AUTHOR COPY - Trent University

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Conceptualizing holism in international interdisciplinary critical perspective interconnection between them. They recognize the interrelationship between human health and the social and physical environment. Holistic health theory is posited on the notion that life force (or prana (in Sanskrit), chi (in Chinese), mana (in Hawaiian) connects all life in the universe, and that this energy is responsible for the life of all beings. Prana is that which gives us life, or the vehicle of life, the cosmic breath, the rhythmic oscillation effective on all levels of conditioned existence. Restoring and keeping this life force flowing is one way of keeping people healthy. We may typify holistic health with various characteristics such as the notion that health is a positive state, not merely the absence of disease, and that health is tied closely to familial, social and cultural environments. Holistic health-care is also characterized by the belief that successful healing transforms the practitioner, as well as the client and that healing includes a spiritual component in the etiology and treatment of illness. Holistic health-care understands malfunctions (illness) in the context of the social, cultural and spiritual environment. Treatment of both body and mind are considered integral (Barnes et al, 2004). Tibetan medicine is similar. Religious rituals such as prayer are central for both the practitioner and patient. Because of the sacred nature of healing, Tibetan doctors of yore did not charge for their service (Dunkenberger, 2009). Such religious, spiritual and social aims of healing are combined in many systems of holistic health. The body is understood in a unified manner within holistic health perspectives. Injury to one part of the body may thus damage another, seemingly unrelated, part. Kidney malfunctioning, for example, may result from a damaged heart. If one part of the kidney is injured, another part may take over its functions. Holistic principles maintain that the body has an innate capacity to heal itself, and the role of the physician is to first do no harm and second to assist the body in its natural tendency toward balance. Andie Knutson (1961) declares: AUTHOR COPY Many of the ills of modern society stem from attempts to deal with men (sic) segmentally rather than with men (sic) as a unit. Specialization, which seems to be an inevitable outgrowth of scientific advance, results in institutions competing with one another for various segments of a man (sic) who is seeking to maintain his integrity as a total being. How far removed we are from the medicine man (sic)! He has strengths that have not been duplicated in our modern society. (p. 1702) Despite the fact that Knutson was writing approximately 50 years ago, the segmentation, atomization and specialization of modern society continue to exist. More than 2300 years ago, the Greek philosopher Hippocrates emphasized that doctors should consider the whole human being in order to treat and diagnose. Included in the Hippocratic Oath is an allegiance to Hygeia, the r 2011 Macmillan Publishers Ltd. 1477-8211 Social Theory & Health Vol. 9, 3, 244–255 249
Shroff Goddess of Good Health, who is synonymous with hygiene, disease prevention and therapeutic medicine (Capra, 2002). The Hippocratic Doctrine, which ostensibly underlies the basis for current allopathic medicine, stresses that: ‘the wellbeing of men (sic) is influenced by all environmental factorsythe quality of air, water and food, the winds and topography of the land’ (Maurer and Smith, 2005, p. 597). 1 Although allopathic medicine has not generally been shaped by this complex view of health and disease, holistic concepts exist within allopathic theoretical frameworks. But theory is often not put into practice. This is, of course, true of all systems of medicine. However, allopathic doctors are increasingly using alternative medicine in their practices, and some allopathic doctors hire alternative practitioners to work in their offices. Increasingly, nurses, midwives and other health-care practitioners also incorporate holistic practices into their clinics. Holistic health-care: A growing trend Although allopathic medicine is useful for the treatment of acute and emergency care needs, holistic health-care appears to be more promising for chronic conditions and mental health-care, which constitute a majority of health problems, since chronic diseases are a leading cause of death and disability around the world. The interest in holistic care in North America is growing among health professionals and the general public. In the United States, for example, spending on alternative medicine has increased from 14 billion in the early 1990s to 21 billion in 1997 (McQuaide, 2005). Moreover, 36 per cent of adults are using some form of holistic and alternative medicine (Barnes et al, 2004). If megavitamin therapy and prayer specifically for health reasons are included as well, that number rises to 62 per cent (Barnes et al, 2004). In Canada, that number is similar with one study finding that 73 per cent of Canadians have used some form of holistic health-care in their lifetime (Esmail, 2007). While studies measure different definitions of holistic health and varying time periods, Canadians are increasingly using holistic health-care. The popularity of holistic health-care is in part because of the increasing dissent with the present system of medical care delivery. Some people, particularly women, prefer holistic practitioners partly because of practitioner friendliness and interpersonal sensitivity (Kelner and Wellman, 1997; Barnes et al, 2004). Fewer side effects, the perceived lack of harm from holistic healthcare and the possibility of improved health are other reasons why Canadians are turning to holistic health-care practices (Quan et al, 2008). AUTHOR COPY Holistic health-care critically examined It is precisely because of their growth and interest that holistic models also need to be considered critically. Most systems of holistic health are overly concerned 250 r 2011 Macmillan Publishers Ltd. 1477-8211 Social Theory & Health Vol. 9, 3, 244–255
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AUTHOR COPY - Trent University

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