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Evidence Based

This article is based on scientific evidence, written by experts and fact checked by experts.

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This article contains scientific references. The numbers in the parentheses (1, 2, 3) are clickable links to peer-reviewed scientific papers.

Holistic Practitioners: What They Do & How They Help

Written by Dr. Michael Ruscio, DC on April 2, 2025

Written by Dr. Michael Ruscio, DC on April 2, 2025 — Reviewed by Hilary Watts

• What Is a Holistic Practitioner?|
• Types|
• What They Do|
• Education and Training|
• Treatment Approach|
• Benefits|
• Finding a Practitioner|
• Commonly Treated Conditions|
• FAQs|

Finding the right practitioner can make all the difference in a healing journey. I found this out firsthand in my twenties when I was losing my hair and having digestive issues, brain fog, and awful sleep.  

I finally found relief after working with a functional medicine practitioner who determined that a parasite was the underlying cause of my symptoms. Together, we developed a comprehensive treatment plan to get my body back on track. It was truly life-changing. So life-changing that it moved my own trajectory toward functional medicine.

In this article, I’ll share what a holistic practitioner is, what they do, and how they differ from a traditional doctor. I’ll also help you understand how to find the right practitioner for you, what questions you may want to ask, and the common conditions that may benefit from holistic treatment.  

What Is a Holistic Practitioner? 

Holistic practitioners are trained to treat the body as one interconnected system that works beautifully when given what it needs. We are guided by the desire to help clients understand the mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional needs that support health and wellness.  

Rather than waiting for a disease to develop, holistic healthcare practitioners look for early warning signs and intervene to help their clients optimize health and prevent disease development. 

But holistic practitioners also take a deep dive into the upstream causes of dysfunction and use science-based therapeutic interventions to reverse disease in the body.  

Here’s an example of how a holistic practitioner helps a common ailment. 

Let’s say you have joint pain that is interfering with your well-being. A holistic practitioner will likely focus on treating the root causes of your pain with diet and lifestyle strategies, whereas a traditional doctor may only prescribe an anti-inflammatory medication. Both will provide relief, but the holistic approach aims to provide more complete healing, avoid the side effects of medication, and help to prevent future issues.

Types of Holistic Practitioners 

Many holistic health practitioners have conventional medical or nutrition degrees. Others may have a different type of alternative medicine degree or specific integrative medicine training. The following is a list of some types of holistic practitioners: 

• Integrative or Functional Medical Doctor (MD) 
• Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) 
• Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine (DC) 
• Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (ND) 
• Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM) 
• Acupuncturist (LAc)
• Nurse Practitioner (NP)
• Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) 
• Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) 
• Integrative and Functional Nutrition Certified Practitioner (IFNCP) 
• Certified Health Coach 
• Certified Herbalist

What Does a Holistic Practitioner Do? 

Holistic practitioners take a whole-body approach to treatment. They’re addressing the interconnectedness of the mind, body, emotions, lifestyle, environment, and spirituality. 

To better understand the full story of negative symptoms, holistic practitioners need to know a lot of information about their clients. Many holistic practitioners follow a model of care that looks at a timeline of health. 

To get the full picture, most holistic providers request detailed personal information before your first appointment, such as:

• Goals and concerns
• Allergy information
• Family history
• Medical history
• Birth history
• Medications and supplements (current and previous)
• Nutrition history and food diary
• Lifestyle (sleep, stress, exercise)
• Environmental exposures
• Readiness to change
• Digestive health
• Symptom questionnaire

This information is then used, along with information collected during the appointment, to develop a personalized treatment plan with the client. 

Rather than just targeting symptoms, holistic providers address the root causes of symptoms with a holistic treatment plan that may include recommendations for:

• Therapeutic diets
• Dietary supplements (including herbal therapies)
• Exercise
• Mindfulness practices
• Sleep optimization
• Social connection
• Acupuncture
• Massage therapy
• Conventional treatments, if needed

Holistic providers may also often refer clients to traditional doctors, therapists, or specialists who can assist with optimizing results. 

How to Become a Holistic Practitioner

Many career paths exist for becoming a holistic practitioner, depending on the type of practice someone desires. The following table details common types of holistic practitioners and their training requirements.

Once a holistic practitioner obtains a degree or certification, the learning process continues. Many programs require ongoing continuing education and development to maintain licensure and credentials.

Holistic Treatment Approaches 

Holistic practitioners make use of many tools to help their clients achieve personal health goals. This may mean only using natural therapies or combining conventional and holistic treatment options.  

Holistic practitioners personalize treatment plans to include a combination of treatments such as: 

• Nutrition and dietary interventions, which can include a variety of therapeutic diets along with specific guidance for when and how to eat to support optimal health 

• Herbal medicine and supplements to support body function

• Mind-body therapies like meditation, deep breathing, guided imagery, Tai chi, and yoga  

• Physical modalities and bodywork, which can include massage, spinal manipulation and chiropractic care, physical therapy, and exercise 

• Energy healing practices, which can include Reiki, breathwork, acupuncture, and Qigong

Benefits of Seeing a Holistic Practitioner 

Partnering with a holistic practitioner can benefit a wide range of people, such as a healthy person hoping to age well, an athlete who wants to optimize overall health and performance, or a middle-aged person hoping to heal from a chronic disease. 

Holistic practitioners tailor interventions based on each client’s unique story and circumstance.

Comprehensive Approach to Wellness 

As a holistic practitioner, I desire to help my clients have the best outcome possible. This means we provide a comprehensive approach to wellness that addresses all aspects of their well-being. 

Many of our clients come to us after other providers have failed to resolve their health issues. So, we take our role very seriously. And we are committed to improving our clients’ health effectively and efficiently by addressing not just physical health but also mental, emotional, and social health.

In our clinic, we have you complete detailed paperwork prior to the appointment, and then we review this paperwork beforehand so we can spend the bulk of the appointment diving further with you and developing the most comprehensive approach. 

Preventative Care Focus 

The human body is amazing, and it provides us with warning signs that signal danger ahead. Instead of waiting for a full-blown disease to develop, we help our clients understand how to pay attention to these warning signs and what they can do to prevent and reverse the disease process.  

Personalized Treatment Strategies 

I wrote my book, Healthy Gut, Healthy You, as a step-by-step guide for improving gut health, which translates into better health overall. While the steps in the book are the same, the way they’re implemented can be personalized for everyone. 

Likewise, in the clinic, we get to know our clients, including their lifestyles, budgets, and ability to implement treatment strategies. We work together to develop a healing or wellness plan that works for their unique situation.  

Integration with Conventional Medicine  

In many situations, the best approach is to use a combination of conventional and integrative or holistic therapies. Our clients understand that they don’t have to choose one or the other—both approaches have value and can help optimize outcomes.  

Conventional providers tend to use standard therapies and prescription medication protocols, and holistic providers typically tailor nutrition, dietary supplements, and lifestyle strategies to help clients achieve the greatest success. A team with both types of providers can be just what some people need to feel their best.

Finding the Right Holistic Practitioner 

If you’d like to meet with a holistic practitioner, it’s important to look for a qualified provider with the appropriate credentials and experience. 

For example, I am a Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine (DC), natural health provider, researcher, and clinician. I also serve as an adjunct professor at the University of Bridgeport and have published numerous papers in scientific journals. 

I founded the Ruscio Institute of Functional Health, where my team and I have helped hundreds of people struggling with a wide range of GI conditions. I also serve as the Head of Research. 

No matter which holistic provider you choose, questions to consider asking before or during your first consultation may include: 

• Are you willing to collaborate with my conventional provider? 
• Do you have experience treating my condition? 
• How do you know which treatment to start with first? 
• Are you willing to tailor your recommendations to my lifestyle? 
• How long are the initial and follow-up sessions? 
• Are you available if I have questions about my treatment plan? 
• Are you willing to tailor your recommendations based on my budget? 
• Will you recommend conventional therapies if needed? 
• How long will it take for me to experience results? 
• Are you well-versed in dietary supplement- medication interactions? 
• Are you willing to change the treatment plan if I feel it’s not working? 
• Are you willing to only recommend testing and supplements that are absolutely necessary? 

Common Conditions Treated Holistically 

Holistic treatments are beneficial for people who want to optimize total body health and prevent disease, as well as people with chronic medical conditions who want to regain their vibrant health. 

Common conditions that are treated holistically include: 

• Chronic pain and inflammation 
• Poor gut health and digestive issues 
• Chronic stress and mental health disorders 
• Thyroid and hormonal imbalances 
• Autoimmune conditions 

The Ruscio Institute for Functional Health specializes in gut, brain, immune, and thyroid health, as well as chronic infections. We integrate the latest scientific research to offer advanced health solutions, and we publish our own research in peer-reviewed journals.

FAQs About Holistic Practitioners

What’s the Difference Between a Holistic Doctor and a Regular Doctor?

Conventional healthcare providers are trained to view the body as a series of separate organ systems and often utilize prescription medications to target the symptoms of disease. Treating symptoms can help provide some relief, but it doesn’t address the root causes of dysfunction. 

The following table details the differences between holistic and conventional Western medicine providers.

Are Holistic Treatments Covered By Insurance?

Holistic treatments and tests aren’t usually covered by insurance, so you could be paying out of pocket. But some lab tests, chiropractic services, massage therapy, acupuncture, and physical therapy may be covered under your insurance plan.  

Additionally, health savings accounts (HSA) and flex spending accounts (FSA) can be used to cover many holistic treatments and even dietary supplements when they’re recommended by a credentialed provider.  

It’s important to ask about the cost of services and tests up front and to contact your insurance provider to understand what may be covered. 

If your holistic provider doesn’t bill insurance, you may be able to get reimbursed by requesting a superbill (a type of itemized receipt) from your provider to submit to your insurance company.  

How Long Does It Take to See Results With Holistic Treatment?

The timeline to see results is different for everyone based on the health problem and how long it’s been present, a person’s commitment to the treatment plan, and the type of treatment. 

Since holistic treatment is about creating sustainable, long-term balance and a healthy lifestyle rather than just masking symptoms, it can take more time to see significant results. 

That said, many of our clients experience improvements in a matter of days to weeks, with full recovery within a few months to a year.

Is Holistic Medicine Evidence-Based?

Holistic medicine is an evidence-based, not evidence-limited, practice. Holistic practitioners understand that interventions without much research can still be worth exploring.

Some holistic treatments, such as meditation, acupuncture, and nutrition, are well-supported by research. Others, such as herbal remedies and energy healing, have promising research.  

Many complementary and alternative treatments aren’t studied as well as things like pharmaceuticals because they’re not as easy to patent and, therefore, receive less funding. Additionally, holistic medicine involves customized, complex care plans, which makes standard clinical trials harder to complete.

How Do I Know if Holistic Medicine Is Right For Me?

Holistic medicine can be a great fit for many people, but it depends on your situation, motivation to change, and personal health goals. 

Holistic medicine may be right for you if you want:

• To treat root causes, not just symptoms
• To reduce your reliance on traditional medication
• Natural, lifestyle-based, and preventative care
• To invest time and effort into your own health
• To augment your conventional medical care
• A personalized, holistic approach
• To continually learn about optimizing your health
• To be more involved in your healthcare

Start Your Holistic Health Journey

Working with a functional medicine doctor was life-changing for me and set me on my career path as a holistic practitioner. If you like the idea of addressing not just physical symptoms but also emotional, mental, and lifestyle factors, then a holistic approach may resonate with you, too.

Holistic treatment plans often include natural therapies such as nutrition and dietary supplements, other lifestyle changes (such as sleep, stress management, and social connection), and conventional therapies if needed to support the entire body, mind, and spirit. 

In my experience in the clinic, a holistic approach excels when traditional methods fall short. This is due to the fact that we focus on identifying root causes, prevention, and long-term body balance as opposed to short-term symptom relief. 

If you would like to receive a personalized treatment plan with ongoing support, contact us at the Ruscio Institute for Functional Health for an appointment.

The Ruscio Institute has developed a range of high-quality formulations to help our clients and audience. If you’re interested in learning more about these products, please click here. Note that there are many other options available, and we encourage you to research which products may be right for you. The information on DrRuscio.com is for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.