotes balance between the physical, emotional, social and spiritual areas of life.

If we only address our symptoms, or apply a generic standard of care to every person, we never actually tend to the root causes. We will never achieve true health with this approach. But, if we address the unique imbalances in our bodies and in our lives with attention and care, and sometimes with the help of medicines and/or supplements such as herbs, we move in the direction of balance.

When we view health and wellness through a holistic model and give our bodies what they need, we are often able to say that, yes, we are indeed healthy.

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