Religious factors in vitalistic practices of complementary and alternative medicine

Abstract

This article examines the vitalistic (holistic) foundation of modern complementary and alter-native medicine (CAM). It substantiates that, according to the principles of holistic medicine, health is associated with the harmonization of the elements and forces that constitute human nature on both the physical and spiritual levels of existence. Regarding the religious founda-tions of CAM practices of Eastern origin, the systems such as yoga, Daoism, and Ayurveda perceive energy as an impersonal force that an individual can accumulate, balance, and influ-ence through physical and spiritual exercises to achieve health, longevity, and personal self-improvement.