Holistic Medicine with Patient-Oriented Model and Etymological Relationship with Hal (Health)

Bando H, Nishikiori Y, Bando M and Yoshioka A

Published on: 2025-06-24

Abstract

Holistic medicine means the fusion of multiple concepts, including medical care, basic research, general medical studies, psychosomatic medicine, psychiatry, psychology, sociology, religion, literature, art, and culture. The word “holistic” has etymologically relations with whole, h?l (health) and holy. Then, it means comprehensively understanding all aspects of an individual. Compared with traditional usual medicine, holistic medicine has perspectives of patient-oriented model, combination of body and soul, well-being, positive mind for future and narrative-based concept. As similar concept, Hinohara-ism in New Elderly Association (NEA) can be noted. Novel medical care will be created by balancing cutting-edge medical care associated with holistic medicine.

Keywords

Holistic medicine; H?l (health); Shigeaki Hinohara; New Elderly Association (NEA); Hinohara-ism

Commentary

The practice of holistic medicine involves overcoming common challenges not only in medicine but in all areas of society with creating something new [1]. It also extends to the field of welfare, including nursing care. Holistic medicine can be said to be a fusion of multiple concepts. They include a wide range of factors, such as medical practice, medical care, general medical studies, psychosomatic medicine, psychiatry, psychology, sociology, religion, literature, art, and culture [2]. The West and the East have different ways of interacting with life, the environment, nature, people, animals, and plants.

The word “holistic” is etymologically derived from "whole." The "whole" comes from the old English "h?l," meaning without blemish, complete, or sound [3]. It is also the origin of the words "health" and "heal." Furthermore, "h?l" also shares its etymology with "holy," and being complete was associated with holiness and healing. In other words, "holistic" does not simply mean "whole," but also means comprehensively understanding all aspects of an individual, such as the body, mind, spirit, environment, and placing importance on the balance and harmony of these. These are exactly in line with the idea of ??"holistic medicine."?

Actually, human history has given impact on medicine and healthcare. It led to a hunting society, followed by an agricultural society, and then to the Industrial Revolution [4]. These revolutions include the following five. The First Industrial Revolution (late 18th to early 19th century) was characterized by the invention of the steam engine and the resulting development of factory-based mechanical industry. The Second (late 19th) saw the increased use of electricity, oil, and steel, the emergence of new technologies such as telephones, automobiles, and electric lights. The Third (mid-20th) was a period where computers and the Internet fundamentally changed the way information processing and communication. In the 21st century, the Fourth Industrial Revolution is underway, and it is a new era in which advanced technologies such as IoT (Internet of Things), AI (artificial intelligence), big data, and robotics are fused together. Currently, the Fifth revolution as "AI social revolution", has attracted attention. The development of generative AI and autonomous systems is transforming the nature of human intellectual work.

In Japan, psychosomatic medicine is characterized by its holistic medical model and practical methods, which have contributed to medicine and healthcare. It has been only 50 years since Dr. Shigeaki Hinohara and others introduced psychosomatic medicine to Japan [5]. Psychosomatic medicine has conveyed the essence and know-how of holistic medicine to doctors and co-medical staff in various departments. To provide holistic medicine, medical professionals need to develop the human qualities of each individual. Moreover, it takes time to examine the whole person, including the body and mind. In order to deal with patients and families suffering from illness, a warm, human approach that focuses on the individual, not the disease, must be taken [6]. It is impossible to practice holistic medicine by following the manual in the textbook.

Practicing holistic medicine is contrary to the current trends in society, that are efficiency, rationality, functionality, and profitability. Thus, holistic medicine is exactly what goes against the trends of society. Therefore, its practice is not limited to medicine, but involves overcoming common challenges in all areas of society and creating something new. It also extends to the welfare field, including nursing care. When consulting with a psychosomatic medicine specialist, we can experience a moment that transcends time and space [7]. This is probably a first for the patient. An emotional change will come. What about general medicine? We strive to be efficient, save time, and treat many patients smoothly. Functionality and efficiency are essential conditions not only for doctors' consultations, but also for nursing, rehabilitation, pharmacy, and nursing care.

Holistic medicine was compared from various perspectives with conventional medical care, and the results are shown in Table 1. The comparison of these may bring the contrast concept for treating the patient with illness vs evaluating the case with disease. In other words, holistic medicine is patient-centered, not diagnose-centered. The New Elderly Association (NEA) was founded by Dr. Hinohara and NEA brought actual movement in the society [8]. The underlying philosophy is Hinohara-ism, and the authors are engaged in wide-ranging awareness-raising activities [9]. Other similar concepts include bio-psycho-social medicine, integrative medicine (IM), comprehensive medicine, and whole person care [10].

Table 1: Comparison with holistic vs traditional medicine.

Comparison	Holistic Medicine	Traditional Medicine
centered	patient-oriented	disease-oriented
model	growing up model	medical model
aspect	combination of body/soul	separatation of body/soul
purpose	care for human	cure for body
direction	adequate response	search for cause
goal	well-being	wellness not illness
diseases	accompanied together	fight and overcomed
posit/negat	positive mind for future	depressive for the disease
concept	narrative-based	evidence-based

However, human encounters cannot occur unless time and space are transcended. The differences with general medical care are i) time and non-time, and ii) automation and handiwork. Ichiro and other top-class athletes require top-class tools. These tools are made only by the handiwork of master craftsmen [11]. Is this kind of handiwork outdated in medical care? Now, handiwork and artisanal skills (master craftsmanship) are once again in demand. Automation is depersonalized. Medical interviews at medical schools are nothing more than depersonalized manuals. In the case of dinners outside, the comparison can equal to three-star restaurant vs family restaurant. The latter pursues efficacy for time performance and cost effectiveness.

Medical care has become increasingly specialized. Cutting-edge medical technology will be introduced through combined medical care and engineering, and robots will perform surgical operations instead of surgeons. Thus, new era has come where machines would exist between medical professionals and patients. Computers have already been introduced in various situations, and face-to-face communication has become less common [12]. New medical care can be created by balancing cutting-edge medical care associated with holistic medical care.

In summary, holistic medicine has been recently used in various opportunities. In the team medical care situation, not only doctors but also nurse, psychologist, physical therapist, and related medical professionals can contribute much for providing adequate management with related perspectives of holistic medicine. The excellent medical professionals provide medical care in the light of patient's perspectives. Patients would become the teachers for medical professionals. We believe that practicing and continuing holistic medicine will enrich happier lives for not only patients, but also medical professionals themselves.

Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding: There was no funding received for this paper.

Journal of Biomedical Science and Research

Holistic Medicine with Patient-Oriented Model and Etymological Relationship with Hal (Health)

Abstract

Keywords

Commentary

References