Defining healing and self-healing

The first objective of this work is to define the notion of healing, to explore its features, dimensions, and limits, and to understand its complex relationships with the notions of health, quality of life, and illness. The second objective is to propose a scientific definition of the notion of self-healing. In both parts of this article, we will draw on a literature review and then seek to derive a consensus definition. Finally, we will consider the role of health practitioners in relation to patients, in connection with the notion of self-healing.