The Holistic Concept is a fundamental mode of thinking in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It emphasises the integrated and coordinated functioning of the zang-fu (viscera and bowels), and highlights the unity between the human body, society and the natural environment. This concept permeates every aspect of TCM, including physiology, pathology, pattern identification, diagnosis and treatment, as well as health cultivation.

Within the human body, TCM holds that the zang-fu organs are closely interconnected. In functional terms, they coordinate with and complement one another. Once this dynamic balance is disrupted, the body enters a pathological state.

In the interaction between human beings and their environment, TCM regards emotional factors as an important cause of disease. Differences in climate, geographical conditions and dietary patterns also influence the development and tendency of illness. Therefore, the interactions between individuals, society and nature constitute essential considerations in the diagnostic and therapeutic process of TCM.