Chapter 15- Personal Health

Reiki

a CAM practice intended to correct disturbances in the flow of life energy and enhance the body's healing powers through the use of 13 hand positions on the patient

pharmacopoeia

a collection of descriptions and formulas for drugs and medicinal preparations

qigong

a component of traditional Chinese medicine that combines movement, meditation, and regulation of breathing to enhance the flow of qi, improve blood circulation, and enhance immune function

generic drug

a drug that is not registered or protected by a trademark; a drug that does not have an exclusive brand name

Medicare

a federal health insurance program for people 65 or older and for younger people with certain disabilities

Medicaid

a federally subsidized state-run plan of health care for people with low income

integrative medicine

conventional health care practice that is sometimes augmented by unconventional (CAM) modalities

bioelectromagnetic-based therapies

CAM therapies based on the notion that electromagnetic fields can be used to promote healing and manage pain

natural products

CAM therapies that include biologically based interventions and products; examples include herbal remedies, extracts from animal tissues, and dietary supplements

therapeutic touch

a CAM practice based on the premise that healers can identify end correct energy imbalances by passing their hands over the patient's body

managed-care plan

a health care program that integrates the financing and delivery of services by using designated providers, utilization review, and incentives for following the plan's policies; HMOs, PPOs, and POS plans are managed-care plans

homeopathy

a holistic alternative medical system that treats illnesses by giving very small doses of drugs that in larger doses would produce symptoms like those of the illness

point-of-service (POS) plan

a managed-care plan that covers treatment by an HMO physician but permits patients to seek treatment elsewhere with a higher copayment

doctor of osteopathic medicine

a medical practitioner who has graduated from an osteopathic medical school; osteopathy incorporates the theories and practices of scientific medicine but focuses on musculoskeletal problems and manipulative therapy

endoscopy

a medical procedure in which a viewing instrument is inserted into a body cavity or opening

over-the-counter (OTC) medication

a medication or product that can be purchased by the consumer without a prescription

herbal remedy

a medicine prepared from plants

podiatrist

a pracitioner who holds a doctor podiatric medicine degree and specializes in the medical and surgical care of the feet

dentist

a practitioner who holds a doctor of medical dentistry or doctor of dental surgery degree and who specializes in the prevention and treatment of diseases and injuries of the teeth, mouth, and jaws

optometrist

a practitoner who holds a doctor of optometry degree and is trained to examine the eyes, detect eye diseases, and prescribe corrective lenses

preferred provider organization (PPO)

a prepaid health insurance plan in which providers agree to deliver services for discounted fees; patients can go to any provider, but using nonparticipating providers results in higher costs to the patient

health maintenance organization (HMO)

a prepaid health insurance plan that offers health care from designated providers

chiropractic

a system of manual healing most frequently used to treat musculoskeletal problems; the primary treatment is manipulation of the spine and other joints

conventional medicine

a system of medicine based on the application of the scientific method; diseases are thought to be caused by identifiable physical factors and characterized by a representative set of symptoms; also called biomedicine or standard Western medicine

false negative

a test result that fails to correctly detect a disease or condition

false positive

a test result that incorrectly detects a disease or condition in a healthy person

naturopathy

an alternative medical system based on supporting the body's ability to heal itself and maintain optimal health by removing barriers and creating a healing internal and external environment

medical doctor

an independant practitioner who holds a doctor of medicine degree from an accredited medical school

energy therapies

forms of CAM treatment that use energy fields originating either within the body or from outside sources to promote health and healing

complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)

health care practices and products that are not considered part of conventional, mainstream medical practice as taught in most U.S. medical schools and available at most U.S. health care facilities; examples of CAM practices include acupuncture and herbal remedies

allied health care providers

health care professionals who typically provide services under the supervision or control of independent practitioners

acupuncture

insertion of thin needles into the skin at points along meridians, pathways through which qi is believed to flow

pharmaceuticals

medical drugs, both prescription and over-the-counter

traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)

the traditional medical system of China, which views illness as the result of a distrubance in the flow of qi, the life force; therapies include acupuncture, herbal medicine, and massage