A holistic approach is a way of thinking and acting that considers the whole person or system, not just the parts. Learn what a holistic approach means in different fields and domains, and how it can benefit you and the world. Holistic medicine tries to treat the "whole person" rather than focusing too narrowly on single symptoms. It emphasizes the connections between the mind and the body, avoids the overuse of drugs, and has borrowed such practices from Eastern traditions as acupuncture and yoga. Holistic means encompassing the whole of a thing , and not just the part. Holistic medicine looks at the whole person for answers, not just at physical symptoms. Holistic definition : incorporating the concept of holism, or the idea that the whole is more than merely the sum of its parts, in theory or practice.. See examples of HOLISTIC used in a sentence.