Eastern and Western paradigms: the holistic nature of traditional Chinese medicine

This paper discusses the practice of holism based upon differing Eastern and Western worldview belief systems. The practice of authentic holistic healing and caring is, according to the author, highly dependent upon which paradigm(s) the nurse lives within, given the constraints of modern Western science and its linear thinking, theoretical laws and objectivity towards the practice of healing and health care. From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, healing and health are based upon circular thinking, observation, subjectivity and feeling, which reflects a differing holistic approach to human beings.