Holistic Health

What Does Holistic Health Mean?

The idea is that the body, mind, and soul (or psyche) are interconnected and cannot be viewed as separate entities when it comes to staying healthy or recovering from illness.

It’s about searching for the root cause of symptoms instead of just treating the symptoms themselves. When I look at something holistically, I can’t isolate one part of the body—I also have to consider how the other two parts are doing.

Often, when one of these three areas is affected, it eventually impacts the others as well.

For example, if someone has chronic pain, it will eventually affect their mental or emotional well-being. On the other hand, if you carry around a lot of worries or your soul is not healthy, it can lead to physical symptoms that have no clear explanation or no obvious organic cause. In my case, I had severe abdominal pain that stemmed from unresolved childhood experiences. My soul didn’t know how else to cope, so it basically “called on” my body for help. It might sound abstract—maybe even unbelievable—and I only truly believed it when my symptoms improved through therapy. I also think it was important to rule out physical causes first, otherwise I probably wouldn’t have even considered other possibilities.

So physical health is just as important for the mind and soul as mental health is for the body and the spirit. And mental or spiritual health, in turn, influences the other two components.

Physical Health

When it comes to nutrition, a holistic lifestyle means eating as naturally as possible. That means avoiding—or better yet, eliminating—highly processed foods (such as fast food and heavily processed convenience products), and instead focusing on plant-based foods like fruits and vegetables, nuts, legumes, pseudograins (like quinoa), and whole grain products. That doesn't mean you can't eat anything else, it means the main focus should be on whole foods.

Getting enough exercise, sleep, and fresh air also plays a major role in maintaining physical health.

Mental/Emotional Health

In terms of the psyche, this means learning to manage stress better, taking time for yourself, understanding your needs more clearly, and learning methods for targeted relaxation. It also involves acknowledging and accepting your feelings rather than suppressing or ignoring them. In some cases, it may mean that therapy—in some form—is appropriate in order to better understand yourself and work through past experiences.

Spiritual Health

For me, spiritual or mental well-being means practicing a sense of connection to nature and to oneself.

Everyone defines this differently. For some, it might mean reading their horoscope or going to church, praying at home, or actively practicing compassion and kindness.

It’s about changing your perspective, seeing from different angles, and looking at the bigger picture rather than just focusing on yourself and your own world.

It also includes intellectual stimulation—challenging your mind with new knowledge, learning about other cultures, and so much more. I'm sure I’ve left something out.

In Short

To view something holistically means, in any case, to take multiple (if not all) components into consideration, instead of looking at a problem or illness from just one angle or point of view.