having healing or health-improving effects

therapeutic

adjective|/ˌθer.əˈpjuː.tɪk/

Having a healing or beneficial effect on physical or mental health

Examples

In a meeting

We've found that flexible schedules have a therapeutic effect on employee stress levels.

Over coffee

Gardening is really therapeutic for me when I'm feeling anxious.

Why this word

healing

therapeutic specifically relates to medical treatment and recovery, healing is less technical

beneficial

therapeutic specifically promotes health or recovery from illness, beneficial is vaguely positive

medicinal

therapeutic emphasizes treatment effect on condition, medicinal refers to substances with healing properties

Usage tip

Use when describing activities, treatments, or conditions that promote healing or wellbeing.

Etymology

Greek: therapeutikos (inclined to serve, healing)

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