A
Acupressure— This technique stimulates specific
acupuncture points through applying pressure with the fingers
or hands.
Acupuncture— In 1997, the National Institutes
of Health officially recognized acupuncture as an effective
treatment for pain and nausea. Acupuncturists insert specially
made needles into specific points to stimulate the body's
natural energy. Licensed in Washington and more than 30 other
states, acupuncturists work as independent providers of health
care for a range of conditions from pain management to women's
health problems.
Aikido— The Japanese name of this martial art
literally means "the way of spiritual harmony."
Like tai chi, Aikido exercises emphasize harmony and grace
of movement.
Alexander Technique— In this form of movement
education, the practitioner leads the client through a series
of lessons designed to improve postural habits, increase freedom
of movement, and reduce physical tension. Frederick Mathias
Alexander (1869-1955) overcame vocal problems by eliminating
tension in the head, neck and back. Today, teachers of his
method address a wide variety of problems created initially
by poor posture.
Applied Kinesiology— Developed in the 1960s by
chiropractor George Goodheart, this technique evaluates an
individual's structural, chemical and mental health through
a form of muscle testing. Practitioners use a variety of therapeutic
techniques including nutritional counseling, manipulation,
acupressure, and exercise. See also Touch For Health.
Aromatherapy— French chemist Rene Gattefosse's
experiments with pure essential oils derived from aromatic
plants led him to coin the term "aromatherapy" to
describe the physical and psychological benefits of the powerful
scents given off by these oils. Today aromatherapy remains
a specific and specialized branch of herbal medicine.
Art/Drama/Music Therapies— Using these "expressive"
forms of art as a vehicle for change, self-awareness and growth,
counselors guide their clients to a resolution of psychological
or emotional problems.
Astrology— For centuries, astrologers have theorized
that the positioning and movement of the heavenly bodies can
have enormous consequences for a person. Today, they use that
information to counsel individuals about emotional, professional
or health-related problems.
Aura Color Healing— Drawing equally from ancient
Hindu beliefs and the work of modern psychic healers like
Edgar Cayce, aura or color healers look for a dark or grayish
area in a multi-colored aura field surrounding the body to
indicate potential health problems. Color healers apply remedial
colors where they notice a color deficiency.
Ayurvedic Medicine— In this ancient medical system
from India, patients are classified according to three metabolic
body types: vata, pitta and kapha. Natural means of disease
prevention including herbs, oils, minerals, heat, water, massage,
yoga, meditation, elimination therapy and counseling are recommended
according to body type. Some practitioners use Maharishi Ayur-Ved,
a modern interpretation inspired by the teachings of the Maharishi
Mahesh Yogi, the creator of Transcendental Meditation.
B Top
Bach Flower Remedies/ Flower Essences - A specific
cross between homeopathy and herbal medicine developed by
English practitioner Dr. Edward Bach, the thirty-eight Bach
Flower remedies derived from English wildflowers serve as
catalysts to alleviate the underlying causes of stress. Since
then, many practitioners have gone beyond Bach to develop
a whole range of Flower Essences from a wide variety of American,
European and Australian wildflowers.
Bioenergetics— As a bodywork approach, bioenergetics
focuses on the pattern of muscular tension in a person and
how that tension directly relates to the person's emotional
history and childhood relationships. Bioenergetic exercises
such as breathing techniques seek to open blocked or tense
areas of the body.
Biofeedback— Using a biofeedback machine, practitioners
teach patients how to control and change such autonomic body
functions as blood pressure, heart rate, circulations, digestion
and perspiration. Through monitoring "feedback"
using auditory or visual cues, users extend their understanding
of physiological functioning far past the normal five senses.
Body/Mind Counseling— Body/Mind Counseling covers
a number of techniques intended to change negative patterns
learned from infancy. Counselors in this field tend to use
a less structured process than psychotherapists, utilizing
bodywork techniques, lifestyle counseling and even nutritional
advice.
Body-Oriented Psychotherapy— This growing and
wide-ranging field combines counseling with bodywork. Practitioners
believe the most effective changes come when they involve
all levels of being: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.
Massage, movement techniques, breathing and body awareness
are emphasized.
C Top
Chelation Therapy— First developed as a treatment
for lead poisoning, chelation therapy removes toxins and heavy
metal from the bloodstream through intravenous drips of EDTA,
a synthetic amino acid. Today, specially trained physicians
use chelation as a method to improve blood circulation for
sufferers of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and
other degenerative diseases.
Chinese (Oriental) Medicine— Traditional Chinese
medicine encompasses a vast range of therapies including acupuncuture,
herbs, bodywork, exercise and diet. From ancient art of Tai
Chi to the modern practice of Zero Balancing, the Chinese
view of the body as an interrelated system of energy and physical
matter permeates many different forms of alternative medicine.
Chiropractic— Modern chiropractors, following
principles first developed by Daniel David Palmer (1845-1913),
seek to improve general health by adjusting spinal vertebrae
to their normal position as well as using adjustments to treat
specific problems such as back pain. Licensed in all 50 states,
chiropractic doctors make up the largest single group of alternative
medicine practitioners in the United States.
Colon Hydrotherapy— Colon hydrotherapy cleanses
the colon through gentle water infusions. This specific form
of hydrotherapy first gained wide-spread popularity in the
great health spas of the Edwardian age.
CranioSacral Therapy— By gently manipulating
the bones of the skull, practitioners seek to enhance the
functioning of the CranioSacral system, a fluid circulatory
system that surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord.
Practitioners of the Upledger method follow the teachings
of Dr. John Upledger, based on his practice and research at
the Michigan State University.
D Top
Dance & Movement Therapy— As a form of psychotherapy,
teachers in this field seek to use rhythmic or guided movement
for emotional and psychological healing.
Deep Tissue Bodywork— This term covers a range
of therapies such as myofascial release, Bonnie Prudden method,
Hellerwork and Rolfing. All these techniques go deeper than
the standard Swedish massage, applying deep pressure to the
actual muscle tissue itself to open and release tension.
Dentistry (Holistic, Biological or Natural)—Natural
dentistry may include such innovative treatments as dental
acupuncture, homeopathic remedies, and non-toxic mercury-free
fillings. Holistic dentists aim to help prevent tooth decay
and gum disease while minimizing the use of drugs or surgery.
Detoxification Therapy— Found in almost all alternative
medical systems from Ayurveda to naturopathic, detoxification
techniques seek to cleanse the body of chemicals, pollutants
and other toxins to improve overall health. See also Environmental
Therapy.
Dreamwork- Counselors use a client's dreams to help
awaken a better understanding of psychological or emotional
disturbances. Some methods focus on teaching a client to do
effective dreaming to change basic behavioral patterns or
overcome certain problems.
E Top
Emotional Release Work— A number of bodywork techniques
can be adapted for emotional release work. Practitioners often
combine bodywork with verbal counseling to encourage the spontaneous
release of fears, emotional traumas and phobias.
Empathology— Remedies in empathology include
affirmations, exercise and dietary changes. Practitioners
emphasize a body/mind approach, using applied kinesiology
and other means to assess physical and emotional imbalances
in a person.
Environmental Therapy— Through environmental
therapy, practitioners seek to identify significant factors
and probable causes of illness or allergy in the individual's
life, home, and work. They then work with the individual to
lessen or eliminate the impact of toxins and allergens.
Enzyme Therapy— By using natural plant and pancreative
enzymes as supplements, practitioners seek to improve digestion
and correct potential problems created by the malabsorption
of essential nutrients.
F Top
Feldenkrais Method—Developed by Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais,
this popular movement therapy helps people expand their range
of motion and improve their breathing and body alignment through
gentle massage, light touch and slow, gentle body motions.
Feng Shui— This ancient Chinese art holds that
arranging one’s environment into certain harmonious patterns
can bring a sense of abundance, balance and happiness into
one’s life. From the proper placement of the headboard
to the addition of water to a garden, Feng Shui combines beautiful
design concepts with an underlying sense that a person's space
can be an important factor in their psychological and spiritual
well-being.
G Top
Guided Imagery— This technique concentrates on
using images or symbols to train the mind to create a definitive
physiological or psychological effect. Practitioners may teach
clients how to relieve physical problems caused by stress,
such as tension headaches. The technique has also been effectively
used in some cancer treatment programs for pain management.
Gyrotonics— This particular form of exercise
draws on the principles of dance, yoga, t’ai chi, gymnastics
and swimming while using custom-designed equipment that emphasizes
proper ergonomics. Also known as Gyrotonics Expansion System
or GXS.
H Top
Healing Touch— This form of energy therapy uses
a very light hands-on approach to align and balance the human
energy field. See also Therapeutic Touch.
Hellerwork— Developed by Joseph Heller, an early
student of Ida Rolf, Hellerwork fuses movement education and
deep tissue bodywork into a specific sequence designed to
realign the body and release chronic pain or stress.
Herbalism/Herbal Medicine— The use of plants
to treat disease can be found in every known human culture
and period of history. Today, many holistic practitioners,
ranging from acupuncturists to medical doctors to naturopathic
physicians, benefit from an explosion of new knowledge and
research into the effects of whole plants and botanical extracts
on the human body. From St. John's Wort to treat depression
to new scientific research from Germany on silymarin's effect
on the liver, Western herbalism is entering a new period of
intensive activity, interest and growth.
Holistic Counseling— Practitioners focus on the
whole person, with a special emphasis on how the mind is connected
directly to the body, and how a person thinks and feels affects
him or her at a cellular level.
Holistic Medicine— The philosophy of holistic
medicine states that the practitioner must use safe methods
of diagnosis and treatment while emphasizing the care of the
whole person, including physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual
aspects. Most forms of natural medicine adher to this basic
definition of holistic medicine.
Homeopathy— Based on the hypothesis of "like
cures like" and a deep emphasis on the principles of
holistic medicine (treat the whole person), homeopathy first
flourished in North America and Europe during the mid-19th
century, when many physicians believed it to be an effective
treatment for cholera. Homeopathic remedies work by stimulating
the body’s own healing power by introducing tiny doses
of natural substances that should trigger a person’s
body to correct itself naturally. Extremely popular throughout
the world today, naturopathic physicians and other trained
homeopaths have led a resurgence of this therapy in the United
States in the last decade.
Hypnotherapy— First developed by Anton Mesmer
(1734-1815), hypnotic techniques can induce everything from
a light to a heavy hypnotic state to help a client overcome
psychological or physical problems. From helping people to
overcome a craving for cigarettes to managing chronic pain
from an illness or accident, trained hypnotherapists work
with a wide variety of problems.
Hydrotherapy— Hydrotherapy techniques can range
from Russian baths, steam inhalation, sitz baths, ice packs
to hot compresses. For all, it's the application of hot or
cold water that creates the benefit to the patient.
I Top
Infant Massage— Infant Massage seeks to enhance
the bonding between parents and infant, improve digestion,
and establish good sleeping patterns. Practitioners can use
a wide variety of techniques derived from Swedish massage,
reflexology, yoga and other bodywork forms.
Intuitive/Medical Intuitive— Intuitives help
their clients reach a better understanding of their characters,
past influences and future prospects. Practitioners may choose
to use various forms of divination (tarot, astrology, numerology)
in their work or they may rely on natural psychic talents.
Medical intuitives focus on health issues affecting the client.
Iridology—Based on the theory that each organ
of the body can be matched to a corresponding section of the
iris, iridologists have mapped 90 specific areas and 180 zones
thought to reveal important information about the condition
of the body.
J Top
K Top
L Top
M Top
Martial Arts— While the West often thinks of the
martial arts as a sport or form of self-defense, these techniques
originally developed in the East to increase mental acuity,
health, and spiritual development through intense physical
training. The many forms range from more externally oriented
types such as karate and tae kwan do, which emphasize muscle
and endurance, to the internally oriented tai chi and aikido,
which seek to restore harmony and balance to the body.
Massage Therapy—Popular around the world, massage
incorporates the use of touch to stimulate circulation, relax
muscles and promote a sense of well-being. Licensed in Washington
state, massage therapists can combine a variety of techniques
for their client's benefit.
Meditation— A mental technique, meditation helps
to focus and calm the mind, creating a restful state of physical
being.
Midwifery— Midwives work with women so they can
experience a healthy pregnancy and a safe natural childbirth
as well as providing necessary education and follow-up care.
Licensed midwives or nurse-midwives (both are recognized in
Washington) receive extensive training in gynecology, fetus
development, obstetrical complications, nutritional assessment,
counseling, community health, family planning, various forms
of delivery management, and other issues surrounding pregnancy
and birth.
Music/Sound Therapy— Therapists in this field
utilize music or sound to improve a client's sense of emotional,
physical and spiritual health and well-being. Various experiments
with music have shown a range of benefits for all types of
situations, from the elderly suffering from Alzheimer’s
to young people with learning disabilities.
Myotherapy— Myotherapists apply pressure to trigger
points (tender spots in the muscle or other soft tissue) to
relieve tension. While similar to acupressure, myotherapy
relies on a Western view of anatomy.
N Top
Naturopathic Medicine— Adhering to the principles
of holistic medicine, naturopathic doctors can use various
natural methods to treat patients, including nutritional supplements,
herbal medicine, homeopathy and lifestyle counseling. In the
state of Washington, naturopathic doctors (ND) are legally
defined as physicians licensed to diagnose and treat in a
general family practice. Some NDs are also licensed midwives
or licensed acupuncturists.
Network Chiropractic— First developed by Donald
Epstein DC in the late 1970s, network chiropractic uses a
slightly different sequence of adjustments than standard chiropractic
methods. Practitioners focus on the patient's emotional as
well as physical well-being.
Neurodevelopmental Therapy— This drug-free approach
seeks to treat neurobehavioral disorders such as ADD/ADHD
or dyslexia at the root of the behavior. Neurodevelopmental
therapists work with clients to identify weak pathways and
subsystems in the brain and nervous system while developing
a movement and mental rehearsal programs to create enhanced
functioning of these systems.
Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)— This set
of techniques works on almost a hypnotic level to change unconscious
patterns of thought, behavior and language. NLP practitioners
look for clues in a person’s set speech and behavior
patterns and then provide the mental tools that clients can
use to alter that behavior.
Neuromuscular Therapy— This form of deep tissue
massage seeks to balance the central nervous system with the
structure and form of the musculoskeletal system.
Nursing, Holistic— Trained in regular nursing
programs, practitioners apply the principles of holistic medicine
(see above) to their care of patients, incorporating many
natural therapeutic techniques along with standard nursing
practices.
Nutritional Counseling—Nutritionists counsel
clients on a wide variety of issues ranging from proper levels
of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients to weight loss,
food allergies and optimal health. Many follow a "whole
foods" approach to proper diet.
O Top
Optometry, Holistic— Holistic optometrists use
exercises, nutrition and relaxation techniques to help patients
avoid the use of artificial aids, like glasses, as much as
possible.
Ortho-Bionomy— Ortho-Bionomy combines gentle
movements and comfortable body positions to stimulate an inner
awareness of natural balance and physical and emotional well-being.
Orthomolecular Therapy— Nobel Prize winner Linus
Pauling coined this term to describe the therapeutic use of
naturally occurring substances, especially nutrients and vitamins,
as supplements to maintain health or combat disease.
Osteopathic Medicine— Most osteopathic doctors
(DOs) work as primary care physicians, combining conventional
Western medicine (drugs/surgery) with specific manipulative
techniques taught in the osteopathic medical colleges. Osteopathic
medical training focuses on preventive care with a special
emphasis on the musculoskeletal system. Because their medical
degree and license is legally recognized as the equivalent
of a MD in the United States, DOs can utilize all recognized
diagnostic and therapeutic methods in their practice.
Oxygen Therapy— Hydrogen peroxide therapy, ozone
therapy and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) supply increased
ozygen to the body.
P Top
Pain Management— Several kinds of practitioners
offer pain management, including medical doctors, dentists,
chiropractors, psychologists, dietitians, acupuncturists and
others. Techniques vary depending of the practitioner's training.
Physical Therapy— Physical therapists use a variety
of techniques to help patients gain or regain better control
of their physcial bodies following injury or illness.
Pilates— The Pilates Method of body conditioning
uses special equipment and individualized instruction to promote
physical harmony, balance and conditioning.
Polarity Therapy— Pracitioners of this type of
therapy seek to establish a balanced flow of energy through
the body through gentle touch, diet counseling and exercise.
Q Top
Qigong— Practiced by nearly 200 million people
every day, Qigong (also known as Chi-Kung) combines movement,
meditation and breathwork to increase the flow of vital "qi"
energy in the body, improve blood circulation and strengthen
the immune system.
R Top
Rebirthing— As first developed by Leonard Orr,
Rebirthing sought to help people experience a rush of healing
energy while releasing long-held psychological or physical
pain. By using focused, circular breathing techniques, practitioners
work with clients to free stored tensions from the mind and
body.
Reflexology— Like acupressure, reflexology utilizes
pressure on certain points to stimulate the organs and glands.
Foot reflexology links specific points on the foot to these
organs and glands.
Reiki— Although Reiki takes its name from Japanese
words meaning "transcendental spirit" and "vital
life force energy," teachers link this energy technique
to traditional Tibetan medicine.
Rolfing— Developed by Ida Rolf, this system of
body restructuring and movement education works with gravity
to realign the body. Rolfers often focus bodywork on the myofascia,
the connective tissue that surrounds muscles, to release tension.
S Top
Shamanism/Shamanic Healing— Many people associate
shamanic healing with the use of Native American rituals to
help correct a spiritual or physical imbalance within a person.
However, every culture has its shamanic healing rituals in
its spiritual traditions, and today shamanic healers in North
America may draw from Tibetan rituals or African teachings
as easily as from Native American thought.
SHEN Therapy— As a form of touch therapy, SHEN
(specific human energy nexus) Therapy seeks to enable normal
energy flows through the body through light hand placements.
Shiatsu— The Japanese form of massage combines
the application of pressure on specific points with massage.
Traditional practitioners may have the patient rest on a pad
on the floor for the performance of certain stretches (see
also Watsu).
Soma Neuromuscular Integration— Soma combines
deep manipulation of muscular and connective tissue with movement
training to address various health issues such as chronic
back pain or limited mobility due to arthritis.
Sports Medicine— This branch of medicine began
as a special focus on athletic injuries caused by competition
or participation in organized sports, but many of the techniques
have been adapted to treat other types of physical injuries.
Stress Management— Practitioners teach patients
how to lessen the impact of stress on their well-being. Exact
techniques vary depending on the practitioner's training and
interests.
Swedish Massage—The best known form of massage
in the United States uses five basic strokes, including soothing,
tapping, rubbing, pummeling and kneading, to relieve sore
muscles and joints.
T Top
Tai Chi— This Chinese Taoist martial art form
combines mental concentration, coordinated breathing and slow,
graceful body movements to increase well-being, lessen stress,
and strengthen the body.
Therapeutic Touch— Therapeutic Touch, a specific
method of healing touch developed by Dolores Krieger, is taught
in many nursing colleges throughout the United States. Used
for relaxation and reducing anxiety, Therapeutic Touch is
based on the assumption that a human energy field extends
slightly beyond the skin.
Touch for Health— Dr. John F. Thie developed
this version of applied kinesiology (see above) in the 1970s.
Touch for Health attempts to balance the body’s energy
by applying gentle pressure to contracted muscles.
Trager® Approach (Tragerwork)— Believing
that discomfort or tension can be released by sending different
signals to the nervous system, Milton Trager, M.D., developed
the Trager® Approach. This movement
education/bodywork approach uses gentle and non-intrusive
movements to produce deep relaxation, increase flexibility/mobility,
and relieve pain.
U Top
U -
V Top
Veterinary & Holisic Animal Services— Holistic
veterinarians adher to the principles of holistic medicine,
choosing to emphasize the use of safe natural methods when
treating animals.
W Top
Watsu (Water Shiatsu)— This specific form of bodywork
developed by Harold Dull combines traditional shiatsu pulls
and stretches while floating the patient in a pool of warm
water. Because of the support of the water, practitioners
can often work with patients whose physical disabilities may
preclude the use of normal shiatsu.
X Top
Y Top
Yoga Instruction—Yoga instruction is a general
term for a range of body-mind exercise practices used to access
consciousness and encourage physical and mental well-being.
Some forms concentrate on achieving perfection in posture
and alignment of the body; others aim at mental control to
access higher consciousness. Between these two forms are yogas
that focus on the interrelationship of body, mind, and energy.
Yoga Therapy— Some yoga teachers emphasize yoga
exercises that relieve stress, improve circulation or boost
the immune system. This gentle form of low impact exercise
can often be tailored to help people with limited mobility
due to stroke, arthritis or other chronic diseases. See also
Ayurveda.
Z Top
Zero Balancing— This technique developed by Fritz
Smith MD integrates a Western anatomical view of structure
with Eastern concepts of body energy. In a session, the therapist
moves through a set protocol designed to enhance energy flow
and a sense of physical well-being.
Glossary primarily written by Rosemary Jones, author of Educational
& Career Opportunities In Alternative Medicine (1998 Prima
Publishing)
