I created the Whole project because I believe in the idea of holism, that is, treating the whole body, looking at the whole picture, and getting the whole story. That means understanding that both anecdotal and scientific data have a place in making decisions.

As a student, both in school and life. I became fascinated with alternative medicine and holistic health. However, because my background is in a science grounded discipline I was often critical of claims. made by the so called “Holistic health” community. While many of these claims came from traditional practices and could provide some historical basis for their use. Most holistic health services and products were very light on science based research and evidence.

It is implicit in the name, holistic health, that this had to include uses of western drugs and methods or it would not be holism. Alas, that is not the case. It was clear that holistic health and lifestyle proponents have much to teach and offer, but are often presenting their information in a quasi- mythical almost belief based format that does not always appeal to the more science minded among us.

Overtime science has begun to test many of the holistic medicine claims and found a great deal of valid information exists within the supposed rhetoric. However, the embracing of a “back to nature” culture as characterized by words like Natural, organic, holistic, Alternative etc. has in recent years begun to manifest in an extremely profitable industry that sometimes ignores or rejects fact based research in favor of belief propaganda and profits. This does not apply to the health and wellness industry alone but is part of a larger cultural phenomenon in which facts are being ignored in favor of preferential beliefs.

After reading and experimenting, I came to one important conclusion. The only thing that matters is what works for you. There is some great wisdom out there, unfortunately you must cut through a lot of B.S. to get there. The health and wellness industry is first and foremost a business.

I have made it my mission to study and experiment, to test and try out many of these claims. I want to show the whole picture, the science and the anecdotal evidence. This site is a conversation based on research and experience, a dialogue that can hopefully bridge some of the gap between fact and fabrication.

I will then suggest that based on the rules of holism these worlds are not mutually exclusive and that both possess valid information as well as inherent risks. As humans, the things that connect us are greater than those that divide us. We all want to be healthy, happy and successful. We are all driven by our opinions beliefs, biases and desires.

For me this is an outlet of exploration on how to live a better more fulfilling and enriching life. I will generally focus on topics that interest me. I will likely cover a lot of health and lifestyle topics, touch upon some human rights and environmental issues, and more as this blog evolves. What I can promise is topics that are well researched with bibliographies. I am not an expert on these topics, but will stand on the backs of many experts to present the topics in the most honest way that I understand them.

I want to invite you along to learn and expand upon my own ideas and personal philosophies. What is to come may be something as simple as a journal, a handbook or a collection of ideas that I hope will inform and interest the reader.