Holistic as a whole made up of interdependent parts. You are most likely to hear these parts referred to as the mind/ body connection; mind/ body/ spirit, or physical/ mental/ emotional/ spiritual aspects. When this meaning is applied to illness, it is called holistic medicine and includes a number of factors, such as dealing with the root cause of an illness, increasing patient involvement, and considering both conventional (allopathic) and complementary (alternative) therapies.

Holistic is a synonym for alternative therapies. By this definition, "going holistic" means turning away from any conventional medical options and using alternative treatment exclusively. This meaning mainly relates to illness situations, and sometimes is used for controversial therapies.