What is integrative medicine? Integrative medicine refers to the integration of modern western medicine, traditional medicine, and complementary and alternative medicine. The definition of integrative medicine states that it takes into account the whole person （body, mind, and spirit）. However, the meaning of the concepts of "integration" and "spirit" is not very clear. This paper aims to clarify these concepts and introduce dimensional anthropology.
Dimensional anthropology was advocated by V.E.Frankl. He regards the human being as "a somaticmental (or psychic) –spiritual oneness and wholeness.'' In addition, he emphasizes that only the spiritual core warrants and constitutes oneness and wholeness. He called this view of the person dimensional anthropology. Human beings are free and responsible. Frankl refutes scientific determinism or scientism because these positions neglect freedom and responsibility of human beings. Determinism or scientism is one form of nihilism.
An awareness of the spiritual dimension helps us identify the "existential vacuum." It indicates the condition wherein people suffer from a sense of meaninglessness and emptiness. Logotherapy helps a person to discover the meaning of life and, as a result, the existential vacuum can be overcome. Naikan therapy may also treat the existential vacuum.
The introduction of dimensional anthropology to integrative medicine enables us to arrange the types of medicine not according to their principles or methods, but according to the dimension of the person who is using these medicines. Moreover, without dimensional anthropology, integrative medicine may help nihilism prevail in medicine, for the scope of integrative medicine is so broad and it will deal with not only cure but also prevention and health promotion with western, traditional, and complementary and alternative methods.
I believe that the introduction of dimensional anthropology is indispensable for integrative medicine, and we must continue to establish a better view of the person in medicine.
