What makes a practice "holistic"

Holistic describes scope, not technique. A holistic practice is one that considers sleep, food, movement, stress, relationships, environment and meaning as part of health rather than as context around a complaint. That is an orientation, and it can be carried by a physician, a nurse, an acupuncturist, a nutritionist or a sound therapist. It is not the opposite of conventional medicine, and it is not a synonym for alternative medicine. A holistic practitioner who works alongside your doctor is delivering complementary care. Our guide to what holistic health means covers that distinction in full.

Gyfts uses "Holistic" as one of four categories in the MACH framework (Metaphysical, Alternative, Complementary, Holistic). The practices assigned here are the ones whose whole-person framing is the point: the great traditional systems, Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine among them, that never separated body from mind; the lifestyle and nutritional approaches built on the same premise; bodywork lineages such as Lomi Lomi and Feldenkrais that treat posture, breath and mood as one system; sound and breath practices; and the living traditions, from Yoruba to Celtic, that Gyfts groups under Indigenous Traditions.

What separates good holistic care from expensive vagueness is measurement. The strongest evidence in this category belongs to specific, structured whole-person programs. The Diabetes Prevention Program cut progression to type 2 diabetes by 58 percent with an intensive lifestyle intervention, outperforming metformin. That is what a well-defined holistic program can do when it is measured. There is no evidence that a holistic approach in general cures anything, and the rule that emerges from the research is consistent: the more precisely a program is defined, the better it performs.

This list is a view over the live Gyfts Index, not a curated selection. Each entry links to a page with evidence context, what a first session involves, and who the practice tends to suit.

How this list is organized

Six headings, each a plain-language answer to "what does this work on": the body and movement, the mind and nervous system, energy and spirit, systems of medicine, food and lifestyle, and guidance. Under each heading the practices are grouped by family. Numbers in headings are counts. If you would rather start from what you are experiencing, browse by health concern. This is one of four category lists drawn from the same Index. The complete list of healing modalities explains how the four categories fit together and how the Index divides across them, and the other three lists cover complementary therapies, alternative medicine practices and metaphysical and spiritual practices.

Holistic practices: body, movement and touch (21)

Manual bodywork

  • •Abhyanga — Abhyanga is a traditional Ayurvedic warm-oil self-massage ritual traditionally used to support relaxation, circulation, and overall wellbeing.
  • •Animal Massage — Animal massage uses structured hands-on soft-tissue techniques to support comfort, relaxation, and movement quality in animals, most commonly as an adjunct in rehabilitation, sport conditioning, or senior-pet wellbeing plans.
  • •Animal Neuro Myofascial Release (ANMR) — Animal Neuro Myofascial Release (ANMR) is a hands-on soft tissue therapy adapted for use with animals, focusing on releasing myofascial restrictions to improve mobility, reduce pain, and support musculoskeletal recovery.
  • •Ayurvedic Massage — Ayurvedic massage is a traditional Indian therapeutic practice that combines massage techniques with Ayurvedic principles to balance the body's energy systems (doshas) and promote overall wellness.
  • •Craniosacral Therapy — Craniosacral Therapy is a gentle, hands-on therapy that uses light touch to assess and enhance the craniosacral system, which includes the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
  • •Equine Massage — Equine massage is a hands-on therapeutic technique applied to horses' muscles and soft tissues to improve flexibility, circulation, and musculoskeletal health.
  • •Lomi Lomi — Lomi Lomi is a traditional Hawaiian massage technique that uses long, flowing strokes to release physical tension and promote relaxation and well-being.
  • •Mayan Abdominal Massage — An ancient Maya-rooted abdominal massage tradition believed to support digestive, pelvic, and reproductive wellness through gentle, guided pressure.
  • •Orthobionomy — A gentle, reflex-based bodywork approach that may support ease of movement and tension relief.
  • •Trigger Point — Trigger Point Therapy is a hands-on technique that applies targeted pressure to muscle knots and tight spots to relieve pain and tension.

Structural alignment

  • •Hellerwork — A somatic bodywork system combining deep tissue work, movement coaching, and dialogue to support posture and body awareness.

Movement and rehabilitation

  • •Alexander Technique — The Alexander Technique is an educational method that teaches improved posture and movement patterns to reduce physical tension and enhance overall well-being.
  • •Animal Kinesiology Taping — Animal kinesiology taping applies elastic therapeutic tape to an animal’s skin with the aim of supporting proprioceptive feedback, movement comfort, or soft-tissue load management during activity or rehabilitation.
  • •Equine Kinesiology Taping — Equine Kinesiology Taping is a specialized technique using elastic tape applied to horses' bodies to support musculoskeletal function, reduce discomfort, and enhance mobility.
  • •Eurythmy Therapy — Eurythmy therapy is an anthroposophic movement therapy developed from Rudolf Steiner's eurythmy art form.
  • •Feldenkrais Method — The Feldenkrais Method is a movement education approach that uses gentle, mindful sequences to increase body awareness and improve coordination.

Martial and internal arts

  • •Qi Gong — Qi Gong is an ancient Chinese practice combining gentle movements, breathing techniques, and meditation to cultivate and balance the body's vital energy (qi).
  • •Tai Chi — Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese mind-body practice featuring slow, flowing movements synchronized with deep breathing to improve balance, flexibility, and mental calm.
  • •Xingqi (Moving Qi) — Xingqi is a traditional Chinese breathwork and energy cultivation practice focused on moving qi through the body's meridian system.

Water and heat therapies

  • •Balneotherapy — Balneotherapy involves therapeutic bathing in mineral-rich or thermal waters to treat various health conditions.

Light therapies

  • •Animal Cold Laser Therapy — Animal cold laser therapy applies low-level laser light to an animal's tissues, most often as an adjunct in veterinary rehabilitation for comfort and recovery.

Holistic practices: mind, emotions and the nervous system (6)

Somatic and nervous-system regulation

  • •Body Talk — BodyTalk is a holistic healthcare system that aims to identify and address communication breakdowns within the body's systems using gentle tapping and breathing techniques.
  • •Hakomi — Hakomi is a mindfulness-based somatic therapy that uses bodily awareness to explore emotional patterns and support psychological well-being.

Meditation and mindfulness

  • •Zen Meditation (Zazen) — Zen meditation (Zazen) is a seated mindfulness practice that may support stress reduction, emotional balance, and mental clarity.

Breathwork

  • •Breathwork — Breathwork encompasses various conscious breathing techniques designed to promote relaxation, emotional awareness, and mental clarity through controlled breathing patterns.
  • •Buteyko Method — The Buteyko Method is a breathing technique that emphasizes nasal breathing, reduced breathing rate, and controlled breath holding to normalize carbon dioxide levels in the blood.

Energy psychology

  • •EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) — EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) is a self-help and therapeutic practice that combines acupressure tapping on meridian points with focused attention on emotional issues.

Holistic practices: energy, spirit and consciousness (16)

Energy and biofield work

  • •Healing Touch — Healing Touch is an energy-based complementary therapy that uses gentle touch, hand movements, and intention to balance the body's energy field and promote relaxation and well-being.
  • •Jin Shin Jyutsu — A gentle Japanese energy art using light hand placements to encourage balance and relaxation.
  • •Pranic Healing — Pranic Healing is an energy healing system that works with prana (life force energy) to balance the biofield and support physical, emotional, and mental wellness.
  • •Raku Kei — Raku Kei is a healing system that blends Reiki energy work with additional energetic practices, visualization, and intuitive techniques to support holistic wellness.

Spiritual and consciousness practices

  • •Ifá Divination — Ifá Divination is a traditional West African spiritual practice, primarily from Yoruba culture, that uses ritual consultations with trained priests to provide guidance on life decisions and spiritual matters.
  • •Numerology — Numerology is an ancient interpretive system that assigns spiritual and symbolic meanings to numbers to reveal insights about personality, life purpose, and future events.
  • •Pachamama Rituals — Pachamama Rituals are spiritual and cultural practices rooted in Indigenous traditions that honor Mother Earth through ceremonies, rituals, and offerings to establish harmony with nature.
  • •Shamanic Healing — Shamanic Healing is a traditional indigenous practice that uses rituals, ceremonies, and energy work to address physical, emotional, and spiritual imbalances.

Sound and vibration

  • •Acu Sound Therapy — Acu Sound Therapy combines traditional acupuncture with sound vibrations and frequencies to enhance energy flow and promote relaxation.
  • •Singing Bowls — Singing bowls are traditional instruments that produce sustained, resonant tones used in sound healing practices to promote relaxation and balance.
  • •Sound Healing — Sound Healing uses vibrational frequencies from instruments, voice, and music to promote relaxation, emotional release, and energetic balance.
  • •Sound Therapy — Sound Therapy uses musical frequencies, vibrations, and sound waves to promote relaxation and support mental and physical well-being.
  • •Tibetan Singing Bowl — Tibetan Singing Bowl Therapy uses specially crafted metal bowls that produce resonant vibrations and tones to promote relaxation and stress reduction.
  • •Tuning Forks — Tuning fork therapy is a sound-based practice in which precision-calibrated metal forks are struck to produce specific vibrational frequencies, then applied to the body, acupuncture points, or energy centres to promote relaxation and nervous system regulation.
  • •Vibrational Therapy — Vibrational Therapy uses specific frequencies, sound, music, and other vibrations to promote healing across body, mind, and spirit by creating harmonic resonances.

Faith-based healing

  • •Islamic medicine — Islamic Medicine is a traditional healing system rooted in Islamic teachings and practices that integrates herbal remedies, dietary guidance, and spiritual wellness to support physical and mental health.

Holistic practices: systems of medicine and living traditions (29)

Traditional Eastern medical systems

  • •Acupressure — Acupressure is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that applies finger pressure to specific points on the body to stimulate energy flow and promote healing.
  • •Acupuncture — Acupuncture is a traditional healing practice involving the precise insertion of fine needles into specific points on the body.
  • •Auricular Acupuncture — Auricular acupuncture targets specific ear points to support stress relief, pain management, and overall wellness through a whole-body microsystem approach.
  • •Ayurveda — Ayurveda is an ancient Indian healing system that uses personalized approaches including diet, herbs, lifestyle practices, and therapies to balance the body's natural energies (doshas).
  • •Ayurvedic Diet — The Ayurvedic Diet is a personalized nutrition approach based on ancient Indian medicine that tailors food choices to an individual's dosha (constitutional type) to promote balance and optimal health.
  • •Cupping therapy — Cupping therapy is a traditional practice that uses heated or suction cups applied to the skin to create a vacuum effect, intended to relieve muscle tension, improve circulation, and promote relaxation.
  • •Dry Cupping — Dry cupping uses suction cups on the skin to support muscle recovery and relaxation.
  • •Fire Cupping — Fire cupping uses heat-created suction cups on skin to support circulation and ease muscle tension, rooted in ancient healing traditions.
  • •Gua Sha — Gua sha is a traditional East Asian technique using a smooth-edged tool to apply short, repeated strokes to the skin, most often on the neck, back, or face, to relieve muscle tension and support circulation.
  • •Korean Hand Therapy — Korean Hand Therapy uses hand microsystem points to support whole-body wellness through acupressure and traditional East Asian healing principles.
  • •Moxa Cone Therapy — Moxa cone therapy uses small burning mugwort cones on body points to generate therapeutic heat, rooted in East Asian traditional medicine.
  • •Moxibustion — Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese medicine therapy that involves burning dried mugwort herb near acupuncture points to stimulate healing and balance energy flow.
  • •Panchakarma — Panchakarma is a classical Ayurvedic detoxification and rejuvenation programme comprising five therapeutic procedures — including oleation, herbal steam, and purgation therapies — designed to remove accumulated toxins and restore constitutional balance.
  • •Traditional Chinese Medicine — Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is an ancient healing system originating in China that uses acupuncture, herbal remedies, dietary therapy, and movement practices to balance the body's vital energy (Qi) and promote wellness.
  • •Traditional Thai Medicine — Traditional Thai Medicine blends herbal therapy, bodywork, and spiritual healing rooted in centuries of Southeast Asian tradition.
  • •Tui Na — Tui Na is a Chinese therapeutic bodywork practice that uses structured hand techniques to support musculoskeletal health and overall balance.

Indigenous healing traditions

  • •Aboriginal Practices — Aboriginal practices encompass traditional Indigenous healing methods that integrate herbal medicine, spiritual ceremonies, and community-based treatments to address physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
  • •Amazonian Traditions — Amazonian Health draws on the indigenous healing traditions of the Amazon basin, where physical wellbeing, mental health, spirit, and environment are understood as inseparable.
  • •Celtic Traditions — Celtic tradition encompasses ancient spiritual practices, mythology, and healing wisdom from Celtic cultures of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and Brittany.
  • •Indigenous Health — Indigenous Health encompasses wellness practices rooted in the cultural traditions and ancestral knowledge of indigenous communities worldwide, including herbal medicine, healing ceremonies, and spiritual rituals.
  • •Mayan Healing — Mayan Healing is an ancient indigenous wellness tradition using herbs, ceremony, massage, and spiritual practices to support whole-person balance.
  • •Native American — Native American healing encompasses traditional practices, ceremonies, herbal medicine, and spiritual rituals developed and refined by Indigenous peoples of North America over thousands of years.
  • •Native Canadian — Native Canadian healing encompasses traditional practices, ceremonies, and medicines rooted in the diverse cultures of Indigenous peoples across Canada.
  • •Rongoā Māori — Rongoā Māori is the traditional healing system of the Māori people, using native plants, massage, and spiritual practice to restore wellbeing.
  • •Yoruba Tradition — West African healing and divinatory traditions of the Yoruba people, including Ifá divination, herbal knowledge, and ancestral practice.

Integrative and multidisciplinary systems

  • •Animal Assisted Therapy — Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) involves structured, goal-oriented interventions that include an animal and are delivered or directed by trained professionals within a therapeutic plan.
  • •Anthroposophic Medicine — An integrative medical system extending conventional medicine with therapies derived from Rudolf Steiner's spiritual science (anthroposophy).
  • •Equine Assisted Therapy — Equine-assisted therapy involves structured therapeutic activities that incorporate interaction with horses, typically facilitated by trained professionals.
  • •Integrative Oncology — An evidence-informed medical specialty coordinating complementary therapies alongside conventional cancer treatment.

Holistic practices: food, plants and lifestyle (36)

Nutritional therapy

  • •Anti-Inflammatory Diet — An anti-inflammatory diet emphasizes whole, minimally processed foods—especially fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and unsaturated fats—while limiting ultra-processed foods and excess added sugars.
  • •Flexitarian Diet — The Flexitarian Diet is a flexible, predominantly plant-based eating approach that allows occasional consumption of meat or fish while prioritizing whole plant foods.
  • •Holistic Nutrition — Holistic Nutrition is an approach to eating that emphasizes whole, unprocessed foods and mindful eating practices to support physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
  • •Nutritional Psychiatry — An emerging clinical specialty applying dietary and nutritional interventions to mental health conditions.
  • •Plant Based Nutrition — Plant Based Nutrition is a dietary approach that emphasizes whole foods derived from plants—fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds—while minimizing or eliminating animal products.
  • •Plant-Based Diet — A plant-based diet emphasizes whole, minimally processed plant foods including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes while minimizing or eliminating animal products.
  • •Pregnancy Nutrition — Pregnancy Nutrition is a specialized nutritional approach that provides guidance on dietary choices, nutrient intake, and supplementation during pregnancy to support maternal health and fetal development.

Botanical and plant remedies

  • •Aromatherapy — Aromatherapy uses volatile plant oils (essential oils) delivered via inhalation or topical application (typically diluted) to support relaxation and subjective wellbeing.
  • •Botanical Medicines — Botanical medicines use therapeutic plant compounds in forms like extracts, teas, and supplements to support health and treat various conditions.
  • •Botanical Therapies — Botanical Therapies use medicinal plants and herbs to prevent and treat illness, drawing on traditional knowledge and modern research.
  • •Essential Oil Therapy — Essential Oil Therapy involves the use of concentrated plant extracts to support physical and emotional well-being through aromatherapy, topical application, or inhalation.
  • •Plant Medicine — Plant Medicine encompasses the therapeutic use of herbs, botanical extracts, and plant-based remedies to support health and wellness.

Lifestyle and preventive health

  • •Birth Charting — Birth Charting creates a detailed astrological map based on the exact time, date, and place of birth to provide insights into personality traits, life patterns, and potential challenges.
  • •Chinese — Chinese traditional practices encompass Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) including acupuncture, herbal medicine, and qi-based therapies, alongside cultural and linguistic studies.
  • •Circadian Health Coaching — An emerging lifestyle health practice that aligns daily behaviours — light exposure, meal timing, sleep scheduling, exercise timing, and screen habits — with the body's endogenous circadian rhythms to optimise health, energy, and metabolic function.
  • •Druidic Healing — Druidic Healing is a nature-based complementary practice rooted in ancient Celtic traditions, incorporating herbalism, energy work, and rituals to promote physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
  • •Druidic Medicine — Druidic Medicine is a holistic healing system rooted in Celtic traditions that uses herbal remedies, plant knowledge, and nature-based practices to support physical and emotional wellness.
  • •Drum Therapy — Drum Therapy is a rhythmic healing practice that uses drumming patterns to support emotional expression, stress reduction, and mental well-being.
  • •Ear Candling — Ear candling is a traditional holistic practice using warmth and ritual for relaxation, though scientific evidence for its benefits remains limited.
  • •Earthing — Earthing, also known as grounding, is a wellness practice involving direct physical contact with the Earth's surface to promote relaxation and well-being.
  • •Edyn Method — The Edyn Method is a comprehensive personal development system that integrates meditation, yoga, nutrition, and mindfulness practices to support physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
  • •Egyptian Medicine — Egyptian medicine refers to the medical knowledge and practices of ancient Egypt, documented in sources such as medical papyri and archaeological evidence.
  • •Esoteric Healing — Esoteric Healing is a spiritual and energetic healing practice that works with the body's subtle energy systems through techniques like chakra balancing, aura cleansing, and energy clearing.
  • •First Nations — First Nations modalities encompass traditional healing practices rooted in Indigenous cultures, including ceremonies, herbal medicine, storytelling, and land-based wisdom passed down through generations.
  • •Forest Bathing — Forest bathing (Shinrin-yoku) is a mindful immersion in nature that may support stress relief, mood, and overall well-being.
  • •Hand Therapy — Hand Therapy is a specialized rehabilitation approach focused on restoring function, strength, and mobility to the hands following injury, surgery, or chronic conditions.
  • •Lifestyle Medicine — Lifestyle Medicine is a board-certified medical specialty that applies therapeutic lifestyle change as the primary intervention for chronic disease prevention, treatment, and remission.
  • •Namakaran — Namakaran is a traditional Indian naming ceremony that celebrates the formal bestowal of a name upon a newborn child within a cultural and spiritual context.
  • •Rasayana Therapy — Rasayana Therapy is an Ayurvedic rejuvenation practice that uses herbal remedies, dietary guidance, and lifestyle modifications to enhance vitality and promote longevity.
  • •Sandplay — Sandplay is a therapeutic modality in which clients use sand, water, and miniature figurines to create scenes that reflect their inner world, facilitating non-verbal emotional expression and processing.
  • •Santería — Santería is an Afro-Caribbean syncretic religion blending African spirituality with Catholicism, centered on rituals, ceremonies, and devotion to orishas (spiritual deities).
  • •Sculpture Therapy — Sculpture Therapy is a creative healing modality that uses the tactile, three-dimensional process of sculpting to help individuals express and process emotions, thoughts, and experiences.
  • •Sound Bath — Sound Bath is a relaxation modality where participants are immersed in therapeutic sounds from instruments like singing bowls, gongs, and chimes to induce deep relaxation and promote stress relief.
  • •Sufi Healing — Sufi Healing is a spiritual practice rooted in Islamic mystical traditions that integrates meditation, movement, and sacred chanting to facilitate inner transformation and connection with the divine.
  • •Traditional Japanese Health — Traditional Japanese Health is a holistic wellness approach integrating nature-based practices like Shinrin-Yoku (forest bathing), herbal medicine (Kampo), and mindfulness rooted in Japanese culture.

Detoxification and environmental therapies

  • •Master Cleanse — Master Cleanse is a short-term detoxification program based on consuming a lemonade mixture made from lemon juice, maple syrup, cayenne pepper, and water, typically followed for 10 days.

Holistic practices: guidance and coaching (1)

Coaching

  • •Change Habits — Change Habits is a behavioral modification approach that uses psychological strategies and practical techniques to help people break unwanted patterns and establish healthier routines.

How to read the evidence for anything on this list

Every entry carries an evidence level, and our guide to holistic health modalities explains what each label means and how to weigh it. Traditional systems cannot be rated as a block. Acupuncture, which sits inside Traditional Chinese Medicine, has thousands of controlled trials and evidence for specific chronic pain conditions, with smaller effects against sham than against no treatment. Other procedures from the same system have traditional use only. The honest question is never "does Ayurveda work" but "does this named procedure, for this named purpose, in people like me, have evidence", and the answer varies entry by entry.

Traditional use is not a criticism. It is a statement about what has been measured. Many valuable practices sit there, and you should know when you are choosing on that basis.

Because holistic is not a protected title in most countries, the person matters as much as the practice. Three different things share the label: a licensed physician practicing holistically, a licensed clinician in another profession with holistic training, and a non-medical practitioner whose training may range from multi-year accredited programs to a weekend certificate. All three can be valuable. Only the first two can diagnose.

Before you book

Five questions settle whether a holistic practitioner is safe to see. Which body trained you, and does it keep a public register? Do you carry professional indemnity insurance? What is outside your scope? Will you communicate with my doctor when it matters? How will we know if this is working, and by when? A confident, specific answer to each is a good sign. "I can help with anything" is not.

Some symptoms need medical assessment first: chest pain, sudden severe headache, unexplained weight loss, a new lump, unusual bleeding, sudden vision change, one-sided weakness, difficulty breathing, or thoughts of harming yourself. You can browse verified practitioners with credentials and verification status shown on every profile.

The other category lists

Every practice in the Gyfts Index sits in exactly one of four categories, so if what you are looking for is not on this page it is on one of these.

Complementary therapies list: practices used alongside medical care.

Alternative medicine practices list: whole systems of medicine and the herbal, dietary and mind-body methods that grew up within them.

Metaphysical and spiritual practices list: energy work, divination, ceremony and contemplative systems.

For the full picture, including how the Index divides across categories and what it works on, start from the complete healing modalities directory.

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