Homeostasis: restoring the internal wellbeing in patients/clients

This article gives a historical perspective of homeostasis and explores the concepts surrounding the term. The importance of the internal environment and the dynamic nature of homeostasis are discussed. Issues of homeostatic control and maintenance are highlighted and the role of feedback mechanisms is clarified. A rationale is presented to support the argument that the objective of holistic nursing care is to restore physical and emotional homeostasis, i.e. to facilitate the restoration of the internal wellbeing in our clients/patients. Two aspects of a non-homeostatic model of health, namely the mind-body dualism and the reductionist approach, are considered.