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 Glossary of Natural Healthcare Terms N - Z
If you aren’t familiar with natural health care, here is a list of commonly used terms associated with a number of different natural health care topics. | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |
N.D.: Naturopathic Doctor Native American Indian health care: Community-based health care practices found among the tribes of North America that share the use of sweating, purging, herbal remedies, and shamanism (1). Naprapathy: System of bodywork founded in 1905 by chiropractic professor Oakley G. Smith, author of Modernized Chiropractic (1906). It encompasses nutritional, postural, and exercise counseling. Naprapathic theory holds: (a) that soft connective tissue in a state of contraction can cause "neurovascular interference," (b) that this "interference" may cause "circulatory congestion" and "nerve irritation," and (c) that reducing this "interference" (primarily by hand) paves the way for optimal homeostasis. The major form of Naprapathy in the United States is the Oakley Smith Naprapathic Method(TM), taught by the Chicago National College of Naprapathy (5). Naturopathy: Integrates traditional natural therapies such as botanical medicine, clinical nutrition, homeopathy, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, and naturopathic manipulative therapy with modern scientific medical diagnostic science and standards of care. Naturopaths recognize the innate intelligence and inherent healing ability of the body; great emphasis is placed on preventive medicine (1)
O.M.D.: Oriental Medicine Doctor Oriental Medicine: See Chinese Medicine Orthomolecular medicine (orthomolecular nutritional medicine, orthomolecular therapy): Approach to therapy whose centerpiece is megavitamin therapy. Orthomolecular medicine encompasses hair analysis, orthomolecular nutrition (a form of megavitamin therapy), and orthomolecular psychiatry. Linus Carl Pauling, Ph.D. (1901-1994), coined the word "orthomolecular." The prefix "ortho-" means "straight," and the implicit meaning of "orthomolecular" is "to straighten (correct) concentrations of specific molecules." The primary principle of orthomolecular medicine is that nutrition is the foremost consideration in diagnosis and treatment. Its purported focus is "normalizing" the "balance" (5). Osteopathic medicine: A system of therapy that emphasizes normal body mechanics and manipulation to correct faulty body structures. Osteopathic physicians provide comprehensive medical care (1). Oxidative therapy: Supplies oxygen to the body for its potential therapeutic benefit. The two most widely known types of oxidative therapy are hydrogen peroxide therapy and ozone therapy (1)
Palming: An imaging technique involving the visualization of color (1). Photoestrogens: Plant compounds that exert estrogen-like effects (1). Pilates: An exercise system founded by Joseph Pilates focused on improving flexibility and strength for the total body without building bulk (4).
Qi (also referred to as Chee, Chi, Qui or Ki): In Eastern philosophies, the energy that connects and animates everything in the universe; includes both individual qi (personal life force) and universal qi, which are coextensive through the practice of mind-body disciplines, such as traditional meditation, aikido, and tai chi (1). Qigong (gi gong and chi-kung): Ancient Chinese exercise that stimulates and balances the flow of qi, or vital life energy by using breath, movement, and meditation to cleanse, strengthen, and circulate the blood and vital life energy. Certain qigong "masters" are considered to be "energetic healers," who via "external" qigong use some of their own energy to strengthen the vitality of others who have ailments (1).
Reflexology: A body work technique in which the practitioner applies pressure with thumbs and fingers to points on the feet, hands and ears said to correspond to specific organs and parts of the body. Similar to acupressure (1). Reiki therapy: An Eastern touch therapy in which the practitioner systematically uses light hand placement in one of 12 positions on the recipient's body to balance and direct healing energy to those sites (1). Rolfing: A massage technique developed by Swiss-born American biochemist Dr. Ida Rolf that involves deep fascia and muscle manipulation and education about body position. The purpose is to help the recipient establish deep structural relationships within the body that manifest via a symmetry and balanced function when the body is in an upright position. Also known as structural integration (1).
Shamanism: An ancient spiritual and medical tradition practiced in native cultures around the world. Using ritual, shamans often enter altered states of consciousness to promote the healing of their clients. Shamans regard themselves as conductors of healing energy or sources from the spiritual realm (1). Shiatsu: A form of acupressure used in Japan to treat pain and illness as well as for general health maintenance. Practitioners apply rhythmic finger pressure at specific points on the body to stimulate qi (1). Swedish massage: The most common form of bodywork in Western countries. Its originator, Peter Hendrik (Per Henrick) Ling (1776-1839), of Sweden, was a fencing master, physiologist, and poet. His method was called the "Ling system" or the "Swedish movement treatment." Dr. S.W. Mitchell introduced Swedish massage in the United States. It is based on scientific anatomy and often vigorous. The purported aim of Swedish massage is to improve circulation of blood and lymph (5).
Tai chi: Through this form of movement, one achieves health and tranquility while developing the mind and body. Tai chi teaches the individual how to control the nervous system in order to put the entire body to rest, believed to be an effective way of staying healthy (1). TCM: Traditional Chinese Medicine. Therapeutic Massage: See Massage Therapy Therapeutic touch: A healing modality that involves touching with the conscious intent to help or heal. The practitioner moves the hands through a recipient's energy field for the purpose of assessment and treatment of energy field imbalance (1). Tibetan medicine: Tibet has long been renown throughout Asia as a land of medicines. It's medical tradition is a vast science with fully-elaborated notions of the bases of health and sickness, a simple but exceptionally efficient system of diagnosis and a very full range of treatments based on diet, lifestyle, medication, and external treatments. Tibet's pharmacopoeia was particularly rich (6). Touch therapy: broad range of techniques in which the practitioner uses the hands on or near the patient's body to assist the individual toward optimal function (1).1 Trager Method: A bodywork method developed by Milton, Trager, M.D. consisting of active and passive gentle, natural movements designed to release deep-seated physical and mental patterns and promote relaxation, mobility and mental acuity (4). Trigger points: Specific points in the muscular and fascial tissues that produce a sharp pain when pressed; may also correspond to certain types of traditional acupuncture points (1).
Currently no terms
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Visualization: A variety of visual techniques used to treat disease based on inducing relaxation in the patient who actually wills away his disease. Also known as guided imagery (1)
Western medicine: A term used by holistic health care practitioners to describe allopathic medicine, orthodox medicine, or the way medicine has traditionally been practiced in the United States and Europe. The basis for the separation and division of the mind and the body along with the diseased part from the whole is the Descartian system of analytic, reductive reasoning with human beings divorced from nature. Pharmaceutical products and surgery are the major modalities used to combat disease (1). Wholistic medicine: See Holistic medicine Currently no terms
Yin and Yang: Chinese words for complementary and opposite forces that make up the life force (Qi) (3). Yoga: Ancient philosophical system and spiritual practice from India; it involves stretching exercises, breathing practices, and meditation. Currently no terms
Sources: 1 TMA |
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