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What is holistic medicine? What it means, what the evidence says and how to use it safely
What is holistic medicine? It is a philosophy that looks at the whole person (body, habits, mind and surroundings), not just the symptom. It is not a medical specialty and does not replace medical care: done well, it starts with a medical assessment and works on sleep, food, movement and stress.
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This is not an emergency service. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you have:
- Chest pain, severe shortness of breath, weakness on one side of the body or trouble speaking: call 911
- Bleeding that will not stop, vomiting blood or black stools
- Thoughts of harming yourself: call or text 988 or the Línea PAS at 1-800-981-0023
- An allergic reaction with swelling of the face or lips, or trouble breathing after a supplement or herb
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What is holistic medicine, in plain terms?
“Holistic” means caring for the whole person: body, habits, mood, relationships and surroundings, not only the organ or symptom that brought you in. It is a way of looking at health, not a treatment or a specialty.
That is why the word gets used for very different things: from a doctor who spends time on your sleep and food, to a product that promises to “heal everything.” What matters is what the person using the word actually does, and what evidence backs each tool.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH, part of the National Institutes of Health) does not define “holistic” in its glossary of terms, but it does describe whole person health: helping people improve health across several interconnected areas, not just treating a disease.
Holistic vs integrative vs complementary vs alternative
These words get mixed up constantly. NCCIH separates them like this:
- Complementary. An approach used together with conventional medicine.
- Alternative. An approach used in place of conventional medicine. This is the one that carries the most risk when there is a diagnosed condition.
- Integrative. Brings conventional and complementary approaches together in a coordinated way, with attention to the whole person.
- Holistic. A philosophy of looking at the whole person. It can be as sensible as integrative medicine or as risky as alternative medicine, depending on what is done in its name.
The version that works: holistic inside medical care
The safest way to be holistic is to keep medicine in the picture. First, a medical assessment: history, exam and, when appropriate, labs, to find out what is really going on. Then, work on the habits with the best support behind them.
For someone who wants a more natural or lifestyle-based path, that looks like this:
- Sleep. How many hours, at what time, and what interrupts it. Read the sleep reset guide.
- Food. An eating pattern you can keep up, not a fad diet. See food and chronic inflammation.
- Movement. More activity in daily life, with a realistic plan for your body and conditions.
- Stress and rest. Breathing, meditation and other calming tools; they are complements, not substitutes for care.
- A review of everything you take. Prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, supplements, herbs and teas, to catch interactions.
- Labs and follow-up. Tests with a clear purpose and a plan to review the results.
What the evidence shows, and what it does not
The base of any plan: the basic habits. Enough sleep, regular movement, a balanced eating pattern, not smoking and managing stress support general health and are the base of most care plans, alongside medical care. For the full picture, see lifestyle medicine.
Uneven: complementary practices. Evidence varies a great deal by practice and by the problem studied. Always ask “for which specific problem, and how good is the evidence?”
Limited or absent: many products and tests. For most supplements and herbs the research is limited or mixed. Dietary supplements are not approved to treat, cure or prevent disease. There is also no good evidence that “cleanses” or products sold to remove toxins are needed.
What deserves suspicion: any practice that promises to cure a disease, asks you to stop your medicines, sells its own product as part of the plan, or dismisses conventional medicine.
“Natural” does not mean safe: supplements, herbs and interactions
An herb or supplement can have real effects, which is exactly why it can also have side effects and interact with other medicines. According to NCCIH, the FDA is not authorized to review dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness before they are marketed, and a label may not match what is actually in the product.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist before starting any supplement or herb, especially in pregnancy, breastfeeding, for children, or alongside any prescription. Take extra care if you:
- take blood thinners, blood-pressure medicines or diabetes medicines;
- take antidepressants or other medicines that affect mood;
- have surgery or a procedure with anesthesia coming up: tell the team early which supplements and herbs you use;
- are pregnant, breastfeeding, or choosing for a child: many products have not been studied in these groups;
- have liver, kidney or heart disease;
- are in cancer treatment, take medicines that lower immunity (for example after a transplant), HIV medicines or hormonal contraceptives.
What the doctor can do for you
The Health Initiative (THI) is the nonprofit that runs this telehealth clinic. Dr. Diana Nieves Castro is a general practice physician licensed in Puerto Rico. Her approach starts with a medical assessment and continues with lifestyle, sleep, food, movement, stress and a review of everything you take.
In an online visit, the doctor can evaluate, diagnose and treat, prescribe when appropriate, and order labs at a lab near you. She can provide primary care, follow chronic conditions and review results in a follow-up visit. She also reviews everything you take and use, and flags interactions or concerns that matter for your medical care.
Visits are general medicine by video. For practices such as acupuncture, work with a licensed practitioner of that practice and tell the doctor what you use so she can take it into account. THI does not sell supplements.
Online visits are for people who are physically in Puerto Rico. Learn more about Dr. Nieves Castro.
How to prepare for a visit if you use remedies, teas or supplements
Before the visit, have these ready:
- A list of everything you take, with dose and how often: prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, supplements, herbs and teas. A photo of the labels works.
- Since when you take each one and why: what you hope it helps with.
- Any practices you use or want to try (massage, yoga, acupuncture or others) with other practitioners.
- Your most recent lab results, if you have them.
- Your questions: what the evidence is, what interactions are possible and what is not worth paying for.
When to stop trying remedies and see a doctor
Trying a lifestyle approach makes sense for mild tiredness, stress, irregular sleep or wanting to eat better. But a symptom that lasts more than a couple of weeks, keeps getting worse, or comes with weight loss, fever or shortness of breath is not the time to keep experimenting: it deserves an assessment and sometimes labs. A visit can come first, rather than after experimenting.
Do not stop, reduce or delay a prescribed medicine, a vaccine or a screening to try something natural. If you want to change something, talk to your doctor first.
If mood, anxiety or sleep is wearing you down, you can also get care by video. If you have thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988 or the Línea PAS at 1-800-981-0023. For an emergency, call 911.
Your next step
If you want a holistic approach with medical backing, start with the basics: an assessment, a list of everything you take and one clear goal. You can request an online visit and bring your questions; see the prices.
THI also runs an in-person wellness retreat in Puerto Rico, held in English. It is wellness and habits work, not medical treatment, and it does not replace care from your doctor.
This page is general information; it is not a diagnosis or a treatment, and it does not replace your doctor.
How we care for you
We evaluate, diagnose and treat; if needed, we give you a lab order for a lab near you.
We see adults and children of all ages. Patients under 21: a parent with patria potestad (parental authority) or a legal guardian is on camera for the whole visit and shows photo ID.
Real-time video visit. We send you a secure video link. It works on your phone, tablet or computer.
If appropriate, the doctor prescribes and we send your prescription to your pharmacy.
You must be physically in Puerto Rico during the visit (visitors, tourists and cruise passengers are welcome).
In an emergency, call 911.
Frequently asked questions
What is holistic medicine?
Is holistic medicine the same as alternative medicine?
Are supplements and herbs safe because they are natural?
Can a licensed doctor work with me on a holistic approach?
Can I stop my medicines to try something natural?
What kind of care does THI offer?
About this page
Author: The Health Initiative
Medical care provided by Dr. Diana Nieves Castro, MD (PR license 24027)
Disclosure: Founding Executive Director of The Health Initiative
Published: 2026-10-15 · Updated: 2026-10-15
Sources (2)
- Complementary, Alternative, or Integrative Health: What’s In a Name? (NCCIH, NIH) (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-10-15)
- Dietary and Herbal Supplements (NCCIH, NIH) (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-10-15)