Holistic medicine, complementary medicine, and alternative medicine are terms that people with chronic illnesses frequently encounter. Unfortunately, these terms often bring to mind negative experiences, such as pushy sales pitches for Chinese herbalists, aloe vera, or miracle cures. They’re also used interchangeably, which isn’t helpful. Before diving into articles about holistic and complementary therapies, let’s clarify what these terms actually mean.

What is conventional medicine?

Throughout this post, I use the term conventional medicine, which may also be called biomedicine, allopathic, Western, mainstream, or orthodox medicine. Conventional medicine is based on scientific research, focusing on diagnosing, treating, and preventing diseases through medication, surgery, and other evidence-based interventions.

What is holistic medicine?

Holistic medicine means treatment which takes a whole-body approach. It considers the physical, emotional, mental, and energetic aspects of a person, rather than just treating symptoms of an illness. It blends conventional medicine with complementary therapies, aiming to create balance and improve overall health.

Examples of holistic treatments: Talking therapy, prescription medications, acupuncture, yoga, steroid injections, meditation, nutritional therapy, massage, aromatherapy, and supplements

Holistic medicine in practice

Take inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) as an example. Many people with IBD feel like their gastroenterologists focus solely on their gut, neglecting other common extraintestinal manifestations like fatigue, joint pain, or mental health struggles. Many report being shrugged off, as though it’s not their problem because it’s not their speciality. A holistic approach would ensure these concerns are addressed – whether through referrals to specialists like dietitians and physiotherapists or lifestyle changes like regular massages or more time in nature. The idea is to empower patients to take an active role in their own care.

Holistic medicine practitioners often work outside the strict boundaries of conventional medicine, incorporating both medical treatments and lifestyle adjustments. Some NHS services are beginning to embrace holistic elements, offering therapies like acupuncture in pain clinics or green social prescribing – connecting patients with activities like community gardening or nature walks.

At this point, the term holistic has been used so frequently when talking about complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), that as soon as people hear the term holistic, they expect a load of unconventional “out there” ideas that couldn’t possibly serve them.

What is Complementary Medicine?

When a non-conventional practice is used alongside conventional medicine, it’s considered complementary. These practices are usually in the form of therapies rather than actual medicine. The focus is on integration – using both conventional and non-conventional therapies together. The goal is simply to support the patient’s wellbeing and address symptoms or side effects along with medical treatment. Non-conventional therapies may also include alternate medical systems, which are covered below. If alternate medical systems are used alongside conventional medicine, then they’re considered complementary.

Examples of complementary therapies: Massage therapy to reduce stress during cancer treatment, aromatherapy to improve sleep, mindfulness and breathwork to cope with chronic pain, or talking therapy to help with a difficult diagnosis. Other therapies may include reiki, meditation, hydrotherapy, yoga, hypnosis, chiropractic, reflexology, and supplements.

Complementary Medicine in Practice

For example, people with fibromyalgia often feel abandoned after diagnosis, struggling to get effective treatment. Some are prescribed medications and referred to pain management courses, which teach how lifestyle factors like sleep, mental health, and relationships influence pain. Unfortunately, if a person hasn’t yet accepted their diagnosis, these courses can feel dismissive rather than helpful.

Complementary therapies can fill gaps in conventional care. Evidence-based approaches like acupuncture, yoga, and mindfulness-based stress reduction may help manage chronic pain and fatigue. A fibromyalgia patient might use massage to ease muscle tension, tai chi to improve mobility, or aromatherapy to aid sleep. While these treatments won’t cure fibro, they can improve quality of life.

Some complementary therapies, such as acupuncture and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), are available on the NHS, though access varies by region. However, many therapies remain private, and patients must self-fund treatments like reflexology or aromatherapy. Whatever you choose, always consult a certified professional and inform your healthcare team about any therapies or supplements you’re using.

What is Alternative Medicine?

Alternative medicine refers to medical systems used in place of conventional medicine. It includes practices like traditional Chinese medicine, homoeopathy, Ayurvedic medicine, naturopathy, and herbalism.

Examples of alternative medicine/therapies: Traditional Chinese medicine, ayurvedic medicine, naturopathy, reiki, herbalism, hydrotherapy, acupuncture, hypnotherapy, homoeopathy, meditation, massage, nutritional supplementation, yoga, moxibustion, cupping, and herbs.

Alternative Medicine in Practice

Alternative treatments vary widely. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is based on concepts like Yin and Yang and Qi (energy flow). It uses psychological and physical techniques like acupuncture, tai chi, and herbal products to restore balance. Homoeopathy works on the principle that ‘like cures like’, meaning that if a substance in large doses produces symptoms of illness in a healthy person, it will cure the disease in a sick person if administered in minute doses.

Proceed with Caution

There is some crossover between complementary and alternative medicine – many therapies fall into both categories depending on how they’re used. However, alternative treatments replace conventional medicine rather than complementing it. If you’re considering alternative therapies, please do thorough research. Some treatments involve unregulated substances, and herbal medicines can interact dangerously with prescribed medications. Always consult a healthcare professional before trying alternative approaches.

My approach

Personally, I want my doctors to take a holistic approach. I want them to ask how my mental health is doing, how I’m sleeping, eating, and drinking, or if there’s anything causing me stress at the moment. I want suggestions and referrals with a view to making me better as a whole. We need to learn to advocate for ourselves and for holistic care.

There is a growing body of research supporting the use of many complementary therapies for healing and improving well-being. I take a holistic approach to managing my health, which means I take my medications, go to therapy, exercise, and use complementary therapies such as aromatherapy, breathwork, yoga, TRE (tension & trauma releasing exercises), and spend time in nature. I’ve tried a wide range of treatments to see if they help reduce my pain. If I don’t try, I won’t know! Even if I don’t fully understand how something works, if it helps, then I’ll keep doing it—placebo or not. The only thing that matters is that it makes me feel better.

The Takeaway

Understanding these terms can help people make informed decisions about their healthcare. Holistic medicine integrates conventional and complementary therapies, aiming to treat the whole person. Complementary medicine enhances conventional treatments without replacing them, while alternative medicine is used instead of conventional care. Whether you’re exploring new treatments or simply trying to make sense of what’s available, knowledge is key to making choices that support your health and well-being.