Holistic Health: More Than Just Medicine
When I was attending medical school in Brazil, I quickly realized something that no textbook had prepared me for: people are complex—not just biologically, but culturally, emotionally, and spiritually. Defining a treatment plan wasn’t just about diagnosing a condition. It was about understanding a person’s world.
Brazil is a country shaped by layers—Indigenous wisdom, European influence, African heritage, and generations of immigration. This beautiful blend of cultures creates a rich diversity of beliefs and traditions that shape how people live, eat, love, connect with nature, and take care of their health.
Some families pray before meals. Others honor elders at the table. Many still believe in the healing power of river baths, herbs, and ancestral remedies—while also embracing new technology and modern treatments. Self-care, in Brazil, often means both: a grandmother's tea and a pharmacist’s pill. A ritual and a routine.
That’s why the idea of holistic health makes so much sense to me.
Holistic health is more than a wellness trend—it’s a way of seeing people as whole. The U.S. National Library of Medicine defines it as an approach that “considers the whole person and how they interact with their environment,” emphasizing the connection between body, mind, and spirit MedlinePlus.
It also recognizes that wellness isn’t one-dimensional. True health touches every part of our lives—our thoughts, our relationships, our spiritual lives, and how we manage stress, pain, and joy. As the University of Western States explains, it’s about honoring all the dimensions of wellness: physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual UWS.
And yes, it still values science and medicine. But it also asks deeper questions. Why do some people stay sick even with treatment? Why do others feel better when they change not just what they take, but how they live? According to the Mayo Clinic, holistic care focuses on “treating the underlying causes of disease,” combining traditional care with supportive therapies like nutrition, mindfulness, and movement Mayo Clinic.
Culture, family, and spirituality all play a role in how people define health. In some households, a health crisis means reaching out to God first. In others, it’s about handling the physical pain before facing the emotions. Some people need silence and space. Others need music, touch, conversation, and connection.
There’s no single way to be well. And that’s exactly the point.
In this blog, we’ll explore what holistic health really means—not in abstract terms, but in the everyday lives of real people. Because if we want to support true healing, we have to see the full picture.
