GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Here's a list of terms with the basic definitions I use:
(More in-depth descriptions can be found in their individual areas/pages.)
Acupuncture -- A Traditional Chinese Medicine modality which uses needles or pressure to activate and/or remove energy blockages from the energy meridians, allowing healing energy (Chi) to flow optimally and facilitate healing.
Alternative Medicine -- A term usually meant to describe any health practice that is not considered "conventional", or anything you're standard medical doctor does not prescribe.
Aromatherapy -- The practice of using the scent of essential oils to facilitate or increase a feeling of well-being.
Allopathy / Allopathic -- Practically, this term refers to the system of conventional, medical treatment your western medical school teaches. Technically, it refers to a system attempting to combat disease by using drugs and/or surgery to produce effects different from the disease being treated. It's goal is to "fight" or "treat" the disease, itself, rather than support the body to heal itself.
Aura -- One of the body's several energy systems, the aura energetically protects your body, kind of like your energy skin.
Ayurveda / Ayurvedic -- The form of holistic medicine that is the traditional system of medicine in India. (From Sanskrit: ayuh meaning life, vital power; veda meaning knowledge.)
Chakras -- One of the body's several energy systems, the chakras are a system of energy centers that spin like wheels or vortices, may be considered the main way universal energy (Chi) enters the body.
Chi / Qi -- Traditional Chinese Medicine term for the subtle energy that runs through our bodies and universally surrounds us. Also known as prana, kundalini, Ki, life-force energy and vital force in other systems. (Qi is pronounced "Chi".)
Chi Gong / Qigong -- Ancient Chinese healing art combining meditation, controlled breathing and movement. Sometimes considered a specific form of Tai Chi, more focused on increasing Chi for healing.
Energy Medicine -- This refers to practices and systems which work with the body's energy systems to strengthen the body's innate healing response. Some of these energy systems are the meridian system, which acupuncture focuses on; the chakra system; the aura; and others.
Energy Psychology -- This term is used to refer to energetic modalities which affect a change on our thoughts and feelings by energetically removing trapped emotions and removing negative associations attached to memories. This allows us to keep our memories without experiencing detrimental negative emotions every time we recall them. Energy psychology systems also have the ability to remove limiting or unhealthy beliefs and replace them with beneficial, positive beliefs.
Entrainment -- The process of the vibration of one object drawing the vibration of another object into resonance with it; the aligning of two vibrations to match each other.
Holistic -- Considering the body as a whole, including all its systems and how they work together. Also refers to practices that strengthen the body as a whole and allow it to heal itself, rather than trying to "fight" a disease or "kill" a pathogen (germ).
Homeopathy / Homeopathic -- This refers to a system based on the principle that like cures like. It focuses on using extremely minute doses of a remedy that would cause similar symptoms in larger doses. It is now generally recognized as an energetic medicine and it is believed the remedies work on an energetic level, rather than a chemical one. The ultimate purpose of homeopathy is to ignite the body's vital force to take over and heal the body.
Iatrogenic -- Doctor caused. (e.g. If you went to the hospital to have a condition treated and you died from something else that happened in the hospital, such as a drug overdose or being given the wrong medication, your death would be iatrogenic.)
Ki -- Japanese term for Chi, defined above. (Pronounced "key".)
Kundalini -- Term from yoga. Esssentially means the same thing as Chi. In yogic tradition, kundalini energy is represented by a serpent symbol and "sits" at the base of the spine. "Kundalini rising" is seen as a desirable process of that energy rising through the body as a result of being in an enlightened state.
Meridians / Meridian System -- One of the body's several energy systems and the basis for acupuncture/acupressure. Although the meridian system is actually one continuous meridian (energy pathway) which "surfaces" 12 times, the 12 sections are generally recognized as 12 different meridians and named for the main organs they govern/pass through.
Modality -- In the realm of holistic health, this refers to a method of therapeutic approach. For example, in the area of energy psychology, there are several modalities which are effective in clearing trapped emotions, i.e., Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), The Emotion Code, The Healing Code, etc.
Naturopathy / Naturopathic -- This term refers to a system of treating disease by natural means that avoids drugs and surgery. Naturopaths generally focus on one or more specific healing modalities to specialize in.
Prana -- See Chi, above.
Reiki -- This is a Japanese word which means Universal Chi (energy). Rei means universal; Ki means Chi. It is generally used to refer to a system of moving and directing healing energy (Chi) by a Reiki practitioner.
Tai Chi -- An ancient Chinese discipline using meditative movements as a system of exercises designed to enhance and improve the flow of Chi.
Vital Force -- Term used in homeopathy, basically meaning the same thing as Chi.
Yoga -- Although this term is used to denote both a Hindu theistic philosophy and a system of exercises for attaining bodily and mental control and well-being, it's generally used to describe the system of exercises, with or without the philosophy.
Zero-Point Energy -- Zero Point Energy is the name given to the space inside atoms, between the nucleus and its electrons and protons. Probably best considered a "scientific" view of the nature of Chi. (As in, if you call it ZPE, you're a scientist rather than a woo-woo whacko!)
Alternative Medicine -- A term usually meant to describe any health practice that is not considered "conventional", or anything you're standard medical doctor does not prescribe.
Aromatherapy -- The practice of using the scent of essential oils to facilitate or increase a feeling of well-being.
Allopathy / Allopathic -- Practically, this term refers to the system of conventional, medical treatment your western medical school teaches. Technically, it refers to a system attempting to combat disease by using drugs and/or surgery to produce effects different from the disease being treated. It's goal is to "fight" or "treat" the disease, itself, rather than support the body to heal itself.
Aura -- One of the body's several energy systems, the aura energetically protects your body, kind of like your energy skin.
Ayurveda / Ayurvedic -- The form of holistic medicine that is the traditional system of medicine in India. (From Sanskrit: ayuh meaning life, vital power; veda meaning knowledge.)
Chakras -- One of the body's several energy systems, the chakras are a system of energy centers that spin like wheels or vortices, may be considered the main way universal energy (Chi) enters the body.
Chi / Qi -- Traditional Chinese Medicine term for the subtle energy that runs through our bodies and universally surrounds us. Also known as prana, kundalini, Ki, life-force energy and vital force in other systems. (Qi is pronounced "Chi".)
Chi Gong / Qigong -- Ancient Chinese healing art combining meditation, controlled breathing and movement. Sometimes considered a specific form of Tai Chi, more focused on increasing Chi for healing.
Energy Medicine -- This refers to practices and systems which work with the body's energy systems to strengthen the body's innate healing response. Some of these energy systems are the meridian system, which acupuncture focuses on; the chakra system; the aura; and others.
Energy Psychology -- This term is used to refer to energetic modalities which affect a change on our thoughts and feelings by energetically removing trapped emotions and removing negative associations attached to memories. This allows us to keep our memories without experiencing detrimental negative emotions every time we recall them. Energy psychology systems also have the ability to remove limiting or unhealthy beliefs and replace them with beneficial, positive beliefs.
Entrainment -- The process of the vibration of one object drawing the vibration of another object into resonance with it; the aligning of two vibrations to match each other.
Holistic -- Considering the body as a whole, including all its systems and how they work together. Also refers to practices that strengthen the body as a whole and allow it to heal itself, rather than trying to "fight" a disease or "kill" a pathogen (germ).
Homeopathy / Homeopathic -- This refers to a system based on the principle that like cures like. It focuses on using extremely minute doses of a remedy that would cause similar symptoms in larger doses. It is now generally recognized as an energetic medicine and it is believed the remedies work on an energetic level, rather than a chemical one. The ultimate purpose of homeopathy is to ignite the body's vital force to take over and heal the body.
Iatrogenic -- Doctor caused. (e.g. If you went to the hospital to have a condition treated and you died from something else that happened in the hospital, such as a drug overdose or being given the wrong medication, your death would be iatrogenic.)
Ki -- Japanese term for Chi, defined above. (Pronounced "key".)
Kundalini -- Term from yoga. Esssentially means the same thing as Chi. In yogic tradition, kundalini energy is represented by a serpent symbol and "sits" at the base of the spine. "Kundalini rising" is seen as a desirable process of that energy rising through the body as a result of being in an enlightened state.
Meridians / Meridian System -- One of the body's several energy systems and the basis for acupuncture/acupressure. Although the meridian system is actually one continuous meridian (energy pathway) which "surfaces" 12 times, the 12 sections are generally recognized as 12 different meridians and named for the main organs they govern/pass through.
Modality -- In the realm of holistic health, this refers to a method of therapeutic approach. For example, in the area of energy psychology, there are several modalities which are effective in clearing trapped emotions, i.e., Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), The Emotion Code, The Healing Code, etc.
Naturopathy / Naturopathic -- This term refers to a system of treating disease by natural means that avoids drugs and surgery. Naturopaths generally focus on one or more specific healing modalities to specialize in.
Prana -- See Chi, above.
Reiki -- This is a Japanese word which means Universal Chi (energy). Rei means universal; Ki means Chi. It is generally used to refer to a system of moving and directing healing energy (Chi) by a Reiki practitioner.
Tai Chi -- An ancient Chinese discipline using meditative movements as a system of exercises designed to enhance and improve the flow of Chi.
Vital Force -- Term used in homeopathy, basically meaning the same thing as Chi.
Yoga -- Although this term is used to denote both a Hindu theistic philosophy and a system of exercises for attaining bodily and mental control and well-being, it's generally used to describe the system of exercises, with or without the philosophy.
Zero-Point Energy -- Zero Point Energy is the name given to the space inside atoms, between the nucleus and its electrons and protons. Probably best considered a "scientific" view of the nature of Chi. (As in, if you call it ZPE, you're a scientist rather than a woo-woo whacko!)