Holistic health refers to a philosophy of medical care that views physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of life as closely interconnected and equally important approaches to treatment. It is frequently associated with alternative medicine, however, lately it has been increasingly used in mainstream medical practice as part of a broad view of patient care.

The philosophy of holistic health states that the practitioner must only use safe methods of diagnosis and treatment while emphasizing the care of the whole person, including physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects. Almost all forms of natural medicine generally adhere to this and are, therefore, used widely.

Holistic Health Practitioners understand that the body, mind and spirit are connected in complex ways. Grounded in a variety of theoretical perspectives, Holistic Health Practitioners share a broad view of health and wellness that addresses the multidimensionality of human beings. Therefore, for treatment, the holistic health practitioner may combine massage therapy, nutritional counseling, herbology, reflexology, acupressure, yoga, Traditional Chinese Medicine, polarity, breathwork, or more while working with a client. Some choose to emphasize the bodywork aspect of the profession while others choose to act more as counselors or teachers.

As a Holistic Health Practitioner, you need to becaring, honest, and self-directed, meaning you need to take responsibility for their own health and learning. Holistic Health is a career that responds to people as unique, whole individuals. With a strong sense of empathy and ethics, Holistic Health Practitioner needs to have an intuitive understanding of the complex harmony of body/mind/spirit.

For a lot of specialties, such as acupuncture and massage therapy, most of the states require the practitioners to be certified. Therefore, it is important to be trained in holistic health and there are many course options available, starting from 3-week long certificate programs.