SOME DEFINITIONS

ALLOPATHIC 

The system of medical practice which treats disease by the use of remedies which produce effects different from those produced by the disease under treatment.
It focus on trauma and illness and medical intervention using surgery and drugs. MDs practice allopathic medicine. Also called conventional medicine.
Conventional allopathic medicine is particularly successful for acute conditions and surgical repair or removal where a particular body part or organ receives specific attention. Drugs may be used as part of the treatment of both acute and chronic conditions although patients may sometimes suffer side effects which vary in intensity. In chronic as well as acute conditions the drugs alleviate the symptoms the patient is experiencing.

HOMEOPATHY

the system of therapy that is based on the concept that disease can be treated with drugs (in minute doses) thought capable of producing the same symptoms in healthy people as the disease itself.

ALTERNATIVE

 When an alternative medicine or therapy is used alone or instead of conventional medicine, it is called "alternative". Alternative medicine or therapy is outside the realm of conventional modern medicine.  

Many are holistic; many also emphasize prevention and education. Alternative therapies include acupuncture, aromatherapy, Ayurveda medicine, Chinese medicine, chiropractic, herbal medicine, homeopathy, massage, meditation, naturopathy, therapeutic touch, and Yoga. Though considered alternative in the West, such medicine is the main source of health care for up to 80% of people in less-developed countries. Some alternative-medicine practices are useless or harmful; others are effective and may offer treatments in areas where conventional approaches have not succeeded (e.g., chronic disorders).

COMPLEMENTARY

When treatment or therapy is done alongside or in addition to conventional medicine, it is referred to as "Complementary Medicine" as the two practices complement each other.

So what is the difference between complementary and orthodox medicine? Complementary therapists stress that their work is based on the interaction between the body, the mind and the energy system that combines them.

Complementary medicine is used to describe therapeutic techniques that are not part of  conventional medicine (also called "regular," "standard," or "mainstream" medicine). Complementary therapies are used as a "complement" or addition to conventional medicine. Because complementary medicine can be combined or integrated with conventional medical treatment, it is also called "integrative medicine."
Conventional medicine has been proven to be safe and effective by numerous scientific studies. While some studies show that people diagnosed with breast cancer can get benefits from complementary medicine, it's important to know that complementary therapies usually don't undergo the same kinds of rigorous testing as conventional medicine.
Complementary medicine includes techniques such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, massage, support groups, and yoga. Sometimes called holistic medicine, complementary medicine typically addresses how disease affects the whole person: physically, emotionally, spiritually, and socially.

HOLISTIC

Holistic therapy is a generic term for any treatment/ therapy session that is intended to treat the individual as a whole on all levels - mind, body and spirit.
Most complementary or alternative therapies could be regarded as holistic.

WHAT HOLISTIC HEALING MEANS

Holistic healing means taking an holistic approach when seeking treatment for imbalances and choosing to live a more balanced lifestyle. What primarily distinguishes holistic healing apart from alternative medicine, complementary medicine, and integrative medicine is that physical health is not necessarily the main focus. Even so, it is often the experience of physical discomfort that will first prompt a person's pursuit of holistic healing.

It is true that our pains and other physical discomforts demand our attention. It is difficult to ignore the obvious when we are physically hurting. Common sense tells us that we should seek help to alleviate our discomforts. Holistic healing is not an "alternative" to conventional medical care. Sometimes going to a medical professional is the best solution to addressing a dis-ease.

Physical illnesses are the symptoms of a greater imbalance that may or may not have a root cause in the physical.

Holistic or "wholistic" healing addresses all parts of the individual, not just the physical aspect of a person where manifested illnesses are most apparent. Holistic healing is not intended to serve as a band-aid or a one time fix. It is an ongoing journey of discovery in search of more answers and ultimately; living better, being healthier, and striving for wholeness.

Holistic Healing Goes Beyond the Mind-Body Connection:

Holistic healing is really a lifestyle approach. The holistic approach goes far beyond the Mind-Body connection of finding and maintaining wellness. Overall wellness AND "wholeness" is highly valued. All parts of a person's life (physical healing, mental health and wellness, emotional well-being, and spiritual beliefs and values) are considered. Taking a holistic approach involves seeking the tools that will help us attract our desires and find personal power.

A person who embraces the desire to find wholeness within his own being soon learns the importance of tending to relationships, caring for the planet and our environments, having compassion for humankind in general, and accepting and tolerating differences among a diverse population of people.