Complement Ther Nurs Midwifery. 1997 Feb; 3(1): 9-11.

Is complementary medicine holistic?

Pietroni P.

Centre for Community Care and Primary Health, Faculty of Business Management and Social Studies, University of Westminster, London.

The term 'holism' is explored using both Smuts' original definition and that developed by the Gestalt theoreticians. It is compared to reductionism and the author posits that holism must encompass reductionalism if it is to study the relationship between parts and whole.