M.D. The allopathic and holistic definitions of health differ greatly in regard to the diagnosis and treatment of illness. Scientific tests are often used in diagnosis. Drugs, surgery, and radiation are among the key tools for dealing with the problems. Holistic medicine, in contrast, focuses on preventing illness and maintaining health. It views health as a balance of body systems - mental, emotional, and spiritual, as well as physical.
Any disharmony is thought to stress the body and perhaps lead to sickness.
To fight disease, alternative medicine uses a wide range of therapies to bolster the body's own defenses and restore balance. The best illustration of this approach is the fact that ancient Chinese doctors were paid only when their patients were healthy, not if they became ill. Natural medicine, which follows a holistic approach, views illness and disease as an imbalance of the mind and body that is expressed on the physical, emotional, and mental levels of a person. Natural medicine assesses the symptoms as a sign or reflection of a deeper instability within the person, and it tries to restore the physical and mental harmony that will then alleviate the symptoms. Holistic medicine recognizes that the human body is superbly equipped to resist disease and heal injuries.