The W.H.O. (World Health Organisation) defines health as, “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease infirmity” (1948). This definition stands to this present day, and is the most commonly referred to by health professionals and text books.

Before the 1700’s popular belief of illness and disease would have been the presence of evil spirit or curse interned inside the patient. Trepanning was a method where a hole was drilled into the skull of the patient to let the evil spirits leave the body…………….wies and semmille?????

The biomedical model of health views the body as a machine; if it becomes dysfunctional it can be fixed. The biomedical model which was developed predominantly in Western Europe, between the late 1700’s to the late 1800’s, is based on research and discoveries, using scientific methods. Thus leading to the belief that illness was caused by bacteria, viruses’, genetic predisposition, trauma or degenerative conditions. These could be treated with medication, surgery based firmly on the scientific understanding of the physiology and bio-chemistry of the human body.
This model lead to vast advances in medicine, for example, cures for many of the pre-war diseases such as Typhoid, Tuberculosis and Cholera were developed. However, this definition of health has been criticised for its one dimensional approach as it focuses purely on the physical aspects of the patient and fails to take account of the psychological, social, and environmental factors concerning the individual. The model suggests that the mind cannot influence the body; instead it reacts in an involuntarily manner to prevent the invading pathogens…This implies that the individual is passive and therefore not responsible for one’s own health, it is beyond their control. With this in mind the medical profession maintain