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Glossary
of Professional Services |
Acupuncture
Thin, solid, sterile stainless-steel
needles are inserted into specific points to stimulate the body's
natural energy (Qi or Chi). In 1997, the National Institutes
of Health officially recognized acupuncture as an effective treatment
for pain and nausea. |
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Aromatherapy
Pure essential oils are used to treat stress and anxiety as well
as a wide range of other ailments. Aromatherapy is often used
in conjunction with massage therapy, acupuncture, reflexology,
herbology, chiropractic, and other methods of holistic healing. |
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Ayurvedic Medicine
Ayurvedic medicine is India's traditional,
natural system of medicine that has been practiced for more than
5,000 years. This complete holistic health system for mind, body,
and spirit treats the patient as a whole rather than treating
symptoms alone, and it works as a preventative means of coping
with imbalance and disease. |
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Breathwork
A general term used to describe directed
breathing patterns that take breath to a deeper level, thus improving
one's physical health as well as one's mental and emotional state
of being. Breathwork is an integral part of many types of spiritual/healing
practices such as yoga, chi gong, and meditation. |
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Chinese Medicine
A holistic perspective on health and
illness which treats the relationship of a symptom to the person
as a whole. Traditional Chinese medicine encompasses a vast range
of therapies including acupuncture, herbs, bodywork, exercise
and diet. |
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Environmental Medicine
Environmental medicine is an alternative
system of medical practice that considers the impact of environmental
factors on health. |
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Herbal Therapy
Natural plants or plant-based substances
are used to treat a range of illnesses and to enhance the functioning
of the body's systems. Though herbal therapy is not a licensed
professional modality in the U.S., herbs are prescribed by a
range of practitioners, form holistic M.D.s to acupuncturists
to naturopaths. |
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Homeopathy
Based on the hypothesis of "like
cures like" and a deep emphasis on the principles of holistic
medicine (treat the whole person). Homeopathic remedies work
by stimulating the body's own healing power by introducing tiny
doses of natural substances that should stimulate a person's
immune system and defense system to correct itself naturally. |
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Medical-Holistic
Differing from traditional allopathic
(Western) medicine, holistic medicine looks at the whole person,
including analysis of physical, nutritional, environmental, emotional,
social, spiritual and lifestyle values. It encompasses all stated
modalities of diagnosis and treatment including drugs and surgery,
if no safe alternative exists. It also focuses on education and
self-responsibility to achieve balance and well being. |
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Nutritional Therapy
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. |
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Reiki
A scientifc method which Practitioners
use light hand placements to activate and balance the life-force
energy (also known as chi ["chee"] or prana]. Reiki
can be used to treat emotional and mental distress as well as
chronic and acute physical pain. |
