The term “holism” refers to the theory that all parts of a whole are intimately interconnected. According to holism (from the Greek “holo,” meaning “whole”), it’s a mistake to study just one part, or even multiple parts separately, if we really want to understand how they work together. Applied to health, holism means treating the whole person — taking into account more than just the physical symptoms of disease or injury.

Holistic health practitioners may ask themselves and their patients to deeply consider the ways that bodies, minds, spirits, relationships, and the spaces we inhabit all coalesce — manifesting and shaping one’s health outcomes and well-being.

Areas that holistic health practitioners may examine include the following:

• Body. What are the body’s needs for nutrition, sleep, exercise, and rejuvenation? What are the underlying causes of physical pain, and what steps can be taken to ameliorate this pain — or live with it? What actions can be taken to prevent bodily injury, illness, and disease?
• Mind. What are the mind’s needs for stimulation, curiosity, wonder, and creative expression? What information and lessons do our emotions provide? What is an embodied account of the mind and spirit? What are its interdependent connections with others and the environment?
• Spirit. What practices and rituals connect us with something larger than ourselves? How can we connect with the divine, with nature, with ancestors, and with other sources of deep purpose and meaning beyond oneself?
• People. How is one connected to others? In what ways can ties with kin, friends, loved ones, neighbors, and strangers be strengthened, renewed, and repaired? How can one give time and resources generously, draw healthy boundaries, and cultivate community?
• Culture. What is one’s cultural inheritance? What values and traditions — including art, performances, ceremonies, rites, crafts, and ways of life — would one like to bring into the present and preserve for the future? What can one’s culture teach us about living healthily and well?
• Environment. What are the unique features of the space one lives in — the neighborhood, geography, flora, and fauna? Who lives nearby, and how has this place changed over time? What is the history of this place? How does this place affect one’s health — is it clean, welcoming, loud, harsh, disruptive, joyful, or peaceful? What healing and help does this environment need to be healthy?