The figure of the healer occupies a central position in the history of humankind. But how have therapeutic practices changed and developed over time, and what sort of role did the healer fulfill in other cultures and in times gone by? The journey from the quasi-religious rituals of the tribal shaman to today's high-tech computer-based diagnostic techniques is a long one. How did the story evolve? ... The opening chapters describe the chronology of medical history and the development of medical theory and practice around the world. There is also a focus on the rise of medical science in the West which, ironically has led many people to turn to the holistic therapies of the East to escape the mechanical nature of much Western medicine ... in the remaining chapters ... The history of medicine is dealt with thematically, concentrating in individual chapters on particular types of therapy: herbalism, energy medicine (including acupuncture which is based on the idea of stimulating the life force), healing mental illness, manipulative therapies, and surgery. The achievements of the world's great healers are also examined ... In the final chapter, east meets Wst, looks specifically at how the two cultures have interacted and examines the reassertion of the holistic approach to health in Western cultures ...