Holism and Complementary Medicine: Origins and Principles

Health & Wellness Alternative Medicine Holistic Health Herbalism Integrative Medicine Medical Education Complementary Therapies

“Holism and Complementary Medicine: Origins and Principles” is the single-volume crash course that natural-health students, family-medicine residents, and curious patients keep on their desks. Vincent Di Stefano—osteopath, herbalist, and long-time educator—distills 25 centuries of global healing wisdom into 240 highly readable pages that trace how Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, homeopathy, naturopathy, and modern biomedicine all speak the same underlying language: treat the whole person, not the symptom. First published by Australia’s leading academic press, Allen & Unwin, this 2006 trade paperback is still the core text for university courses in integrative health because it pairs scholarly depth with everyday case examples you can apply in clinic or home.

Buyers searching for a evidence-based yet open-minded survey of complementary therapies will appreciate how each chapter moves from historical roots to contemporary research, safety data, and practical protocols. Di Stefano explains why echinacea modulates immunity instead of simply “boosting” it, how tongue and pulse diagnosis guide individualized Chinese herbal formulas, and what the placebo effect really tells us about mind-body unity. The book’s holistic lens also makes it invaluable for family-medicine clinicians who want coherent language for discussing fish-oil dosing, mindfulness techniques, or herbal contraindications with patients.

This gently used copy is clean, tight, and unmarked—no highlighting, margin notes, or dog-eared corners—so you can resell or gift it later. At just 15 oz and a backpack-friendly 6 x 9 inches, it travels from classroom to clinic to kitchen herb shelf without the bulk of denser medical tomes. Whether you are building a professional reference library, prepping for holistic-board exams, or simply seeking a trustworthy guide to safer self-care, Di Stefano’s “Holism and Complementary Medicine” delivers the philosophical backbone and clinical breadcrumbs that turn scattered alternative-health facts into a truly integrative practice.

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