Alternative Therapies

Yoga:

Hindu discipline that uses concentration, specific positions, and ancient ritual movements to maintain the balance and flow of life energy.

NCCAM and its purpose:

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine; its purpose is to research the various therapies and determine standards of quality care.

Antioxidant therapy:

Nutritional therapy that encourages the use of substances called antioxidants to prevent or inhibit oxidation and neutralize free radicals.

Phytochemical therapy:

Nutritional therapy that recommends foods containing phytochemicals with the belief that the chemicals help prevent disease.

Acupressure:

Pressure is applied with fingers, palms, thumbs, or elbows to specific pressure points of the body to stimulate and regulate the flow of energy.

Imagery:

Technique of using imagination and as many senses as possible to visualize a pleasant and soothing image; used to decrease tension, anxiety, and adverse effects of chemotherapy.

Hypnotism:

Technique used to induce a trancelike state so a person is more receptive to suggestion; enhances a person's ability to form images; used to encourage desired behavior changes such as helping people lose weight, stop smoking, reduces stress, and/or relieve pain.

Herbal medicine:

Based on beliefs that herbs and plant extracts from roots, stems, seeds, flowers, and leaves contain compounds that alter blood chemistry remove impurities, strengthen the immune system, and protect against disease.

Holistic wellness care:

Care that promotes physical, emotional, social, intellectual, and spiritual well-being by treating the whole body, mind, and spirit.

Homeopathy:

Minute diluted doses of drugs made from plant, anti-mal, and mineral substances to cause symptoms similar to the disease and activate the immune system.

Ionization therapy:

Special machines called air ionizers are used to produce negatively charged air particles or ions; used to treat common respiratory disorders.

Aromatherapy:

Therapeutic use of selected fragrances to alter mood and restore the body, mind, and spirit.

Meditation:

Therapy that teaches breathing and muscle relaxation techniques to quiet the mind by focusing attention on obtaining a sense of oneness within oneself.

Hydrotherapy:

Type of treatment that uses water in any form, internally and externally, for healing purposes.

Ayuvedic practioner:

Use Ayurveda to determine a person's predominant dosha and prescribe diet, herbal treatment, exercise, yoga, etc. to restore and maintain harmony in the body.

Chinese medicine practioner:

Use an ancient holistic-based healing practice to link the organs together and connect them to the external environment or universe.

Integrative care:

Uses both mainstream medical treatments and CAM therapies to treat a patient.

Macrobiotic diet:

A nutrition therapy based on the Taoist concept of balance between yin and yang and the belief that different foods represent yin and yang.

Acupuncture:

Ancient Chinese therapy that involves the insertion of very thin needles into specific points along the meridians (pathways) in the body to stimulate and balance the flow of energy.

Reflexology:

Ancient healing art based on the concept that the body is divided into ten equal zones that run from the head to the toes; therapy involves applying pressure on specific points on the foot so energy movement is directed toward the affected body part.

Complementary therapy:

Methods of treatment that are used in conjunction with conventional medical therapies.

Alternative therapy:

Methods of treatment that are used in place of biomedical therapies.

Naturopath:

Use only natural therapies such as fasting, special diets, lifestyle changes, and supportive approaches to promote healing.

Chiropractor:

Use spinal manipulation, massage, and exercise to adjust the position of the vertebrae and restore the flow of energy.