GLOSSARY

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Acupressure
Unlike acupuncture, acupressure uses the pressure of the fingers and hands and is utilized effectively for tension-related ailments. It is the older of the two techniques.

Acupuncture
Acupuncture uses small needles to penetrate and stimulate specific points in the body to restore normal function and energenic balance. Acupuncture is now a widely accepted form of treatment throughout the world and is used in both hospitals and private practice.

AIDS Programs & Services
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome is a virus that attacks and destroys the immune system resulting in a broad spectrum of serious health complications.

Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is the art and science of the using essential oils of botanical plants for the treatment of healing, i.e., ailments, illnes and disease. Various therapeutic grade essential oils are utilized without side effects. These oils can be inhaled, applied topically, and in some cases, ingested. In many countries, aromatherapy is highly respected as a system of medicine and is used in hospitals, clinics and private practice.

Astrology
Astrology is the study of the various positions and aspects of heavenly bodies with an insight to predicting their influence on human affairs and behaviors.

Ayurvedic Medicine
Ayurvedic Medicine is an ancient system of Indian-based medicine. It is based upon treating individuals according to three metabolic types. Ayurveda places a great deal of importance on diet, detoxification, exercise, herbs and meditation. Ayurvedic Medicine proves effective in treating a wide range of chronic conditions and in improving overall health.

Biofeedback
Biofeedback is the process of using computerized monitoring systems to provide ongoing information about physiological conditions of the body. There are a variety of biofeedback procedures designed to monitor such functions as muscular tension, skin temperature, skin resistance and other autonomic activities. The goal of biofeedback is to learn what can be modified, changed or controlled through relaxation and visualization techniques.

Biofield Therapeutics
Biofield Therapeutics utilizes the vibrational force, which surrounds all matter, to address the needs of the spiritual body, mental (mind set), emotions (feelings), energy, and physical body. This form of therapeutic intervention focuses on integrating all of these systems to help individuals achieve a greater sense of balance.

Body Stress Release
Body Stress Release (BSR) is a unique complementary wellness modality that targets the stress that is "locked" into the physical structure and releases it with a precise, gentle stimulation for self-healing to take place. A minimum of three releases is recommended to begin the process. A maintenance program should follow with a release every 4 to 6 weeks.

Bodywork
Bodywork refers to the utilization of multi-therapies including massage, deep tissue manipulation, movement, energy balancing, acupressure, reflexology, rolfing and many others to help reduce pain, soothe muscles, stimulate blood circulation and promote relaxation and healing. It may also include emotional or energetic healing work.

Cancer
Cancer is defined as any malignant growth or tumor anywhere in the body, as well as the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body that disrupt body tissue and other bodily functions.

Chelation Therapy
Chelation Therapy is a painless and simple process that involves intravenous drips of EDTA to remove toxins, lead and heavy metals from the blood. Chelation offers an alternative to bypass surgery and angioplasty. It has also shown to help poor leg circulation, as well as reduce high blood pressure and reverse age-related degenerative conditions while improving the overall quality of life for patients.

Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine is the oldest continually practiced medicine in the world. More than one-fourth of the world’s population now makes use of one or more of the many therapies and treatments offered through Chinese medicine. These therapies and treatments include acupuncture, herbs, massage, meditation, and a wide variety of other energy-related exercise such as qigong and tai chi.

Chiropractic Medicine
Chiropractice Medicine utilizes the technique of adjusting spinal vertebrae to their normal position to restore the proper flow of nerve impulses to the spinal column. Doctors of Chiropractic Medicine consider a spine free of misalignment and the free-flow of nerves to all areas of the human body essential in maintaining optimum health. A variety of approaches and techniques are utilized in the field of chiropractic care.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome consists of extreme fatigue that is accompanied by a host of other symptoms that often develop simultaneously. These symptoms often have a rapid onset, frequently following an infection. Research has shown that CFS is tied directly to immune-related disorders and/or dysfunctions.

Colon Therapy - Colonics and Colon Hydrotherapy
Colon Hydrotherapy is the irrigation of the colon with purified water using disposable nozzles and hygienic equipment in a comfortable setting in order to evacuate the contents of the bowel. Reasons for doing this vary around the world so check with a certified colon hydrotherapist, licensed health care practitioner or physician of your choice to determine its value in your overall health care problem.

Color Therapy
Color Therapy utilizes colored light(s) and liquids to help treat a variety of emotional, mental, physical and/or spiritual conditions. Color Therapy is also used to treat pain and depression. Syntonic Optometry (colored light therapy) has shown favorable results in altering neurochemical production in the brain.

CranioSacral Therapy
CranioSacral Therapy uses very gentle pressure in normalizing the flow of cerebral spinal fluid in and around the brain and spinal cord. CST is quite relaxing and may be helpful in treating various conditions including headaches, ear infections, strokes and spinal cord injuries.

Dentistry - Biological & Holistic
Biological Dentistry stresses the use of nontoxic restoration materials for dental work while focusing on the unrecognized impact that dental toxins and hidden dental infections can have on overall health

Detoxification Therapy
Detoxification Therapy is utilized to rid the body of chemicals, poisons and pollutants. Detoxification can facilitate the return of the body to optimum health. Forms of Detoxification Therapy include colonics, herbal products with detoxification properties, juicing, fasting, lymphatic drainage and others.

Dowsing
Dowsing utilizes energy to bridge or make connection to a person, place or thing. Dowsing identifies blockages and hindrances to personal growth, health and happiness. It is used to eradicate negative energies from people, places and things, thus allowing for a more balanced individual and/or environment.

Energy Balancing & Healing
Energy Therapies, such as balancing and healing, are a rapidly emerging field of therapy. These modalities include traditional systems such as acupuncture and homeopathy, as well as electromagnetic devices and biofeedback. Non-traditional modalities, such as reiki and touch therapy, are becoming widely accepted as effective forms of balancing and healing.

Environmental Medicine
Environmental Medicine identifies and treats specific causes of many conditions related to immune dysfunction, nutritional deficiencies, hormonal dysregulation and pollutants, including environmentally induced illnesses. Diseases and illness created by environmental conditions include, among others, allergies, asthma. chronic sinus infections, eczema, arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and migraine headaches.

Fasting
Fasting is an effective therapy for a wide range of conditions that include hypertension, digestive disorders, headaches, allergies and arthritis. By resting the body’s task of digesting foods, fasting allows the system to purge itself of toxins while fascilitating healing.

Feldenkrais Method®
The Feldenkrais Method® is an educational approach to human ability and self exploration. Through the use of active and passive movements, students can explore the relationships between movement and the way one and acts in the world. Group and private lessons consist of very gentle movements which make surprisingly profound changes. By becoming aware of habitual patterns of action and then learning new strategies, students can address any movement difficulty in this very respectful approach to how we move.

Guided Imagery
Guided Imagery is an integral part of the mind/body/spirit/emotions medicine that uses the power of the mind to evoke desired images that lead to a positive response. Guided Imagery uses the flow of thoughts seen, heard and experienced in the imagination to help achieve healing and balance.

Herbs & Herbalists
The word herb as used in herbal medicine, means a plant or plant part that is used to make medicine, food flavors (spices), or aromatic oils for soap and fragrances. An herb can be a leaf, flower, stem, seed, root, fruit, bark, or any other plant part used for its medicinal, food flavoring, or fragrant property. Out of 250,000 to 500,000 plants on earth today, only about 5,000 of these have been extensively studied for their medicinal applications. Herbs have been shown to help restore proper functioning of the body, increasing health and vitality. Modern medicine and science continue to turn their attention to the plant world to discover cures for diseases that have eluded mankind such as cancer, AIDS, diabetes and many others.

Holographic Repatterning™
Holographic Repatterning™, developed by Chloe Faith Wordsworth, is an extraordinary and practical system for self-healing. Using the HR 6-step process, the certified practitioner is able to identify and transform unconcious patterns that create problems. HR is based on the premise that we experience what we resonate with, that we can repattern our negative resonance to what is life-enhancing. According to many of those receiving HR sessions, positive changes are experienced in health, relationships, career and how they feel about life itself.

Homeopathic Medicine
Homeopathic Medicine and Homeopathy is a system of natural healing. Homeopathy stimulates the human body in a safe and gentle way, while utilizing remedies to encourage the body to work more effectively and efficiently. These homeopathic remedies are derived from plants, animals and mineral sources and usually offer no side effects.

Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is a method whereby a hypnotherapist speaks directly to a subject’s subconcious mind and can therefore communicate with that part of the mind that stores and controls everything from perceptions to memory, as well as the monitoring of all physical functions of the body. Hypnotherapy can be effective in implementing desired changes such as weight reduction and smoking cessation, as well as treating a wide range of conditions that include depression, pain control and a variety of phobias.

Internal Organ Massage
Internal Organ Massage is utilized to restore the function of the vital organs through direct and indirect physical manipulations and energy work in the abdominal area. The roots of symptoms manifesting in the outlying area regions of the body can be found in the abdomen and addressed there with this form of massage.

Jin Shin
Jyutsu Jin Shin Jyutsu, an ancient oriental healing art, uses touch on specific points on the body to release blockages of energy, thereby harmonizing and revitalizing the body on a physical, mental/emotional and spiritual level.

Juicing
Juicing utilizes fresh, raw juice of vegetables and fruit to nourish and replenish the body, especially during periods of stress, illness or where the body is lacking such nourishment. Juicing can be utilized as nutritional support, or as part of a daily health maintenance plan.

Kinesiology
Kinesiology involves the testing of various muscles and nerves of the body in order to determinethe strength or weakness of various muscles and organ systems. It can also be used to determine how receptive the body is to various remedies and therapies, thereby assisting with the restoration of optimal health.

LA Stone Therapy
LA Stone Therapy utilizes hot and cold stones blended with swedish massage-like strokes. Hot stones expand the blood vessels while acting as a sedative to the nervous system. Cold stones contract the blood vessels, thus providing stimulation to the nervous system while assisting with injury. Alternating hot and cold stones are utilized for tissue repair and stress reduction.

Light Therapy
Light Therapy involves the use of full spectrum, ultra-violet and/or colored lights to treat a wide range of conditions ranging from AIDS, cancer and other chronic conditions.

Lymphatic Drainage
Lymphatic Drainage is a form of bodywork that uses gentle, pumping movements to break up blockages in the lymphatic system while speeding up the flow of lymphatic fluid. This action cleanses the body of waste and has been shown to restore fluid balance while strengthening the immune system.

Magnets / Magnetic Therapy
Magnets and Magnetic Therapy utilizes magnets and electromagnetic fields for the treatment of numerour conditions including fractures, pain, arthritis, circulatory problems and many others.

Massage Therapy
Massage Therapy is an effective broad-based system of remedial treatment consisting of kneading, rubbing and otherwise manipulating a part of the whole body with the hands. Although not limited to, Massage Therapy focuses mainly on muscles, organs and lymphatic glands.

Meditation
Meditation has been utilized for thousands of years to bring about integration of mind, body and spirit. Similar to guided imagery, meditation has shown beneficial results on a wide range of conditions, from hypertension and immune enhancement, to asthma and pain management. Mind, Body, Spirit & Emotions Mind/Body/Spirit/Emotions is an emerging field of health care that deals with the total effects of thought, physical body, emotional and spiritual aspects of humans and their effect on chronic conditions such as cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, AIDS and mental illness. This broadening field of “wholeness” includes a wide range of disciplines including biofeedback, guided imagery, meditation and others.

Music & Sound Therapy
Both Music and Sound Therapy are based on the idea that music and sound can influence healthby their balancing, calming and energizing effects on the brain and nervous system. Music and Sound Therapy has become so widely accepted, they are now utilized in hospitals, clinics and schools throughout the world as effective treatments to alleviate pain, overcome various learning disabilities, improve strength and endurance, as well as movement and balance improvement.

Myofascial Release
Myofascial Realease addresses the connective tissue that runs throughout the body. Because connective tissue can become strained or damaged, myofascial release can bring relief for those suffering from chronic pain, physical dysfunction or bodily injury, as well as surgey and postural misalignment.

Myotherapy
Myotherapy, in short, is manual massage and pressure on sensitive spots of the body known as “trigger points” to relieve chronic pain and diseases, such as arthritis and multiple sclerosis.

Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic Medicine is a system based upon natural principles of health and a deep respect for the healing power of nature. A growing field of holistic health care, Naturopathic medicine attempts to locate the underlying cause of disease and blends centuries-old natural, non-toxic therapies with current advances in the study of health and human systems, covering all aspects of family health from prenatal to geriatric care.

Neuro-Linguistic Programming
Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) is a science of helping individuals communicate with their unconscious minds, while providing a way to detect unconscious patterns of thought and behavior in those suffering from allergies, arthritis, migraines, cancer, AIDS and other chronic conditions. NLP has shown effective results in improving mental, emotional and physical well-being.

Neurophysio Therapy
Neurophysio Therapy techniques are gentle manual movements designed to release deep patterns in the connective tissue that can and do cause chronic conditions. When trauma is removed from the tissue, the body re-learns to function more normally. This therapy treats the cause of chronic problems instead of treating the symptoms.

Oxygen Therapy
Oxygen Therapy is a rapidly growing form of treatment that dates back a hundred years to Germany and includes hydrogen peroxide therapy, ozone therapy and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to treat a wide range of ailments and disorders.

Polarity
Polarity is based on the Eastern concept that illness originates from blockages in energy flow. Polarity practitioners utilize both hands (one positive, one negative) for massage and manipulation of of pressure points and joints. Various breathing exercises are also a part of this technique.

Pulsing
Pulsing (Holistic) is a healing form of treatment and self-discovery based on the fundamental principle of rhythm and water. Beating pulses ranging from 120 to 160 beats per minute are administered and dispersed throughout the entire body. Pulsing is utilized to treat various conditions of the immune system, while stimulating hormones and the nervous system. Pulsing is frequently used with pregnant woment.

QiGong
QiGong is an ancient oriental technique that utilizes movement and breathing to stimulate the natural healing energies within the body. QiGong has shown to enhance the overall vitality of those who practice it regularly. It also helps to reduce stress and assist with disease resistance.

Rapid Eye Technology
Rapid Eye Technology (RET) and accompanying therapy is a safe, natural process of emotional discharge that stimulates rapid eye movement (REM Sleep) in the conscious state. Rapid Eye Technology addresses the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels of those undergoing treatment.

Reflexology
Reflexology is a rapidly growing method of healing and balancing through the manipulation and stimulation of reflex areas located in the hands and feet. These areas correspond to all areas of the body, providing effective treatment for pain and a variety of ailments.

Reiki
Reiki (“Rei” referring to universal energy and “Ki” referring to the life force that flows through every living thing) is a rapidly growing energy-based system of bodywork. Treatment consists of the laying-on of hands to stimulate and infuse energy to the recipient to relieve pain and expedite the healing process. Reiki is a safe, non-invasive, non-manipulative means of therapy commonly used to help reduce stress and revitalize energy.

Rolfing®
Rolfing®, also referred to as Structural Integration, is based on the concept that human function is improved when segments of the body (head, torso, pelvis, legs and feet) are properly aligned. Rolfers use carefully applied pressure to help reorganize tissue while realigning the body. Rolfing® offers its own unique therapy and should not be construed as chiropractic medicine.

Shiatsu
Shiatsu, meaning “finger pressure,” involves a sequence of rhythmic pressures firmly applied to specific body points. It is designed to balance the acupuncture meridians of the body while increasing wellness, treating pain and various other ailments.

Sound Therapy
Sound Therapy is based on the idea that sound can influence health by its balancing, calming and energizing effects on the brain and nervous system. Sound Therapy has become so widely accepted, it is now utilized in hospitals, clinics and schools throughout the world as an effective treatment to alleviate pain, overcome various learning disabilities, improve strength and endurance, as well as improve movement and balance.

Therapeutic Touch
Therapeutic Touch (Touch Therapy) is an ancient-based energy-healing system in which practitioners consciously direct or sensitively adjust human energies to help reduce pain and decrease stress and anxiety. Therapeutic Touch has become increasingly popular among nurse practitioners and massage therapists.

Tragerwork™
Tragerwork™ (Trager Psychophysical Integration) is “meditation in movement” through gentle attuned touch. Trager utilizes motion, gentle pulling, and rotational movements which produce a sense of relaxation, increased flexibility and range of motion. It has been shown effective in releasing physical, emotional and spiritual trauma.

Watsu
Watsu, sometimes referred to as Water Shiatsu, is a form of massage performed in chest-high body-temperature water. A watsu practitioner guides the individual through a series of dance-like movements, while using Zen Shiatsu techniques (stretches and finger pressure) in order to release blockages in the body’s meridians (energy pathways). Watsu is commonly used to help relieve tension and stress, as well as pain, arthritis and a variety of emotional and physical problems. Yoga Yoga is an ancient Indian system of spirituality, health and longevity which utilizes various physical postures, breathing exercises, meditation and lifestyle considerations to bring about a state of balanced health and well-being.

Yoga
Yoga Therapy, and meditiation have positive health benefits on a wide range of conditions including headaches, stress, pain, asthma, high blood pressure and numerous others.