Dictionary of complementary and alternative medicine

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

A[edit | edit source]

  • Aromatherapy - The use of aromatic plant oils, including essential oils, for psychological and physical well-being.
  • Anthroposophic medicine - A form of complementary medicine developed by Rudolf Steiner that combines spiritual insights with practical approaches to health.
  • Alexander technique - A process that teaches how to properly coordinate body and mind to release harmful tension and improve posture, coordination, and general health.

B[edit | edit source]

  • Bach flower remedies - A collection of essences used in complementary medicine that is derived from flowers and used to treat various emotional conditions.
  • Balneotherapy - Treatment of disease by bathing, typically in hot springs and other naturally mineral-rich waters.
  • Biologically based practices - This involves the use of substances found in nature, such as herbs, foods, and vitamins.

C[edit | edit source]

  • Craniosacral therapy - A form of bodywork or alternative therapy that uses gentle touch to palpate the synarthrodial joints of the cranium.
  • Chinese herbal medicine - The use of herbs in traditional Chinese medicine with the aim to restore balance to the body’s qi, yin, and yang.
  • Crystal healing - An alternative medical technique that employs stones and crystals as healing tools.

D[edit | edit source]

  • Detoxification - Alternative medical treatment which proponents claim to rid the body of "toxins" – accumulated harmful substances that allegedly exert undesirable effects on individual health.
  • Dowsing - A type of divination employed in attempts to locate ground water, buried metals or ores, gemstones, oil, gravesites, and many other objects and materials without the use of scientific apparatus.

E[edit | edit source]

  • Energy medicine - Healing by channeling a form of energy through the hands of the practitioner to the patient in order to assist healing or restore wellness.
  • Essential oils - Concentrated hydrophobic liquids containing volatile aroma compounds from plants, used in aromatherapy and other alternative medical practices.

F[edit | edit source]

  • Fasting - The practice of abstaining from all or some kinds of food or drink, often used as a method of cleansing the body or as a spiritual practice.

G[edit | edit source]

  • Guided imagery - A program of directed thoughts and suggestions that guide your imagination toward a relaxed, focused state.

H[edit | edit source]

  • Homeopathy - A system of alternative medicine in which ailments are treated by minute doses of natural substances that in larger amounts would produce symptoms of the ailment.
  • Hydrotherapy - The use of water to treat a disease or to maintain health, involving methods like baths, saunas, douches, and wraps.

I[edit | edit source]

  • Integrative medicine - Combining conventional medical treatments with alternative or complementary ones that have been shown to be effective and are often derived from different cultural or historical contexts.

M[edit | edit source]

  • Mind-body interventions - Techniques designed to enhance the mind's positive impact on the body, including stress reduction methods like meditation and biofeedback.

N[edit | edit source]

  • Naturopathic medicine - A system that focuses on natural remedies and the body's ability to heal and maintain itself.

O[edit | edit source]

  • Osteopathy - A type of alternative medicine that emphasizes physical manipulation of the body's muscle tissue and bones.

P[edit | edit source]

  • Phytotherapy - The study of the use of extracts from natural origin as medicines or health-promoting agents.

Q[edit | edit source]

  • Qi gong - A system of coordinated body-posture and movement, breathing, and meditation used for the purposes of health, spirituality, and martial-arts training.

R[edit | edit source]

  • Reflexology - An alternative medicine involving application of pressure to the feet and hands with specific thumb, finger, and hand techniques without the use of oil or lotion.

S[edit | edit source]

  • Shiatsu - A form of Japanese bodywork based on concepts in traditional Chinese medicine, including the use of finger pressure.
  • Spiritual healing - A form of healing that seeks to restore balance to the soul or spirit in order to promote physical health.

T[edit | edit source]

  • Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) - A holistic approach to health and healing that uses a variety of practices, including acupuncture, herbal medicine, and qigong, based on traditional Chinese beliefs.
  • Tai chi - An internal Chinese martial art practiced for both its defense training, its health benefits and meditation.

Y[edit | edit source]

  • Yoga - A group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India and aim to control and still the mind.

Z[edit | edit source]

  • Zero balancing - A body-mind system of healing which combines Western medical knowledge of bone and muscle structures with Eastern concepts of energy and healing.

Alternative medicine articles[edit | edit source]

Also see[edit source]

Dictionary of complementary and alternative medicine | Alternative medicines | Herbs | Supplements

External - A-Z Index of Alternative Medicine Topics

# | A | B C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X |Y| Z

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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD