"The whole is greater than the sum of its parts" expresses the essence of holism, a term coined by the great South African general and statesman Jan Smuts in 1926. Holism generally opposes the Western tendency toward analysis, the breaking down of wholes into parts sometimes to the point that "you can't see the forest for the trees". Holism is an important concept in the sciences and social sciences, and especially in medicine. Holistic medicine tries to treat the "whole person" rather than focusing too narrowly on single symptoms. It emphasizes the connections between the mind and the body, avoids the overuse of drugs, and has borrowed such practices from Eastern traditions as acupuncture and yoga.
Example Sentences
In a world of specialization, we have been trained to think of medicine as a separate world—when we are sick, we go to doctors and follow their advice. This is starting to change, with the increasing popularity of alternative and holistic approaches to overall health and well-being. Gareth Cook, Boston Globe, 9 June 2002The Gaia hypothesis is certainly top-down and holistic, and it's now generally accepted … Organisms have not just adapted to different physical environments; they also modify and improve the environment for their own good—just like people. Tom Ghaffin, Natural History, October 1998People with supermarket carts. When did these things come out of the stores and into the streets. She saw these things everywhere … filled with living trivia, the holistic dregs of everything if that is correctly put. Don DeLillo, Mao II, 1991Holistic medicine attempts to treat both the mind and the body. We need to take a more holistic approach to improving our schools.
Recent Examples on the WebInstead, there’s an extensive array of holistic treatments. Elise Taylor, Vogue, 9 Sep. 2022 However, when competition exists without holistic management of resources and ecosystems, the outcome is detrimental for all – a tragedy of the commons. Moriba Jah, CNN, 7 Sep. 2022 The brand is a passion project for the clothes-conscious star and his co-founder, Amrit jewelry designer and holistic healer Sat Hari. Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 2 Sep. 2022 The retreat will include holistic arts and wellness sessions, including mindful movement, sound healing and DIY creative crafts. Linda Mcintosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Sep. 2022 Finer, Biden’s deputy national security adviser, said the Petro administration’s approach to drug policy overlaps with the holistic strategy the Biden administration announced last year for Colombia. Diana Durán, Washington Post, 20 Aug. 2022 PetHonesty Advanced Hip & Joint supplement provides holistic support.The Salt Lake Tribune, 17 Aug. 2022 Incorporating feedback from the greater team can lead to the creation of a more holistic and purposeful mission. Sylvia Hastanan, Forbes, 17 Aug. 2022 In the mix are pieces from Amrit by Sat Hari by jewelry designer/holistic healer Sat Hari Khalsa, who partners with Pitt on his unisex God’s True Cashmere line. Ingrid Schmidt, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Aug. 2022 See More