Healing Across Cultures: Acute Treatments vs. Holistic Practices

What does it mean to heal? Is healing being prescribed a two-week course of antibiotics after an infection? Or is it reducing chronic stress through diet and lifestyle changes? The definition of healing morphs across cultures, opening up new ways of understanding medicine.

Cleveland Clinic describes the primary focus of modern Western medicine, or allopathic medicine, as “curing a disease [and] managing symptoms” [1]. Notably, allopathic medicine emphasizes specificity. Doctors specialize in particular organ systems, while treatments such as drugs and surgery target specific problems within those systems [2]. In this way, Western medicine often hones in on acute treatment, providing solutions to immediate or localized health problems. Rather than looking at every aspect of a patient’s life at once, allopathy takes a focused approach to diagnosing and treating a particular physiological issue [2, 3].

Consider joint replacement surgery. If a patient has a severely damaged joint, the procedure can replace it with an artificial one [4]. While the surgery directly addresses the damaged joint, recovery can still require months of physical rehabilitation and lifestyle adjustments [4]. This example illustrates how treatment is only one component of the broader healing process. Although Western medicine is sometimes criticized for focusing primarily on symptoms rather than their underlying causes, its specialized approach can be essential for addressing acute illnesses.

Yet, healing can extend beyond the sole intention of treating or eliminating disease. The Western Journal of Medicine states that “[holistic medicine] addresses the psychological, familial, societal, ethical and spiritual as well as biological dimensions of health and illness” [5]. Through this lens, healing goes beyond physical well-being and considers the many elements that shape an individual’s health.

One example is Ayurveda, a medical tradition that originated thousands of years ago in South Asia [6]. The word Ayurveda literally translates to “the study of life” [6]. A key principle of Ayurveda is that everything in the universe is interconnected, emphasizing the importance of balance [6, 7]. Its emphasis is not solely on the physical state of an individual, but also on environmental and lifestyle factors that may contribute to disharmony [7]. Ayurvedic practices can therefore emphasize alleviating stress, improving nutrition, establishing daily routines, and maintaining balance within the body and mind [6]. However, Ayurveda also demonstrates why traditional practices must be approached thoughtfully. Some botanical and mineral-based medicines can carry unintended risks, including heavy metal poisoning [6]. Nevertheless, the broader principles of Ayurveda offer another perspective on health by encouraging us to consider the individual beyond a single symptom or diagnosis.

Perhaps the most interesting possibility lies not in choosing between these two perspectives, but in understanding what each can contribute to patient care. Modern medicine provides interventions that can be essential for treating acute illnesses and injuries, while holistic practices highlight factors such as nutrition, stress, lifestyle, and overall well-being. These approaches do not have to be mutually exclusive; rather, they can illustrate different dimensions of health.

Ultimately, healing may not have one universal definition. By looking across cultures and medical traditions, we can begin to see that the way we define healing is shaped not only by biology, but also by how we understand the relationship between the body, mind, environment, and society.

Designed by: Nikhil Skandan

Reviewed by: Aman Maredia

References

[1] Cleveland Clinic. (2025, May 1). Western medicine. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22835-western-medicine

[2] Global Autoimmune Institute. (2021, January 28). Explained: Holistic vs. modern Western medicine. https://www.autoimmuneinstitute.org/articles/explained-holistic-vs-modern-western-medicine/ 

[3] Pizzorno J. (2016). Can We Say "Cure"?. Integrative medicine (Encinitas, Calif.), 15(5), 8–12.

[4] Cleveland Clinic. (2025, November 11). Knee replacement. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/8512-knee-replacement

[5] Gordon J. S. (1982). Holistic medicine: advances and shortcomings. The Western journal of medicine, 136(6), 546–551.

[6] Johns Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). Ayurveda. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/ayurveda

[7] Cleveland Clinic. (2025, December 19). What is Ayurveda and does it work? https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-is-ayurveda