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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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Biofeedback
Using a biofeedback machine, practitioners teach patients how
to control and change such autonomic body functions as blood
pressure, heart rate, circulation, digestion and perspiration.
Through monitoring "feedback" using auditory or visual
cues, users extend their understanding of physiological functioning
far past the normal five senses. |
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Bodywork
A general term used to describe any type of manual, manipulative
healing modality that aims to restore health of body, mind and
spirit. Some examples include massage, craniosacral therapy,
acupressure and yoga therapy. |
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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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Chiropractic
Correction of misalignment of the
vertebrae using spinal manipulation and adjustments. Licensed
in all 50 states, chiropractic doctors make up the largest single
group of alternative medicine practitioners in the United States. |
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Craniosacral Therapy
This therapy uses a combination of
gentle pressure and holding on the client's skull to release
tension and to restore balance. It is used to treat chronic pain,
migraine headaches, TMJ, and a range of other conditions. |
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| Exercise And Fitness |
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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. |
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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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Hypnotherapy
An accepted technique in which hypnosis
is used as a tool to treat a wide variety of psychological, behavioral
and medically related 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. |
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Magnetic Field Therapy
Magnetic field therapy diagnoses and
treats both physical and emotional pain; it relieves symptoms
and retards the cycle of new disease. It is a safe, drugless
and painless therapy often used to work on tissue and bone damage
conditions. A low-frequency magnetic field is directed to a particular
area, penetrating every single cell in its range. The magnetic
energy influences the ions within the cell, enhancing ion exchange
and thus improving the cell's use of oxygen. This helps the healing
and regeneration process. |
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Massage Therapy
A "hands-on" approach that
takes many forms. Some of the many benefits include physical
and mental relaxation, improve circulation & muscle tone,
and aid the efficient functioning of the digestive system. |
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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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Medical-Osteopathic
Osteopathy is an established recognized
system of diagnosis and treatment, which lays its main emphasis
on the structural and functional integrity of the body. It is
distinctive by the fact that it recognizes that much of the pain
and disability that we suffer from stems from abnormalities in
the function of the body structure as well as damage caused to
it by disease. |
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Meditation
A mental technique for deep relaxation,
meditation helps to focus and calm the mind. It may be used to
heal the body, quiet the mind, and provide a sense of inner balance. |
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Music Sound Therapy
Sound Therapy is an innovative program of sound stimulation,
audio-vocal activities and consultation. It has been used throughout
the world for over fifty years and is described in the best selling
book, The Mozart Effect. While anyone can benefit, it
is of special interest to families and children with developmental
delays, autism, PDD, Asperger's, attention deficit disorder and
some types of learning problems. |
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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 many states,
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. Note:
It is recommended that you ask the Practitioner their background
and credentials. |
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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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Pilates
The Pilates Method is an exercise
system focused on improving flexibility and strength for the
total body without building bulk. Not surprisingly, some of the
first people to use the Pilates Method were dancers such as Martha
Graham and George Balanchine. The Pilates Method is not just
exercise, however. It is a series of controlled movements engaging
your body and mind, performed on specifically designed exercise
apparatus and supervised by extensively trained teachers. |
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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. |
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Tai Chi
This martial art form combines mental concentration, coordinated
breathing and slow, graceful body movements to increase well-being,
lessen stress, and strengthen the body. |
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Watsu
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. |
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Yoga
A system of exercises, postures, breathing,
meditation and relaxation. Students learn self-control and a
state of being at one with oneself. |
