The Holistic Approach

The Holistic Approach

Although it is easier to teach and learn anatomy and physiology by dividing the body into organs and systems, it has to be understood that the body is complex and highly integrated. Each system is interde-pendent and works together as one—THE BODY. InThe Life Application Study Bible, (Life ApplicationStudy Bible. Tyndale House Publishers, 1997:I Corinthians 12:12-27.) the analogy of the human body is used in a different context; however, it aptly describes the working of the body: “. . . the body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body . . . if one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”

What happens to one tissue affects the whole body and what happens to the body affects all of its parts. It is this holistic concept that alternative/complementary therapy, of which massage is one, adopts. To extend this further, the manipulation of soft tissue in one area potentially affects the whole body.

      The best learning approach for anatomy and phys-iology is to view the body “holistically.” Although ideal, the body is too complex for the beginning stu-dent to fully appreciate how the different parts inte-grate. This book, therefore, addresses individual sys-tems or parts of the body with the hope that, in the end, the entire picture will fall into place.