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| Abhyanga | Abhyanga, or oil massage, is an ayurvedic external treatment where one, two, or more therapists use massage and aromatic herbal oils to bring balance to the body.
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| Abortifacient | A substance that causes pregnancy to end prematurely and causes an abortion. |
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| Acrosage | This combination of massage, yoga, and acrobatics was developed by Benjamin Marantz. The client is placed in an inverted pose atop the acrosager’s feet, with the head hanging freely. With no pressure on the neck or spine, the client’s upper body can be easily massaged. |
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| Acupressure | Traditional Chinese pressure-point massage used to stimulate the flow of energy in the body. |
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| | A non-invasive way of encouraging the body to heal itself through stimulation of specific acupoints on the body, using massage. The therapist will use deep, focused finger pressure to manipulate acupuncture points to restore and harmonize energy flow for optimum physical and spiritual health. |
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| Acupuncture | Traditional Chinese healing technique based on Taoist philosophy. It can be administered by using needles, low-voltage electric current (electro acupuncture), or pinpoint massage (acupressure). |
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| | Acupuncturists strive to encourage proper circulation of energy, called qi (pronounced {chee}) by inserting very fine needles into acupoints on the body`s surface in order to influence physiological function of the body. Good health is the result of balanced, freely-flowing qi, while illness results from sluggish, blocked, or over-stimulated qi. As internal harmony is achieved, the body`s natural ability to heal itself, relieve pain and stress, and improve internal regulatory systems is engaged. |
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| Acu-yoga | Acu-Yoga is a system of exercises integrating the knowledge of two holistic methods of health maintenance—acupressure and yoga. Both relax muscular tension and balance the vital life forces of the body. Yoga does this through controlling the breath while holding the body in certain postures. Acupressure does this by directly manipulating body energy through a system of points and meridians. Each Acu-Yoga posture naturally presses and stretches certain nerves, muscles, and acupressure points, awakening the meridians and releasing the tension in the points so that energy (chi) can circulate freely. This energy is the source of all life, and its flow is the key to radiant health. The process balances the body and stimulates it to heal itself. |
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| Aerobic Exercise | Any sustained rhythmic exercise (such as brisk walking, running, or dance) that uses the large muscle groups of the body and increases the heart rate from 50 to 90 percent of its maximum. |
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| Ai Chi (flowing Aquatic Energy) | Ai chi is a water exercise and relaxation program, created by Jun Konno, to help aquatic practitioners and students enjoy the water in a flowing, yet powerful progression. Ai chi, created by combining t’ai chi concepts with shiatsu and Watsu techniques, is performed standing in shoulder-depth water using a combination of deep breathing and slow, broad movements of the arms, legs, and torso. The ai chi progression moves from simple breathing to upper extremity movement, to movement of the trunk, and finally to lower extremity movement. Ai chi promotes relaxation, stability, and coordinated breathing. It improves flexibility, mobility, and strength, and it will animate the mind as well as the body. |
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| Aikido | This noncompetitive Japanese martial art aims to harmonize energy with that of a partner or opponent in order to achieve both physical and emotional mastery through peaceful resolution. Aikido literally means the path to the coordination of body, mind, and spirit. Aikido is a defensive system of continuous, circular motions, combining many of the fluid, dance-like movements of t’ai chi along with more subtle, stylized techniques. When practiced properly, successful defense is achieved through minimal action. Originally seen as a combination of religion and martial arts, aikido was created by Morehei Ueshiba in the early twentieth century. |
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| Alchemical Synergy | Developed by Kamala Renner, Alchemical Synergy is a process of evolving universal energy patterns and is used as a holistic counseling system that focuses on achieving transformation by utilizing the universal four forces—centripetal, centrifugal, gravitational, and electromagnetical—the consciousness portion of the Big Bang theory relative to the beginning of the universe. Centripetal force controls all inward movement, allowing us to go inside to observe and reconnect with our inner world, which contains knowledge of all that is natural for us as an individual. Centrifugal force controls all outward movement, allowing interaction of the consciousness with the surroundings and other people. Centripetal and centrifugal force are duality and control all activity that depends on yin/yang, negative/positive balance for its existence. Gravity regulates the action of centripetal and centrifugal forces to ensure universal balance and stimulates the ability to step out of duality to observe the effect of its interaction from a neutral space. Electromagnetics is the life force that is a catalyst for reproduction to occur, allowing the evolution of consciousness to continue. Synergy training defines every experience in categories relative to the force from which it originates. (Adapted from Holistic Health Directory.) |
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| Alexander Technique | Method of re-educating the mind and body to improve movement. The focus is on applying the appropriate amount of energy for each activity in order to improve posture and balance and to eliminate stress-inducing habits. |
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| | This technique teaches people how to release painful muscle tension, improve posture and move with greater ease by demonstrating correct habits of posture, body movement, and neuro-muscular co-ordination. It is based on the concept that self-created tension and poor habits lead to poor health. |
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| Algotherapy | Seaweed bath that is a form of thalassotherapy. |
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| Allopathic Medicine | Known as conventional medicine, allopathy is a medical approach that seeks to cure by producing a condition in the body different than, or opposite to, the condition that exists within the diseased state. |
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| Alternative Medicine | Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) incorporates a large group of healthcare practices and treatments that are considered outside of or supplemental to the scope of conventional medicine. May involve either mental or physical techniques, and some therapies may include use of herbs, meditation, and/or massage. ...More |
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| Amma Therapy | A massage technique developed by Korean-American Tina Sohn. Drawing on Acupressure philosophy and ancient Chinese medicine and combining them with Western medical knowledge and assessment techniques, a masseur must be certified in AMMA by a special school. Like Acupressure, it seeks to balance the body’s energy flow, but goes a step further toward redesigning a healthier lifestyle for the client. After a holistic assessment of the patient’s health condition, the massage combines pressure, stroking, stretching, and percussive techniques on a clothed client with no oils or creams, and is usually performed on a table. |
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| Anaerobic | Opposite of aerobic exercise, anaerobic exercise --such as weightlifting and bodybuilding-- involves muscular work that causes the body to use more oxygen than it takes in. |
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| Anethole | (also para-methoxyphenylpropene, p-propenylanisole, and isoestragole) is a phenylpropene, a type of aromatic compound that occurs widely in nature, in essential oils. It contributes a large component of the distinctive flavors of anise and fennel (both in the botanical family Apiaceae), anise myrtle (Myrtaceae), liquorice (Fabaceae), and star anise (Illiciaceae). Closely related to anethole is its double-bond isomer estragole, abundant in tarragon (Asteraceae) and basil (Lamiaceae), that has a flavor reminiscent of anise. Anethole has numerous commercial uses in multiple industries, and high potential for additional uses. |
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| Animal Massage | Both pets and performance animals experience soft-tissue damage in their daily lives just as humans do. Therapeutic massage provides significant relief, stimulates healing, and promotes stress reduction and relaxation. Other benefits include enhancing performance by increasing range of motion, maintaining muscle tone and joint flexibility, increasing blood and lymph circulation, increasing oxygen to reduce muscle spasms, flushing toxins from muscles and joints, improving disposition, preventing injuries, stimulating areas affected postoperatively, recovering from skeletal and muscular surgery or injury, relieving muscle pain by releasing endorphins, and relieving discomfort from arthritis, lameness, and hip dysplasia. Animals also can receive pre- and post-event massage for competition. See equine massage. |
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| Antagonists | The muscles that oppose the movement of the prime movers. |
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| Anti-aging | Product or treatment that combats or defends against the aging process. |
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| Apiol | Apiol is an organic chemical compound, also known as parsley apiol, apiole or parsley camphor. It is found in celery, parsley seeds, and the essential oil of parsley. Heinrich Christoph Link, an apothecary in Leipzig, discovered the substance in 1715 as greenish crystals reduced by steam from oil of parsley. In 1855 Joret and Homolle discovered that apiol was an effective treatment of amenorrea or lack of menstruation.
In medicine it has been used, as essential oil or in purified form, for the treatment of menstrual disorders. It is an irritant and in high doses it is toxic and can cause liver and kidney damage.
Hippocrates wrote about parsley as a herb to cause an abortion. This effect was caused by the apiol. |
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| Apitherapy | The therapeutic use of such products of the honeybee as honey, bee pollen, royal jelly, propolis and even bee venom, which has been used to treat conditions of joint inflammation such as arthritis. |
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| Applied Kinesiology | Study of muscles, especially the mechanics of human motion. |
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| | A healing system that uses muscle testing as a method of evaluating a patient's structural, chemical and mental aspects. Practitioners of applied kinesiology may use nutrition and exercise, as well as acupressure and other physical manipulation to restore balance to a body. |
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| Applied Physiology | A muscle monitoring technique, applied physiology allows the body to express what is out of balance and provides information to restore that balance. Muscles are put through a normal range of motion, monitored to determine where the stresses lie. The centerpiece of the technique is using acupoints to ask “questions” about specific physiological and anatomical stresses. The goal of treatment is to let go of the stress within the body by integrating the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual components of an individual. |
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| Aqua Aerobics | Aerobic exercises performed in a pool using the support and resistance of the water to burn fat, strengthen bones, and increase cardiovascular health and endurance. The buoyancy of the water greatly reduces the chance of injuring joints or muscles. |
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| Aromatherapy | As a supplement to medical care, Aromatherapy is a branch of Herbalism in which essential oils and other natural aromatic substances are used for psychological and physical therapeutic benefit. |
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| | Treatments such as massage, facials, body wraps, or hydrobaths that include the application of fragrant essential oils. Different oils are used for different therapeutic benefits. |
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| Art Therapy | The use of art for therapeutic purposes, based on the premise that art reflects the personality of its creator. A therapist will assess a patient and formulate a plan for treatment based on observations made of the materials a patient chooses and his or her behavior in creating a simple art piece. |
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| Asanas | Various yoga postures or poses. The practice of these physical poses is a fundamental stage in many branches of the yoga system |
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| Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy | This barefoot massage technique uses deep compression effleurage strokes that glide over the body. The resulting movement may help relieve pain resulting from chronic soft-tissue damage. Correct application will provide deep relaxation while stretching chronic shortened muscles of the body. Bars are used above the head for leverage, and lubricant is essential for its application. [This therapy was developed by massage therapist Ruthie Piper Hardee in 1995 as a result of her own scoliosis and disk pain associated with bending over the table to deliver deep-tissue massage.] Correct application of two-footed strokes near the spine creates a “push, pull, pumping” effect on the intervertebral disc space and can relieve irritation on the spinal nerve. No anxiety should result from this application, and client range of comfort is maintained at all times. Additional information is available at www.deepfeet.com. |
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| Asian Bodywork | Monitoring the flow of the vital life energy (known as chi, ki, prana, or qi) is at the heart of Asian bodywork. Using physical pressure and manipulation, the healer evaluates and modulates this energy flow to attain a state of balance. Popular modalities include shiatsu, amma, Jin Shin Do, Thai massage, and tui na. |
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| Assessment | The collection and interpretation of information provided by the client, massage practitioner and referring medical professional. |
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| Asthma | Some conditions and diseases such as Diabetes, asthma, or other serious conditions each have their own precautions, and you should seek a doctor`s opinion before receiving a massage. |
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| Aston-patterning | Aston-Patterning is a movement maintenance program to improve balance, increase strength and endurance and reduce fatigue. It may include bodywork and training in posture, movement, ergonomics and fitness. |
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| Asymmetric Body Balancing | This is a combination of Paul St. John’s neuromuscular therapy and more traditional Hatha yoga that helps clients diminish and/or alleviate pain or discomfort and find homeostasis and equilibrium in their daily lives. |
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| Attunement | Attunement is a non-touch (or light touch) approach to healing, employing spiritual techniques (prayer and meditation) to restore one’s naturally vibrant energetic and physical well-being. Attunement balances the flow of energy through the endocrine glands, organs, bones, and other tissues of the body—establishing alignment between the body, mind, and emotions and harmonizing these elements with the “spirit,” described as the radiant source of life and healing. Sharing attunement with clients invites them to occupy a sacred energetic or vibrational space characterized by stillness and peace, where healing at all levels can occur. This life-giving process is the doorway through which an individual may enhance or recover health of body, mind, and spirit. |
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| Audiology | Audiologists are concerned with the assessment and treatment of hearing disorders. Using highly complex instruments and testing devices, the audiologist evaluates hearing functions and designs a program of treatment which may include the selection of a hearing aid, training in speech-reading and listening skills, or referrals to other professionals. |
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| Auriculotherapy | A health care procedure in which stimulation of the auricle of the external ear is utilized to alleviate health conditions in other parts of the body. |
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| Ayurveda | Ayurveda means "complete knowledge of the totality of life." Is is a 5,000 year old tradition based on the Vedic texts of India and is the world¹s most ancient, comprehensive and natural mind/body health care system. Ayurveda uses herbs, aromas, meditation, yoga and diet consulting to address health issues. It offers what many find lacking in Western Medicine: a focus on the root cause, rather than the symptoms; on the person rather than the problem; and on the mind and spirit as well as the body. |
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| Ayurveda | Ancient Indian system of traditional folk medicine from India using a variety of techniques, incorporating nutrition, herbal medicine, aromatherapy, massage, and meditation to restore the organism to perfect balance |
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| Ayurvedic Massage | This ancient healing technique from India utilizes touch of varying intensity along marmas or Indian pressure points. It is very effective for eliminating pain, and practitioners claim they can completely cure arthritis. Detoxification is the secondary goal, allowing the body to receive nutrient material (oxygen) from within itself and to dispel waste material (through lymph.) Aromatic oils are traditionally used as lubrication, with the type of oil being chosen based on the symptoms of the client. Performed on a draped or undraped client with oils, on the floor. |
