Complementary therapies: integration and interpretation

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Abstract
This paper explores the meaning of complementary therapies and the concept of holism commonly attributed to this field. Whilst it may not be necessary to use complementary therapies in order to practice holistically, without careful exploration and self-reflection of their fundamental values, they could be relegated to just another technique or task and subsumed within the daily case load. In this paper, principles of holistic care are considered and the suggestion made that a shift towards this world view could result in a different system of health care. Nurses represent the largest grouping in the NHS (Department of Health (DoH) 1993). Their increasing interest in the use of complementary therapies is, in part, a response to increasing consumer demand. The community sector is uniquely placed to assess clients ' needs, in direct context to the home environment, work and personal lifestyles. In this respect the primary care sector may perhaps be a most appropriate environment in which to develop complementary therapies.