ENZYME THERAPY

a form of therapy that employs supplements of plant and animal enzymes to improve digestive function and other conditions. During digestion, the body’s own digestive enzymes are not the only ones at work; the enzymes present in raw fruits and vegetables also contribute to the breakdown of food in the stomach.

Enzyme therapy advocates supplementation to reduce the work that the body has to do, and because plant enzymes are destroyed in cooking. Since enzymes can’t be synthetically manufactured, supplements are derived from plants or from animal tissues. Some practitioners inject liquid enzymes to treat cancer and multiple sclerosis. Enzyme supplements are available over the counter, singly or in combination, in capsule, tablet, powder, and liquid form.

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Parathyroid: Are four small pea size glands located behind the thyroid glands. The sole purpose of the parathyroid glands is to regulate the calcium levels so the nervous and muscular systems can function properly.

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Macrobiotics

A lifestyle involving an awareness that we are connected to nature, and therefore, what is best for our physical bodies are those things from the earth. This includes special ways of selecting, preparing and eating organically grown, whole, and mostly vegetarian foods to maximize the energy derived from their consumption.

The diet consists of mostly a variety of grains, beans, vegetables, sea vegetables, Japanese condiments, and a little fish and seafood. The lifestyle stresses the importance of fresh air, breathing, moderate exercise, balance in life, use of natural products in the home and on the skin, and orderliness and organization in all things.

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KINESIOLOGY

The study of muscles and their movement. Applied kinesiology is a system that uses muscle testing procedures, in conjunction with standard methods of diagnosis, to gain information about a patient’s overall state of health. Practitioners analyze muscle function, posture, gait and other structural factors in addition to inquiring about lifestyle factors that may be contributing to a health-related problem.

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Meditation

Steady, close and consecutive reflection, and attention on one's own inner thoughts, or perhaps on a religious, or spiritual theme; continuous, and patient application of separating oneself from one's own thoughts, and simply watching the mind without any expectation. There are many ways to meditate, but the effect is the same: a centeredness, and stillness within.

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Chiropractor: Healer using therapy that attributes disease to neural malfunction with treatment primarily based on manipulation of the spinal column. Originally, a healer who used his hands to manipulate the body.

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Faith healing (spiritual healing): 1. Any method wherein one makes an appeal to God or a spirit to participate in healing others, typically a combination of prayer, meditation, and utilization of faith in God. 2. An ill-defined group of methods that encompasses absent healing, Christian Science, the laying on of hands, mesmerism, and shamanism.

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Electroacupuncture (electric acupuncture, electric acupuncture therapy, electrical acupuncture): Application of electricity to acupoints, with or without needles.

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Biorhythm: The system that deals with the three biological cycles of humans, the body's physical, emotional and intellectual energy based on date of birth. Used to determine the patterns of a person's critical days and periods of high and low energy.

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Fortune telling: A form of divination in which a person attempts to predict the future using paranormal powers

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Tai chi (other names: Tai chi chuan, Tai Ji, tai ji chuan, Tai Ji Juan, Tai ji quan, Taiqi): Variation of self-healing. Tai chi is an ancient, yoga-like Chinese system of ballet-like exercises designed for health, self-defense, and spiritual development. Practicing tai chi supposedly facilitates the flow of chi through the body by dissolving blockages both within the body and between the body and the environment. Traditional Tai Chi prescribes about 108 to 128 postures, including repetitions.

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IRIDOLOGY

diagnostic system based on the premise that every organ has a corresponding location within the iris of the eye, which can serve as an indicator of the organ’s health or disease. Used by naturopaths and other practitioners, particularly when diagnosis achieved through standard methods in unclear.

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Embodyment: Form of aura balancing and chakra healing that combines inner child work, sacred touch (a variation of CranioSacral Therapy), Toning, and other methods.

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Shiatsu

Shiatsu arose from the original Chinese massage, Amma. There are significant differences in this Japanese form, however. Shiatsu practitioners focus on the pressure points along meridians with the fingers, hands, elbows, knees, or feet. There are various forms of Shiatsu. Some practitioners manipulate the meridians with two hands, or with burning herbs (moxibustion).

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Aikido: Spiritual discipline and self-defense method that uses grappling, throws, and non-resistance to debilitate opponents.

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HERBALISM

uses natural plants or plant-based substances to treat a range of illnesses and to enhance the functioning of the body’s systems. Though herbalism is not a licensed professional modality in the U.S., herbs are prescribed by a range of practitioners, from holistic M.D.s to acupuncturists to naturopaths.

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Adept: An individual highly experienced and proficient in a particular magical craft ie. an esoteric master.

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Korean medicine: Form of Oriental medicine that encompasses acupuncture and moxibustion.

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Diaphragm: Wide muscular partition separating the thoracic, or chest cavity, from the abdominal cavity (just below ribs). Contraction and expansion of the diaphragm are significant in breathing and in stimulating digestion.

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Moxabustion: Adjunct to acupuncture characterized by the burning of moxas - preparations of dried leaves from the common mugwort or the wormwood tree - at acupoints to stimulate chi. Practitioners attach moxas to acupuncture needles, place them directly on the skin in the form of small cones, or place the cones on a layer of ginger.

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Chi: A Chinese term for the all-encompassing universal life force that flows in and around our body. Also called Ki, Prana, Mana and many other names in other belief systems.

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Hara: The vital energy center of the human body. It is located at the second chakra, (2 fingers below the navel) internally.

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