... practitioners regard health and illness not only as a physical matter, but also as an emotional and spiritual one. The common idea here is of the healing impulse or 'life force' within the body. They take a holistic approach and whether the therapies are herbs, acupuncture needles, massage, dance or chant, they act as catalysts to the healing impulse within the body. This shows how the two cultures contrast. Western medicines culture on health and illness is biological and follows strict scientific laws, whereas the culture of alternative medicine is holistic and involves the human being 'life force'. In the past health was closely linked to the religious sphere. The application of traditional remedies was often accompanied by religious interventions such as prayers and meditation. In those days, there was a holistic approach to treating patients which meant that mind and body were closely interlinked. Western medicine is a comparatively recent ...

See this essay or coursework document in full right now