Holism is a dirty word in some circles.

The notion of holistic therapy conjures up all sorts of dubious images to some and is often seen as un-scientific, based on no more than faith and perhaps some mysterious energy.

To be holistic, however, is a perfectly solid and scientific way of operating. But let’s locate holism and explore what it does.

What’s the opposite of holism?

Perhaps it helps to explore holism by looking first at its arch-enemy – reductionism.

Reductionism is the favoured process by which we typically label things as “scientific”. Yes – that’s right – the world of “science” is based to some extent on a decision made decades, maybe even centuries ago, about how to score the winner.

And the way our “scientific model” is constructed is to find ones and zeros. Yes or no. True or false.

There’s nothing wrong with this, but it comes down to context.

• If you’re building a bridge, the maths needs to be correct to ensure loads can be tolerated.
• If you’re sending rockets into space, you need to know angles and speeds to enter the correct orbits.

Maths is great when “doing the science”, getting down to those simple answers based on whether the numbers are right.

Reducing these complex processes down to elemental maths (or a similarly binary answer) is reductionism.

But the world isn’t all simple…

Where reductionism falls flat is that many problems are far more complicated.

Take an ecosystem, for example. We might be able to create a reductionist understanding of individual parts of the system, but to have any understanding of the system as a whole we must approach it differently.

I gave it away there… “as a whole” is holism.

Take one person

Medicine treats people, and wobbles along a tightrope between reductionism and holism.

If you fall badly, you either fracture something or you don’t. Fine. We can do some science. Pop you in a scanner, see if there is a break, and follow tried and tested guidelines to allow healing to occur without obstruction. Reductionism to the rescue.

The scientific model allows us to develop knowledge so we can firmly state whether something is broken or not. In turn, we can isolate variables (plaster cast or not, crutches or wheelchairs) and develop scientific trials to find the best way of dealing with a certain fracture. We can cope with a few variables in the scientific model if we can isolate them one at a time.

The mystery of back pain

Meet someone with back pain, however, and we are in chaotic territory. There are so many variables, it would take an eternity to understand the input of each one. And that is only one patient!

So instead, back pain requires a broader understanding. We enter a holistic framework where we consider the object to be examined within its environment. The environment has created the object and continues to exert influence over it.

If we are to derive any kind of useful picture about the person that might help us tackle their back pain, we have to slide across the “scientific” see-saw to the holistic end, where we collect lots of information and appraise it all, perhaps even refusing to be drawn towards a binary answer.

In a clinic, good therapists will always get to know their patients. Some patients think we’re prying but knowing what someone does for a living has an impact. Sedentary jobs affect people differently than manual labour.

Knowing about family circumstances paints a picture. Single? Married? Children? Elderly relatives? Caring responsibilities?

The list is endless, but importantly, it can all contribute.

Holism in healthcare is an appreciation that the patient you are helping is a product of their environment.

To succeed, we should examine the patient and enquire about their environment. Those of you who have watched House MD with Hugh Laurie as the grumpy diagnostic expert will know how often he dispatches his team to explore his patients' houses. He is curious about their environment and looks for clues.

Really, there is no end to how curiosity within a holistic scientific framework can help us help those who are suffering. 

Are rainbows sprouting from their hands?

The next time someone talks about “holistic” therapy, stop and think about whether or not they are describing the above. It takes more than a candle, some incense and being softly spoken to be truly holistic.