The traditional Oriental view of health is quite different from the reductionist standpoint of modern, technological medicine in the West. In Eastern philosophy, illness is placed in the context of a holistic approach to life, and in particular the concept of an energy-based system. From the idea of a universal energy, or the highest level of spirituality, down to the lowest forms of life, much of Eastern ideology is an energetic one, with all parts of the human body interconnected and infused with a vital energy, and all life-forms similarly interdependent on an exchange of energies.
These concepts have led to the development of traditional therapeutic systems, such as acupuncture in China, shiastu or acupressure in Japan, and yoga in India. Some of these are more suited to professional treatment of ailments, or imbalances in energy flow as they would be described, while practices such as yoga are very suitable for everyday life, in order to prevent illness as well as to promote self-development.
Modern medicine in many Far Eastern countries is now often an amalgam of conventional Western medicines alongside traditional approaches; they are quite happy to utilize the best of both worlds, and this is perhaps a useful pointer to the rest of us. Acute, severe illness may be treated with hi-tech medicine, but a more holistic approach can remedy most health problems.
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