COMPLEMENTARY
AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE (CAM) THERAPIES
In every generation, medical practices exist that are not accepted by
the mainstream: they are viewed with suspicion and dismissed as implausible
or irrational. For a time, approaches that evoked some appeal, but which
had not been thoroughly tested, were deemed unconventional. Over
the past decade or so, they have been called complementary or alternative
medicine (CAM), to reflect their use as adjuncts to, or as substitutes
for, more generally accepted practices, respectively. CAM does not encompass
practices that have yet to be translated fully from the laboratory into
the clinic, nor practices that were well studied and disproved, but which
manage to persist in some fashion nonetheless. Rather, CAM entails approaches
with surprising pervasiveness, many of which can claim at least some evidentiary
support. Until recently, CAM could also be defined as practices that are
not widely taught in medical schools or reimbursed. However, medical students
increasingly seek and receive some instruction about CAM, while third-party
payers have identified in CAM a marketing tool to attract new, well-heeled
clients. In the past few years, another term has been coined—integrative
medicine—to suggest encouragingly that some CAM approaches, and the
practitioners who deliver them, will be shown worthy of being added to
the health care repertoire. The myriad practices and products that encompass
CAM can be organized into 5 somewhat overlapping domains.
biologically based CAM approaches : special diets, high doses of
vitamins and minerals, and extracts of animal or botanical products
manipulative and body-based CAM approaches : massage, osteopathic
and chiropractic manipulation, and cranial-sacral therapies
mind-body approaches : diverse forms of meditation, various uses
of biofeedback, and hypnosis (see also psychotherapy)
All 3 of these CAM domains have well-accepted analogues in conventional
medicine—low-fat, low-cholesterol diets;
physical
therapy;
psychotherapy;
to name but a few.
energy medicine : exploitation of veritable or putative energy fields.
Today, magnets are increasingly popular health products. Over 2000 years
ago, however, while Greek physicians believed that health requires a balance
of vital humors, Asian practitioners postulated the flow and balance of
vital energies and described tools to restore them. Acupuncture aims to
correct energies that flow through special meridians, or channels. Reiki,
a Japanese approach, and healing touch, a modern variant, purport to diagnose
and correct one's energy by passing the hands of an adept therapist over
the patient.
alternative systems of medicine : combines elements of the 4 other
domains and aims to provide primary approaches to all health needs, rather
than just adjunctive solutions to them. Western variants include practices
developed by Native Americans, homeopathy, and naturopathic medicine. Eastern
variants such as Ayurvedic medicine of India, traditional Chinese medicine,
and Tibetan medicine are rich in their use of meditative exercises and
herbal products.
Despite its enormous success, contemporary western biomedicine has features
that can discourage patients: many diseases, especially chronic ones, are
not cured or even adequately ameliorated; existing treatments can impose
serious adverse reactions; and the care is fragmented and impersonal. CAM,
despite its lack of proof, appeals to many because its practitioners are
optimistic. They spend a lot of time talking with and touching their patients.
CAM empowers patients to make their own health choices, its natural products
are believed to be inherently healthier and safer than synthetic ones,
and care is provided in a "holistic" fashion, meaning that the broader
medical, social, and emotional contexts of illness are considered in designing
the treatment plan. The very first large survey by Eisenberg in 1993 surprised
the medical community by showing that >30% of Americans use CAM approaches.
Countless studies since then have extended these conclusions by surveying
specific demographic groups and patient populations. The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) study of nearly 31,000 American adults revealed
that in 1999 29% had used one or more modalities, with spiritual approaches,
herbal medicine, chiropractic, and massage being the most prevalent. Over
1% underwent acupuncture treatment that year. Surveys among patients with
cancer showed that 30 to 86% used CAM, with highest rates in those with
more advanced disease and undergoing aggressive treatments. Similarly,
among AIDS patients, 36 to 91% are reported to use CAM. In devastating
chronic illnesses like these, CAM is called upon to provide hope of cures
when conventional medicine cannot, to extend life, to ameliorate treatment
side effects, and to provide emotional and physical comfort. While somewhat
subject to vagaries of definition as to what counts as a CAM treatment,
surveys have shown that Americans are willing to pay for these services
out of pocket, with an estimated $7 billion each year on vitamins and mineral
supplements, $4 billion on herbals and other natural products, and nearly
$4 billion more on sports supplements. Total CAM expenditures in 1997 approached
$30 billion, with more visits to practitioners for CAM services than to
physicians in general. As indicated above, some CAM disciplines are carefully
regulated. CAM products, however, are not strongly regulated. Herbal medicines,
and dietary supplements more generally, occupy a unique regulatory status
that affords the public remarkable freedom of choice but also many undesired
challenges. Elements of virtually all traditional healing approaches, herbal
medicines were presumed safe long before the implementation of stringent
drug regulations by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In 1994,
the United States Congress passed the Dietary Supplements Health and Education
Act (DSHEA) that permits sale of dietary supplements "over-the-counter,"
as it were, but without the requirement imposed on manufacturers of prescription
or classic over-the-counter drugs to prove their products to be safe and
effective before marketing. Supplements can be removed by the FDA from
the market only if they are proven to be hazardous. Dietary supplements,
however, cannot legally claim to prevent or treat any disease. They can,
however, claim to maintain "normal structure and function" of body systems.
For example, a product cannot claim to treat arthritis, but it can claim
to maintain "normal joint health." While the public may believe that "natural"
equates with "safe," it is abundantly clear that natural products can be
toxic. Misidentification of medicinal mushrooms has led to liver failure.
Contamination of tryptophan supplements caused the eosinophilia-myalgia
syndrome.
Herbal products containing particular species of Aristolochia were
associated with genitourinary malignancies. In 2001, extracts of kava,
long used by Pacific Islanders for its mild anxiolytic and sedative properties,
were associated with fulminant liver failure. A number of products, including
the popular Ginkgo
biloba,
are known to prolong bleeding times and have been associated with postoperative
hemorrhage. Among the most controversial is Ephedra
sinica, or ma huang,
a product used in traditional Chinese medicine for short-term treatment
of asthma and bronchial congestion. The scientific basis for these indications
was revealed when ephedra was shown to contain the ephedrine alkaloids,
especially ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. With the promulgation of the
DSHEA regulations, supplements containing ephedra and herbs rich in caffeine
flooded the U.S. marketplace, claiming to promote weight loss and to enhance
athletic performance. Reports of severe and fatal adverse events in young
and, in some cases, well-known Americans led to calls for removal of ephedra-containing
supplements. The constituents of natural products may not only be toxic
but may also interfere with the metabolism of life-saving drugs. This effect
was illustrated most profoundly with the demonstration in 2000 that consumption
of St.-John's-wort
interferes with the bioavilability of many drugs. CAM evolved through an
entirely different epistemologic framework than contemporary biomedicine.
Empirical observations of individual patients constitute the primary evidentiary
base on which CAM practices are guided and taught. Nonetheless, over the
past few decades, thousands of studies have been performed of various CAM
approaches, including hundreds of trials involving herbals, acupuncture,
or homeopathy. To date, however, no single approach has been proven effective
in a convincing way. (If they had, the practice would no longer be considered
CAM!) Several factors contribute to this lack of convincing evidence. The
vast majority of CAM studies have been seriously flawed by lack of appropriate
controls, bias on the part of the investigators, small sample sizes, reliance
on highly subjective and nonvalidated measures of benefit, and by inappropriate
statistical tests. There are in addition, a series of methodologic issues
that challenge even the better-designed CAM studies. No uniform practice
guidelines exist, and the herbal products marketed in the United States
are highly variable in quality and composition. Some CAM practices are
not amenable to blinding. For example, both the patient and the practitioner
would know if spinal manipulation had been performed. These problems are
not unique to CAM, however, as they also complicate attempts to study conventional
practices such as psychotherapy or surgery. Efforts are now being made
to randomize patients to other equally demanding control interventions,
and acupuncture at traditional needling points is being compared to needling
at what are arguably irrelevant points. Even with ongoing improvements
in study design and conduct, issues of belief stand in the way of comprehending
and accepting the results of some CAM studies. Many physicians are reluctant
to believe positive outcomes of exotic approaches that have not emerged
through the classic experimental paradigm by which drugs and biological
agents are now developed, namely, the orderly progression from preclinical
testing through three phases of clinical trials. More importantly, it is
difficult to accept results that are counterintuitive or whose mechanism
cannot be rationally explained. Numerous CAM approaches lack coherent explanations
and any credible body of data regarding their safety and effectiveness.
And, while it is difficult to conclude decisively that an approach lacks
any merit, it is quite feasible to discern that its effect size, or degree
of benefit, is too small to be worth pursuing further. Over the past century,
many approaches failed—one need only think back to the exotic electrical
devices, procedures, and tonics that fell out of fashion. 2 questions are
often asked: (1) Whether any of the more contemporary CAM modalities deserve
to be rejected? (2) Whether data showing it to be ineffective would change
anyone's mind about using it? The case of laetrile is instructive in this
regard. This extract of apricot seeds was touted in the 1970s as a cure
for solid tumors. Thousands crossed the Mexican border to be treated. The
lack of any positive preclinical data discouraged oncologists from agreeing
to study laetrile, until public pressure required that an answer be obtained.
2 studies in the 1980s showed no benefit of laetrile treatment. Today,
some continue to seek the product, but the numbers are vastly smaller than
before meaningful data were obtained. A similar fate befell a cocktail
of drugs used for cancer patients through the 1970s and 1980s by Dr. Luigi
DiBella in Italy, once large studies revealed it to have no detectable
impact on the course of a variety of advanced cancers. In contrast, modalities
that have been well tested and found ineffective are still in fairly common
practice. For example, the renowned biochemist and peace activist Linus
Pauling proclaimed vitamin C to be the answer to the common cold. Numerous,
high-quality studies failed to demonstrate clinically important effects
of vitamin C in preventing or treating viral colds. The early studies were
criticized for using too little of the vitamin, yet doses that well exceeded
its bioavailability also proved negative. Nonetheless, ingestion of extra
vitamin C remains a common habit in individuals who perceive the onset
of cold symptoms. For most people, this practice is wasteful but not harmful;
however, people with iron overload (either hemochromatosis or chronic transfusion
requirement) can be damaged by vitamin C, which generates free radicals
in the setting of iron excess. Despite the failure of some CAM approaches,
early studies have yielded positive or at least encouraging data for a
number of them. Good sources of information include the Natural
Medicines Comprehensive Database (http://www.NaturalDatabase.com) and
National Institutes of Health (NIH) websites such as http://ods.od.nih.gov;
http://nccam.nih.gov/health/
and http://www3.cancer.gov/occam/information.html.
quacksalver [Dutch “salve peddler”] : one claiming special merit
for treatment with his medications and salves.
quack [from quacksalver] : one who fraudulently misrepresents his
ability and experience in the diagnosis and treatment of disease or the
effects to be achieved by the treatment he offers.
quackery : the fraudulent misrepresentation of one's ability and
experience in the diagnosis and treatment of disease or of the effects
to be achieved by the treatment offered.
cancer therapies : the practitioners listed under this category
offer a range of therapies that aim to treat cancer or its symptoms. Due
to the life-threatening nature of some cancers, these therapies are often
used as complements to conventional approaches to cancer.
Rudolf Breuss (1899-1991) diet : 42-day diet of natural juices and
herbal teas
Max Gerson diet : 13 fresh organic juices each day (this amounts
to arounf 20 lb of freshly crushed fruit and vegetables), once an hour.
5 coffee-enemas a day are required to eliminate toxins from the liver.
moxibustion / byssocausis : counterirritation
produced by igniting a small, tightly bound cone or cylinder of moxa (mugwort
or wormwood plants : a tuft of soft, combustible dried leavs of herbs,
popularly used in the Orient) placed on the skin at certain "acupoints"
neural therapy : injection of anaesthetics into various parts of
the body
laughter produces a reduction in stress hormones.
shark-liver oil contains squalamine and alkylglycerols,
stimulators of immune-system cells
cancer salves (a.k.a. escharotics) contain a variety of herbs,
oils and chemicals including olive oil, beeswax, pine tar, comfrey and
myrrh applied to external tumours or to the skin above internal tumour
sites. They produce a eschar on the skin.
acupressure : based on the principles
of acupuncture, this ancient Chinese technique involves the use of finger
pressure (rather than needles) on specific points along the body to treat
ailments such as tension and stress, aches and pains, menstrual cramps,
or arthritis. The system is also used for general preventive health care.
shiatsu : the most widely known form of acupressure,
used in Japan for > 1,000 years to treat pain and illness and for general
health maintenance. Using a series of techniques, practitioners apply rhythmic
finger pressure at specific points along nonanatomic meridians on the body
in order to stimulate chi, or vital energy
water shiatsu (watsu) is a form
of massage performed in chest-high body-temperature water. The practitioner
guides the client through a series of dance like movements while using
Zen shiatsu techniques (stretches and finger pressure) in order to release
blockages in the body's meridians, or energy pathways. Watsu is used to
release tension and to treat a wide variety of physical and emotional problems.
aikido : like other Japanese martial arts,
aikido is both a method of self-defense and a spiritual discipline. The
goal is to harmonize one's chi (vital energy) with that of one's opponent,
so that the opponent's strength and weight are used against him or her.
Many of the moves are flowing and graceful, similar to those of tai chi.
Alexander technique : developed
by actor F. Matthias Alexander, who created the method after concluding
that bad posture was responsible for his own chronic voice loss. Practitioners,
using gentle hands-on guidance and verbal instruction, teach simple, efficient
ways of moving as a means of improving balance, posture, and coordination
and to relieve tension and pain. A movement therapy that emphasizes efficient
use of muscles to relieve pain, decrease skeletal strain, and improve posture
AMMA therapy® : founded and developed by Tina Sohn,
this complex system of bodywork therapy utilizes traditional oriental medical
principles for assessing and evaluating imbalances in the energetic system.
AMMA Therapy aims to restore, promote, and maintain optimum health through
the treatment of the physical body, the bio-energy, and the emotions, which
reflect and are bound into the neuromuscular system. AMMA Therapy is used
to treat a wide range of medical conditions.
anthroposophic medicine :
developed by philosopher and mystic Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925), this medical
system takes into account the spiritual and physical components of illness.
A treatment regime may include herbal and homeopathic medicines as well
as dietary recommendations, art therapy, movement therapy, massage, and
specially prepared baths. A spiritually based system of medicine that incorporates
herbs, homeopathy, diet, and a movement therapy called eurythmy
aromatherapy : uses "essential oils"
(the volatile oils distilled from plants) to treat emotional disorders
such as stress and anxiety as well as a wide range of other ailments. Oils
are massaged into the skin, inhaled, or placed in baths. Aromatherapy is
often used in conjunction with massage therapy, acupuncture,
reflexology,
herbology, chiropractic, and other holistic
treatments.
astrology : the study of the positions of the planets in the solar
system and their possible influence on human affairs. Based on this information,
a counselor can work with a client to provide individualized insights into
emotional, professional, and health matters, or into the personality.
ayurvedic medicine : practiced
in East India for > 5,000 years, ayurvedic tradition holds that illness
is a state of imbalance among the body's systems that can be detected through
such diagnostic procedures as reading the pulse and observing the tongue.
Nutrition counseling, massage, natural medications, meditation, and other
modalities are used to address a broad spectrum of ailments, from allergies
to AIDS. (Some practitioners in this category practice Maharishi Ayur-Ved,
a contemporary interpretation of ayurvedic medicine inspired by Maharishi
Mahesh Yogi, the founder of Transcendental Meditation.). Treatment includes
diet, exercise, herbs, oil massages, and elimination regimens (utilizing
emetics, diarrheals, etc.)
Barbara Brennan healing science : developed by physicist, teacher,
and healer Barbara Brennan, this spiritual healing system seeks to reorganize
and heal the client's energy field. Using both hands-on techniques and
other approaches, the healer works to clear the client's field of unhealthy
and blocked energies, charge depleted areas, repair distorted patterns,
and balance the entire field. The goal is to promote health and healing
on physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual levels.
beauty/skin care : natural products and treatments for hair, skin,
and body.
bioenergetics : bioenergetics holds that repressed emotions and
desires affect the body and psyche by creating chronic muscular tension
and diminished vitality and energy. Through physical exercises, breathing
techniques, verbal psychotherapy, or other forms of emotional-release work,
the therapist attempts to loosen this "character armor" and restore natural
well-being.
Body-Mind Centering® : a movement-reeducation approach
that explores how the body's systems (skeletal, muscular, nervous, etc.)
contribute to movement and self-awareness. The approach also emphasizes
movement patterns that develop during infancy and childhood. Body-Mind
Centering incorporates guided movement, exercise, imagery, and hands-on
work. The approach can be used with infants, children, and adults to resolve
movement problems and facilitate the "mind-body dialogue."
body-mind counseling : a general term for a range of practices that
combine bodywork with some form of verbal dialogue. Counseling can suggest
a less formally systematic approach than does the term psychotherapy, and
can also encompass advice about diet or lifestyle issues.
body-oriented psychotherapy : Body-oriented psychotherapy seeks
to enhance the psychotherapeutic process by incorporating a range of massage,
bodywork, and movement techniques. Acknowledging the mind- body link, practitioners
may use light touch, soft- or deep-tissue manipulation, breathing techniques,
movement, exercise, or body-awareness techniques to help address emotional
issues.
bodywork for abuse survivors : the massage therapists and bodyworkers
listed in this category work with survivors of sexual abuse to assign new
meaning to touch and develop healthy boundaries as part of their recovery
process. This work is often done in direct collaboration with a psychotherapist.
miscellaneous bodywork : practitioners in this category offer a
wide range of massage, bodywork, energy, and movement techniques.
breathwork : a general term for a variety of techniques that use
patterned breathing to promote physical, mental, and/or spiritual well-being.
Some techniques use the breath in a calm, peaceful way to induce relaxation
or manage pain, while others use stronger breathing to stimulate emotions
and emotional release.
Breema bodywork : an ancient, nondiagnostic health-improvement method
that uses a series of gentle, rhythmic movements to release tension and
to promote health, vitality, and inner harmony. Treatments are designed
to create structural, physiological, emotional, and energetic balance in
both the practitioner and the recipient. Breema Bodywork is done fully
clothed, with the recipient lying or sitting on a carpeted floor.
career/life counseling : the practitioners listed in this category
assist clients in career planning and/or personal planning and decision-
making. Holistic counselors often use a "whole person" approach rather
than a strictly vocational approach.
chelation therapy : typically administered in an osteopathic or
medical doctor's office, chelation therapy is a series of intravenous injections
of the synthetic amino acid EDTA, designed to detoxify the body. It is
often used to treat arteriosclerosis
Chinese (Oriental) medicine : a medical system that utilizes examination
of the tongue and pulses for diagnosis and acupuncture, herbal mixtures,
massage, exercise, and diet. Oriental medical practitioners are trained
to use a variety of ancient and modern therapeutic methods-- including
acupuncture, herbal medicine, massage, moxibustion (heat therapy), and
nutritional and lifestyle counseling--to treat a broad range of both chronic
and acute illnesses.
Tibetan medicine : a medical system that utilizes diagnosis by pulse
and urine examination; therapies include herbs, diet, and massage
chiropractic / chiropraxis : a science
of applied neurophysiologic diagnosis based on the theory that health and
disease are life processes related to the function of the nervous system:
irritation of the nervous system by mechanical, chemical, or psychic factors
is the cause of disease; restoration and maintenance of health depend on
normal function of the nervous system. Diagnosis is the identification
of these noxious irritants and treatment is their removal by manipulation
and treatment of the structures of the human body, especially those of
the spinal column. The chiropractic system is based on the premise that
the spine is literally the backbone of human health: Misalignments of the
vertebrae caused by poor posture or trauma result in pressure on the spinal
cord, which may lead to diminished function and illness. The chiropractor
seeks to analyze and correct these misalignments through spinal manipulation
or adjustment. Spinal manipulation of patients with unrecognized vertebral
lesions has been associated with cord injuries, and cervical manipulation
has been associated with stroke. These appear to be rare events. Systematic
reviews of fairly well designed trials concluded that chiropractic or osteopathic
manipulation provides significant improvement for patients with uncomplicated
acute back pain. No proof exists that they are superior to, or more cost-effective
than, other conventional approaches, nor do they alter the long-term outcome.
In 1895, Daniel David Palmer founded in Missouri the first school of chiropractic
medicine to teach manipulation of the spine. Palmer believed that subluxations,
or partial dislocations of vertebrae, cause disease by impinging on key
nerve roots. Today, chiropractors undertake 5 years of training in basic
and relevant clinical sciences. Increasingly, they complete additional
postgraduate training in radiology and outpatient therapeutics, primarily
of musculoskeletal conditions, although within the discipline there are
factions that continue to perform manipulation for many other pathologic
entities. Chiropractors also advise on nutrition, exercise, and other health
maintenance approaches. > 70,000 doctors of chiropractic medicine are licensed
to practice in all states and the District of Columbia.
network chiropractic : a form of chiropractic that views the spine
as a powerful "switchboard of consciousness." The method is based on the
belief that spinal adjustment can serve to unify the physical, emotional,
and mental body with a universal intelligence or consciousness.
colon therapy : the cleansing of the large intestine with warm purified
water. A single colonic treatment is said to be equivalent to several enemas
in removing toxic debris from the colon.
conscious bodywork : this form of neuromuscular reprogramming and
therapy combines massage techniques with muscle testing in order to help
people learn how to use their muscles with greater strength and less effort.
Conscious BodyWork is used to treat persistent Sistine joint and muscle
pain and to treat restriction of movement caused by injury.
core energetics : a form of body- oriented psychotherapy that aims
to break down the client's defenses in order to reach the "core" level
of consciousness, or spiritual self. By using bodywork and counseling techniques
and offering spiritual guidance, the practitioner seeks to evoke cathartic
reactions that open the way to "core energy." The goal of Core Energetics
is to enable the client to become a more loving, creative, receptive, and
vibrant person.
cupping glass : a vessel of glass from which the air has been or
can be exhausted, applied to the body for the purpose of drawing blood
to the surface; currently used in some cultures to treat headaches, chills,
fevers, back pain, and similar complaints.
cranial-sacral or craniosacral
therapy : a gentle manipulation of the cranium and spine for remedying
distortions in the structure and function of the craniosacral mechanism--the
brain and spinal cord, the bones of the skull, the sacrum, and interconnected
membranes. It is used to treat chronic pain, migraine headaches, TMJ, and
a range of other conditions. The technique is performed by a range of licensed
health practitioners.
curanderismo : a spiritual healing tradition common in Mexican-American
communities that utilizes ritual cleansing, herbs and incantations
dance therapy/movement therapies : dance and/or movement therapy
uses expressive movement as a therapeutic tool for both personal expression
and release and psychological or emotional healing. Practitioners work
with people with physical disabilities, addiction issues, sexual abuse
histories, eating disorders, and other concerns
deep tissue bodywork : deep tissue bodywork is a general term for
a range of therapies that work to "unstick" the body's connective tissues
and/or muscles to encourage them to function properly again. Among the
conditions deep tissue bodywork treats are whiplash, low back and neck
pain, and degenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
holistic dentistry : holistic dentists are licensed dentists who
bring an interdisciplinary approach to their practice, often incorporating
such methods as homeopathy, nutrition, and acupuncture into their treatment
plans. Most holistic dentists emphasize wellness and preventive care while
avoiding (and often recommending the removal of) silver-mercury fillings.
ear candling orconing : placing the narrow end of a specially
designed hollow candle at the entry of the ear canal, while the opposite
end is lit. Primarily used for wax buildup and related hearing problems,
ear candling is also used for ear infections and sinus infections.
eclecticism : a nineteenth-century medicinal cult popular in North
America that treated diseases by the application of single remedies to
known pathological conditions, without reference to nosology, special attention
being given to developing indigenous plant remedies.
energy field work : practitioners of this range of therapies look
for weaknesses in the person's "energy field" in and around the body and
seek to restore its proper circulation and balance. Energy channeled through
the practitioner is directed to strengthen the body's natural defenses
and help the person's physical, mental, emotional, and/or spiritual state.
Sessions may or may not involve the physical laying-on of hands.
expressive therapies use the arts to promote physical health, mental
health, and/or personal growth. Examples of expressive therapies include
art therapy, dance therapy, drama therapy, music therapy, poetry therapy,
and psychodrama.
fasting/natural hygiene : a health system that seeks to remove the
causes of disease and encourage the body's self- healing capacity through
natural-food diets and therapeutic fasting. Professional Natural Hygienists
are primary care doctors (m.d.s, osteopaths, chiropractors, and naturopaths)
who specialize in fasting supervision as a part of natural hygienic care.
Natural Hygiene is employed for a wide variety of acute and chronic conditions.
Feldenkrais® bodywork or method/Awareness Through Movement®
: highly structured movement sequences that emphasize proper head positioning.
It combines movement training, gentle touch, and verbal dialogue to help
create freer, more-efficient movement. Feldenkrais takes 2 forms: In individual
hands-on sessions ("Functional Integration"), the practitioner's touch
is used to address the student's breathing and body alignment; and in a
series of classes of slow, non aerobic motions ("Awareness Through Movement"),
students "relearn" improved ways their bodies can move. The Method is frequently
used to treat stress and tension, to prevent recurring injury, and to help
athletes and others improve their balance and coordination.
Feng shui (pronounced "fung shway") : the ancient Chinese practice
of configuring home or work environments to promote health, happiness,
and prosperity. Fang shun consultants may advise clients to make adjustments
in their surroundings--from color selection to furniture placement--in
order to promote a healthy flow of chi, or vital energy.
flower essences : popularized in the '30s by Edward Bach, M.D.,
flower essences are intended to alleviate negative emotional states that
may contribute to illness or hinder personal growth. Drops of a solution
infused with the captured "essence" of a flower are placed under the tongue
or in a beverage. The practitioner helps the client choose appropriate
essences, focusing on the client's emotional state rather than on a particular
physical condition.
Bach flower remedies : dilute flower infusions used to treat emotional
conditions
focusing : this self-help tool is based on the premise that information
about one's life issues can be accessed through so-called felt senses in
the body. This skill can be used alone or in partnership with someone else
for resolving day-to-day issues (such as decision-making), negotiating
profound changes (such as recovery from abuse), and fostering spiritual
development.
folk medicine : the use of home remedies and procedures as handed
down by tradition
guided imagery : the use of imagination
to invoke specific mental images that are hoped to promote physical healing
or changes in attitudes or behavior. Practitioners may lead clients through
specific visualization exercises or offer instruction in using imagery
as a self-help tool. Guided imagery is often used to alleviate stress and
to treat stress-related conditions such as insomnia and high blood pressure.
It is also used by people with cancer, AIDS, chronic fatigue syndrome,
and other disorders with the aim of boosting the immune system.
interactive guided imagery : a mind-body modality in which the practitioner
helps clients explore their own unconscious imagery for therapeutic purposes,
rather than merely having clients listen to predetermined imagery scripts.
Interactive Guided Imagery is used for a variety of illnesses, stress management,
anxiety disorders, depression, pain management, addiction recovery, and
as part of brief psychotherapy and marital counseling.
gyrotonics expansion system (GXS) : an exercise system emphasizing
circular motions similar to those used in swimming, tai chi, and yoga.
The low-impact exercises are performed on specially designed exercise equipment,
and the movements are accompanied by specific breathing patterns. Gyrotonics
is used by dancers, athletes, and others to increase strength, flexibility,
coordination, and balance, and it is also used as a form of physical therapy.
healing touch : practiced by registered nurses and others to accelerate
wound healing, relieve pain, promote relaxation, prevent illness, and ease
the dying process. The practitioner uses light touch or works with his
or her hands near the client's body in an effort to restore balance to
the client's energy system.
health centers/clinics : the inpatient and outpatient settings found
in this category offer a variety of alternative and allopathic therapies
to encourage wellness and treat disease. Some clinics operate under the
auspices of hospitals.
health spas/retreat centers : residential centers and travel opportunities
offer a range of workshops, physical fitness programs, and natural therapies
for rejuvenation and personal growth.
heart care : the practitioners listed in this category offer a range
of therapies to prevent or treat heart disease. Due to the life- threatening
nature of this ailment, these therapies are often used as complements to
conventional approaches to heart disease
Hellerwork : developed by former aerospace engineer (and one-time
Rolf Institute president) Joseph Heller, this technique combines systematic
structural bodywork and movement reeducation with dialogue about the emotional
issues that may underlie a physical posture. Participants go through eleven
sixty- to ninety-minute sessions. Stressing the mind-body connection, Hellerwork
is used to treat chronic pain or to help "well" people learn to live more
comfortably in their bodies.
HIV therapies : the practitioners listed under this category offer
a range of therapies that aim to treat the HIV, AIDS, or their symptoms.
Due to the life-threatening nature of HIV and AIDS, these therapies are
often used as complements to conventional approaches to HIV
heterotherapy : treatment of disease by remedies which are antagonistic
to the principal symptoms of the disease; nonspecific therapy
holistic therapy : practitioners
listed here offer a range of treatments and services for healing both body
and mind.
holistic medical specialties : this general category includes such
specialties as arthritis treatment, chemical dependency and addiction treatments,
family medicine, holistic podiatry, integrative medicine, orthomolecular
medicine, orthopedic medicine, and sports medicine.
holistic medicine : a broadly descriptive term for a healing philosophy
that views a patient as a whole person, or as a functioning unit, not as
just a disease or a collection of symptoms. In the course of treatment,
holistic medical practitioners may address a client's emotional and spiritual
dimensions as well as the nutritional, environmental, and lifestyle factors
that may contribute to an illness. Many holistic medical practitioners
combine conventional forms of treatment (such as medication and surgery)
with natural or alternative treatments.
holistic nursing : more a philosophy than a series of practices,
holistic nursing is embraced by registered or licensed nurses who seek
to care for the body, mind, and spirit of the patient. Some holistic nurses
work in independent practices, offering primary and chronic care that incorporates
a variety of alternative methods, from homeopathy to Therapeutic Touch.
holistic pediatrics : the practitioners listed in this category
use a range of therapies to prevent or treat the health problems of infants
and children.
holistic psychiatry : as with all psychiatrists, holistic psychiatrists
are trained in medical school in the diagnosis and treatment of mental
illnesses. Psychiatrists who consider themselves "holistic" may also draw
from a wide range of complementary modalities, including nutrition, homeopathy,
energy healing, bodywork, and biofeedback.
holistic vision therapies : through exercise and relaxation techniques,
vision may actually be improved to the point that glasses may no longer
be needed. Therapies are typically offered by licensed optometrists and
opthalmologists.
women's holistic health : this field includes practitioners and
clinics offering a range of services addressing women's health concerns,
from PMS to infertility.
holistic counseling/psychotherapy : this broad category encompasses
a range of practitioners, from career counselors who offer advice and information
to psychotherapists who treat depression, stress, addiction, and emotional
issues. Formats can vary from individual counseling to group therapy. In
addition to verbal counseling techniques, some holistic therapists may
use bodywork, ritual, energy healing, and other alternative modalities
as part of their practice.
hydropathy : treatment utilizing water
at various temperatures, sometimes aerated or under pressure, sometimes
with added salts or other substances
hypnotherapy : a range of techniques
that allow practitioners to bypass the conscious mind and access the subconscious,
where suppressed memories, repressed emotions, and forgotten events may
remain recorded. The induction of an altered state of mind within which
a subject becomes receptive to specific suggestions. Hypnosis may facilitate
behavioral, emotional, or attitudinal change: often used to help people
lose weight or stop smoking, it's also used in the treatment of phobias,
stress, and as an adjunct in the treatment of illnesses.
intuitive arts : a general term for various methods of divination,
such as numerology, psychic reading, and tarot reading. Individuals may
consult practitioners to seek information about the future or insights
into personal concerns or the personality. Among the modalities: Numerology
emphasizes the significance of numbers derived from the spelling of names,
birth dates, and other significant references; psychics may claim various
abilities, from finding lost objects and persons to communicating with
the spirits of the dead; and tarot readers interpret a deck of cards containing
archetypal symbols.
iridology : the study of the iris, particularly
of its color, markings, changes, etc., as associated with disease. A diagnostic
system based on the premise that every organ has a corresponding location
within the iris of the eye, which can serve as an indicator of the individual
organ's health or disease. Iridology is used by naturopaths and other practitioners,
particularly when diagnosis achieved through standard methods is unclear.
iridodiagnosis : diagnosis of disease by the appearance of the iris,
its color, markings, changes, etc.
Jin Shin Do® Bodymind Acupressure®
: developed by psychotherapist Iona Marsaa Teeguarden, Jin Shin Do combines
Acupressure, Taoist yogic breathing methods, and Reichian segmental theory
(which addresses how emotional tension affects the physical body), with
the goal of releasing physical and emotional tension and "armoring." It
aims to promote a pleasant trance state in which the participant can address
the emotional factors that may underlie various physical conditions.
Jin Shin Jyutsu® : an oriental system intended to
harmonize the flow of energy through the body. The system holds that tension,
fatigue, or illness can trap energy in the body's twenty-six "safety energy
locks": Practitioners use their hands to restore balance and reduce stress.
Jin Shin Jyutsu is not a form of massage, however, as it does not involve
physical manipulation of the muscles.
applied kinesiology : a system that uses muscle testing procedures,
in conjunction with standard methods of diagnosis, to gain information
about a patient's overall state of health. Practitioners analyze muscle
function, posture, gait, and other structural factors in addition to inquiring
about lifestyle factors that may be contributing to a health- related problem.
Nutritional supplements, muscle and joint manipulation, and lifestyle modification
(including diet and exercise) may then be used as part of a treatment plan.
Applied kinesiology is used by health-care providers who are licensed to
diagnose, such as chiropractors, osteopaths, dentists, and medical doctors.
Kripalu bodywork : based on the principles of Kripalu Yoga, this
bodywork method seeks to promote a deep state of relaxation and to help
recipients reconnect with the healing wisdom of their bodies. Along with
specific massage strokes, Kripalu bodyworkers use verbal and nonverbal
means to guide recipients into a meditative state wherein physical and
mental tension may be accessed and released.
Kripalu Yoga : developed by Yogi Amrit Desai, Kripalu Yoga uses
classical hatha yoga postures and breathing techniques to help students
enter a state of "meditation in motion." Besides offering guidance in these
yoga techniques, Kripalu Yoga teachers provide an atmosphere where sensations,
thoughts, and emotions can be experienced in safety and relaxation. The
principles of Kripalu Yoga are the foundation for Phoenix Rising yoga therapy
and Kripalu Bodywork.
lymphatic therapies : the practitioners listed in this category
use a range of therapies that seek to affect the body's lymphatic system,
which is important to the effective functioning of the immune system.
macrobiotic counseling : macrobiotic counselors assist people in
making the transition to a low-fat, high-fiber "macrobiotic" diet of whole
grains, vegetables, sea vegetables, and seeds. A diet of these natural
foods, cooked in accordance with macrobiotic principles designed to synchronize
our eating habits with the cycles of nature, is used to promote health
and minimize disease.
magnetic field orbio-magnetic therapy : use of magnets,
magnetic devices, or magnetic fields to treat a variety of physical and
emotional conditions, including circulatory problems, certain forms of
arthritis, chronic pain, sleep disorders, and stress. Treatments may be
applied by a practitioner or as part of a self-care program.
Manual Lymph Drainage® : a form of gentle, whole-body
massage aimed at stimulating the lymphatic system to carry away excessive
fluid in the loose connective tissue. This non invasive, painless therapy
is intended for conditions such as acute and chronic edema (swelling),
neuromuscular disorders, headaches, acne, and sinus congestion. Working
under a physician's referral, certified therapists also treat post-mastectomy
patients' pain, edema, and fibrosis.
meditation : a process by which one tries to achieve awareness without
thought
meditation teachers/centers : meditation is a general term for a
wide range of practices that involve training one's attention or awareness
so that body and mind can be brought into greater harmony. While some meditators
may seek a mystical sense of oneness with a higher power or with the universe,
others may seek to reduce stress or alleviate stress-related ailments such
as anxiety and high blood pressure. Listings in this category include individual
counselors as well as meditation centers and retreat centers.
mesotherapy : a treatment method devised
for controlling pain syndromes or diseases by subcutaneous microinjections
of a mixture of readily available drugs given at or around the involved
areas (loco dolenti) at short intervals of time. Different adverse
effects have been described due to this modality of treatment, including
cutaneous infection caused by Mycobacterium
fortuitumandMycobacterium
chelonaeref.
Mesotherapy, one of the latest fat-melting fads, is a half-century-old
technique from France that involves hundreds of injections and is touted
as an alternative to liposuction, injecting people with a cocktail of plant
extracts, vitamins and medications (such as a drug for treating asthma).
The concoction is supposed to stimulate fat cells to shed fat. It's called
mesotherapy because the injections go under the skin and are absorbed by
the mesodermal, or middle, layer. Then you're supposed to shed weight the
same way you do when you diet and exercise, excreting fat in waste. Mesotherapy
was developed in France in 1952 and has long been popular with the European
rich and famous. But it never caught on in the USA, where medical skepticism
about its efficacy and safety is widespread. Among other concerns, some
of the drugs involved are intended to treat something entirely different.
Many dermatologists and plastic surgeons are alarmed about the growing
profile of mesotherapy. No one says exactly what they put into the syringe
: one drug they often use, phosphatidylcholine, is unpredictable and causes
extreme inflammation and swelling where injected. It is not a benign drug.
Even Brazil, which is less strict than the USA in drug approvals, has banned
the drug for these purposes.
midwifery/childbirth support : midwives provide education and support
during pregnancy, assist the mother during labor and delivery, and provide
follow-up care. Practitioners of childbirth support include childbirth
educators, childbirth assistants, and doulas (women labor coaches who also
provide postpartum home care). In some states midwives can attend home
births or practice in birthing clinics in hospitals. Some midwives are
also licensed to provide "well-women" gynecological care, including screening
tests and birth control.
mind-body medicine : clinical trials
support the use of biofeedback for incontinence, headache, and stroke rehabilitation.
Hypnosis may be beneficial in relieving pain due to minor surgical interventions,
chemotherapy-associated nausea, and irritable bowel syndrome.
miscellaneous counseling : the practitioners in this section draw
from a wide range of techniques to encourage healing and facilitate personal
growth.
muscular therapy : this general term incorporates a range of bodywork
methods and practices that have a therapeutic (not simply relaxing) intent.
Practitioners stress client education and follow-up. Among the conditions
muscular therapy addresses are chronic back pain, headaches, tension, and
emotional illnesses.
myofascial release : this hands-on technique seeks to free the body
from the grip of tight fascia, or connective tissue, thus restoring normal
alignment and function and reducing pain. Using their hands, therapists
apply mild, sustained pressure in order to gently stretch and soften the
fascia. Myofascial Release is used to treat neck and back pain, headaches,
recurring sports injuries, and scoliosis, among other conditions.
miscellaneous natural healing : the practitioners listed under this
category offer a wide range of holistic services.
Native American medicine
: diverse systems, many of which incorporate prayer, chant, music, healing
ceremonies, counseling, herbs, laying on of hands, and smudging (ritual
cleansing with smoke from sacred plants)
naturopathic medicine / naturopathy
: a primary health- care system emphasizing the curative power of nature,
treats both acute and chronic illnesses in all age groups. A mixture of
modalities that may include herbs, homeopathy, acupuncture, hydropathy,
diet, and exercise. Naturopathic physicians work to restore and support
the body's own healing ability using a variety of modalities including
nutrition, herbal medicine, homeopathic medicine, and oriental medicine.
1 states license practitioners of naturopathy, a discipline that emerged
in central Europe in the late 18th century. That conventional treatments
of the day were usually ineffective, if not overtly harmful, stimulated
the search for safer and more "natural" approaches—naturopathy is one of
them. The concept underlying this discipline is that the body possesses
powerful mechanisms for self-healing that a properly instructed practitioner
could harness. About 1400 naturopathic physicians have completed 4 years
of education in basic and clinical sciences and are licensed to manage
a predominantly outpatient population. Conventional and unconventional
diagnostic tests and medications are prescribed with an emphasis on relatively
low doses of drugs, herbal medicines, special diets, and exercises.
acupuncture : a traditional Chinese medical
practice of insertion of fine hair-thin needles into nonanatomic energy
channels, called meridians, at specific points to stimulate, disperse,
and regulate the flow of chi, or vital energy, and restore a healthy energy
balance. Often used in the United States for pain
relief, acupuncture is also used to improve well-being and treat acute,
chronic, and degenerative conditions in children and adults, to induce
surgical anesthesia, and for therapeutic purposes. In past decades, reused
acupuncture needles transmitted hepatitis
B virus
infection; today, the standard of care requires disposable needles. While
methodologic problems continue to plague acupuncture trials, belief has
been growing even in academic centers that acupuncture may be effective.
The emerging acceptance of acupuncture may result, in part, from its widespread
availability and use in the United States today: the CDC estimated that
>1% of adult Americans received acupuncture treatments in 1999. Acupuncturists
are now practicing within major medical centers, providing an ancillary
approach to pain management. Yet, its acceptance may stem from more than
just its communal appeal. Since the mid-1970s, studies have revealed palatable
explanations for how needling may moderate pain and, not just by rephrasing
the traditional explanation that acupuncture restores the flow of vital
energies along meridians, for which there remain no known anatomic correlates.
Rather, biochemical and imaging studies have shown that needling triggers
the release of endogenous opioids that bind to specific receptors in the
very brain regions that mediate the beneficial effects of narcotic analgesics.
A venerable component of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture has
emerged in recent decades as a free-standing clinical discipline. Over
3000 American physicians have acquired targeted postgraduate training that
permits them to practice acupuncture in over 40 states and the District
of Columbia. Over 4000 non-MDs have taken far more extended training, leading
to licensure to practice independently or under the supervision of a physician.
A frequently cited NIH-led consensus development conference in 1997 concluded
that evidence exists that acupuncture relieves nausea from chemotherapy
and pain following extraction of molars. Some subsequent studies have confirmed
these earlier impressions regarding acute nausea
and vomiting,
but the data regarding pain management have been mixed, with little evidence
that it benefits neuropathic pain. Acupuncture has a measurable, if mysterious,
effect on the brain : the study adds to evidence that patients benefit
from acupuncture not simply because of their expectations. The research
team used brain imaging to show that treatment with genuine needles activates
brain areas beyond the ones that light up when trick needles are used.
This is the first brain-imaging study that has shown an effect beyond placebo.
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese treatment for illness, pain or even addiction,
which uses fine needles in defined points of the body. The mechanism behind
this is far from understood, and clinical trials into acupuncture have
had mixed results. It has worked in some trials, it hasn't worked in others,
it's very complicated. Many studies have suggested that the placebo effect
accounts for most of the benefits seen. Part of this confusion may be thanks
to the use of badly defined controls in acupuncture tests. Some studies
use needles in non-acupuncture points, for example. But this may simply
prove that needling is an effective treatment. For a better placebo, a
retractable needle that doesn't really penetrate the skin, but tricks the
patients into thinking that it does, was used. It disappears into its handle
like a stage dagger. This tricked the patients into believing they were
being treated when they weren't. The study group, which consisted of 14
patients with arthritic pain in their thumbs, was also treated with both
real acupuncture, and with blunt needles that didn't penetrate the skin.
In the last case the patients were told that the procedure should not have
any effect. The researchers then used positron emission tomography to measure
brain activity. Both placebo treatment and real treatment activated the
brain in areas known to respond to opiates: painkillers released by the
brain. True acupuncture also increased activity in a different brain area
called the insula, which is part of the cerebral cortex. It's not clear
what this activity means, but it indicates some sort of real effectref.
Acupuncture is partially modulated by expectation, but is probably also
modulated by a real treatment effect. Expectation accounts for some of
acupuncture's benefits : i a study of people with chronic neck pain, they
found the placebo effect accounted for about 80% of pain reliefref.
The study should help researchers to design better clinical trials of acupuncture
in the future. This study gives a clarification of the possible mechanisms
by which acupuncture works, and by understanding the mechanisms we can
design better placebos.
ear acupuncture / auriculotherapy
:
the capability of reflex points on the external ear to alter neuromuscular
and neuropathic disorders has been attributed to the descending pain inhibitory
pathways of the central nervous system. The inverted fetus perspective
of the somatotopic arrangement of auricular acupuncture points was first
described in the 1950's by Dr. Paul Nogier of France, and has received
scientific support from double blind studies examining auricular diagnosis
of musculoskeletal and of coronary disorders. Acupuncture points on the
ear and on the body have lower levels of electrical skin resistance than
surrounding tissue. These electrodermal differences are apparently related
to autonomic control of blood vessels rather than increased sweat gland
activity. The heightened tenderness of reactive acupuncture points may
be explained by the accumulation of noxious, subdermal substances. Electrical
stimulation of specific points on the external ear leads to site specific
neural responses in different regions of the brain. Behavioral analgesia
produced by auricular acupuncture can be blocked by the opiate antagonist
naloxone, indicating the role of endorphinergic systems in understanding
the underlying mechanisms of auriculotherapy. The anatomical structures
and electrical application of the auricle are described as they relate
to the localization of master points, musculoskeletal points, internal
organ points, and neuroendocrine pointsref
homeopathy : a system of therapeutics founded
by Samuel Hahnemann (1755–1843) that uses infinitesimal doses of natural
substances--called remedies--to stimulate a person's immune and defense
system. A remedy is individually chosen for a sick person based on its
capacity to cause, if given in overdose, physical and psychological symptoms
similar to those a patient is experiencing. Common conditions homeopathy
addresses are infant and childhood diseases, infections, fatigue, allergies,
and chronic illnesses such as arthritis.
Henshaw test : a test to aid in the selection of the appropriate
homeopathic remedy in a given case of disease. A visible flocculation zone
develops in the patient's blood serum when it is brought into contact with
a potentized remedy homeopathically indicated in the case
aggravation : worsening in the patient's condition after getting
a homeopathic remedy. Homeopaths claim this can signify that the remedy
was appropriate. Critics note that the concept helps them deny failure
when the patient feels worse.
allopathy / heteropathy : a term applied
to that system of therapeutics in which diseases are treated by producing
a condition incompatible with or antagonistic to the condition to be cured
or alleviated. Derogatory term coined by homeopathy's founder (Samuel Hahnemann)
to refer to harsh practices of his day that supposedly balanced body "humors"
or "conditions" by treating them with their "opposites." Nonmedical pracitioners
often misrepresent physicians as "allopaths." Although some modern therapies
can be construed to conform to an allopathic rationale (e.g., using a laxative
to relieve constipation), standard medicine has never espoused an allopathic
principle.
American Association of Homeopathic Pharmacists (AAHP). A nonprofit
organization established in 1923 that represents the interests of homeopathic
drug manufacturers, distributors, and and individual pharmacists. In December
2001, the AAHP Web site stated that AAHP had "24 corporate and 16 individual
members representing over 70% of the homeopathic community."
Arndt-Schulz law : an obsolete law stating that weak stimuli excite
physiologic activity, moderately strong ones favor it, strong ones retard
it, and very strong ones arrest it. Also called Arndt's law, it was proposed
by a Rudolph Arndt (1835-1900), a German psychiatrist [1].
decimal potency : the designation "X," which is the Roman numeral
for 10, represents dilutions that are manufactured by mixing 1 part of
the starting material with 9 parts of the diluting solution. Each subsequent
dilution repeats the process of 1:10 dilution. A 6X dilution, for example,
has gone through the process 6 times and contains 1 part of starting material
per 1 million parts of final solution. Dilutions of 24X or greater are
unlikely to contain a single molecule of original substance.
centesimal potency : the designation "C," which is the Roman numeral
for 100, represents dilutions that are manufactured by mixing one part
of the starting material with 99 parts of the diluting solution. Each subsequent
dilution repeats the process of 1:100 dilution. A 6C dilution, for example,
has gone through the process 6 times and contains 1 part of starting material
per 1 trillion parts of final solution. Dilutions of 12C or greater are
unlikely to contain a single molecule of original substance.
ultramolecular potency : homeopathic product which is so dilute
that the original substance is absent.
classical homeopathy : use of a single remedy prescribed according
to the individual's presentation and history.
complex homeopathy : more than one remedy used concurrently
electrodermal screening (EDS) : quack diagnostic procedure in which
a galvanometer is claimed to detect alleged "electromagnetic energy imbalances"
that are treated with homeopathic remedies or other substances. The procedure
is also referred to as Electroacupuncture according to Voll (EAV) or electrodermal
screening (EDS), but some practitioners call it bioelectric functions diagnosis
(BFD), bio resonance therapy (BRT), or bio-energy regulatory technique
(BER).
FDA Compliance Policy Guide 7132.15. Guidelines that express the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration's regulatory policy toward homeopathic
products. The guidelines state that (a) each product must bear adequate
directions for use; (b) products intended solely for self-limiting disease
conditions amenable to self-diagnosis (of symptoms) may be marketed without
a prescription (OTC); (c) products offered for conditions not amenable
to OTC use must be marketed as prescription products. The guide also states
that compliance with its guidelines does not establish that a product has
been shown by appropriate means to be safe, effective, and not misbranded
[2].
Homeopathic Pharmacopeia of the United States (HPUS) : a compilation
of standards for source, composition, and preparation of homeopathic drugs.
It contains more than 1,300 "monographs" of ingredients used in homeopathic
products. It is recognized as an official compendium under Section 201(j)
of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The Homeopathic Pharmacopeia
provides no information about the alleged uses of these substances. It
merely states how plants, minerals, or other substances are processed into
"medicinal" form.
Hering's law of cure : 3 observations made by Constantine Hering,
M.D. (1800-1880), who is considered "the father of American homeopathy":
the human body seeks to externalize disease--to dislodge it from more serious
internal levels to more superficial external levels. Thus, someone with
asthma may develop an external skin rash as part of the curative process.
healing progresses from the top of the body to the bottom. Thus, someone
with arthritis in many joints will generally notice relief in the upper
part of the body before the lower part.
healing proceeds in the reverse order of the symptoms. Thus, the most recent
symptoms will generally be the first to be healed, and in the process of
cure a person may re-experience previous symptoms.
homotoxicology : a system developed by German homeopath Hans Heinrich
Reckeweg, who claimed that symptoms are the result of the body's attempt
to use "homotoxons" to detoxify the body. Reckeweg developed many homeopathic
mixtures said to enhance "homotoxon" production. He also claimed that his
remedies activate a "greater defence system'" that can neutralize and excrete
homotoxins
homotoxins : substances (chemical/ biochemical) and nonmaterial
influences (physical, psychic) that can cause all forms of ill health in
humans
homotoxons : compounds resulting from chemical reactions that neutralize
the poisonous property of homotoxins
hormesis : the concept -- based on the (obsolete) Arndt-Schulz law
-- that concentrations of potentially toxic substances below the amount
that cause inhibition (toxicity) will cause stimulation. (It is well known
that substances can have different effects at different concentrations,
but they do not follow the general pattern proposed by homeopathy advocates.)
isopathy : preparation based on causal agent.
law of similars ("like cures like") : homeopathy's fundamental concept,
which alleges that:
any pharmacologically active agent will create a characteristic set of
symptoms when administered to healthy individuals
sick individuals will display a specific set of symptoms that express their
illness
administration of the "similar" medicine to the sick patient will initiate
a curative response
materia medica (homeopathic) : compilations of the symptoms reported
during homeopathic provings. Each substance has a separate section that
lists the various symptoms.
nosodes : homeopathic products made from pathological organs or
tissues; causative agents such as bacteria, fungi, ova, parasites, virus
particles and yeast; disease products; or excretions. Some homeopaths falsely
claim that nosodes are effective as vaccines.
proving : experiment in which substances are administered to supposedly
healthy persons who report what happens afterward. Most "provings" were
done 100 to 200 years ago.
homeopathic repertory : compilations of the homeopathic remedies
for various symptoms. Each symptom has a separate section that lists the
relevant products. (A homeopathic materia medica in reverse)
succussion : vigorous shaking after each dilution during the preparation
of a liquid homeopathic products. Proponents claim that this "releases
energy" that "potentizes" the mixture for each dilution and that the process
and outcome differ from that of ordinary serial dilution.
Some clinical trials of homeopathy for asthma
, infantile diarrhea,
and other common conditions reported positive results. 2 systematic reviews
of homeopathy trials gleaned an overall favorable impression of the clinical
trials data, concluding that the treatments were more beneficial than placebo.
Even the best trials and these reviews have been criticized on methodologic
grounds. It remains unclear what evidence could compel a tidal change in
belief about the benefits of homeopathy when there remain no cogent explanations
for how substances diluted to the point at which only solute remains could
exert physiologic effects. The late eighteenth century also witnessed the
emergence of homeopathy, another discipline that reacted to toxicity of
the allopathic approaches of the day. It was developed by Samuel Hahnemann,
a German physician, who postulated that substances that cause particular
side effects in a well person may be used to treat or prevent such symptoms
in an ill person if administered in miniscule amounts—what is known as
"the doctrine of similars." For example, contact with poison
ivy (Rhus toxicodendron)
causes an itchy, blistering rash. Highly diluted extracts of poison ivy
are recommended to treat chickenpox.
The nascent field of homeopathy used blinded tests on volunteers, presaging
to some extent the use of placebo-controlled trials, to prove which materials
were the most able to induce or relieve symptoms. By the mid-nineteenth
century homeopathy had gained considerable presence in the American medical
establishment and may, in fact, have facilitated the development of immunization
and allergen desensitization, both of which utilize very small quantities
of materials to elicit measurable biologic outcomes. Today, however, homeopathy
is accepted less fully in the United States than in some other countries:
it is the largest of all CAM practices in the United Kingdom, Germany,
and France and is widely used in India. Only 3 states license the practice
of homeopathy. The relative decline of homeopathy relates, at least in
part, to the field's inability to articulate a rational mechanism as to
why products that are diluted more than 1060-fold, vastly greater than
Avogadro's number, could incite biologic effects. Nonetheless, homeopathic
remedies are readily available and commonly recommended by naturopathic
physicians and other licensed and unlicensed practitioners. Homeopathic
products predate FDA drug regulations and are sold with no requirement
that they be proven effective. It would be reasonable to assume, however,
given the extent to which homeopathic products are diluted, that most of
them are safe.
neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) : a set of techniques whose goal
is to alter limiting patterns of thought, behavior, and language. In conversation,
practitioners observe the client's language, eye movements, posture, breathing,
and gestures in order to detect and then help change unconscious patterns
linked to the client's emotional state.
neuromuscular therapy : emphasizes the role of the brain, spine,
and nerves in muscular pain. One goal of the therapy is to relieve tender
congested spots in muscle tissue and compressed nerves that may radiate
pain to other areas of the body.
nutrition : nutritionists offer counseling on a broad range of subjects
ranging from vitamins and minerals to food allergies to weight loss.
Ohashiatsu® is a system of physical techniques, exercise,
and meditation used to relieve tension and fatigue and induce a state of
harmony and peace. The practitioner first assesses a person's state by
feeling the hara (the area below the navel). Then, using continuous and
flowing movements, the practitioner presses and stretches the body's energy
channels, working in unison with the person's breathing.
Option Institute's Option Process® : developed at
the Sheffield, Massachusetts, Option Institute and based on the books of
Barry Neil Kaufman, the Option Process comprises several educational and
therapeutic tools and techniques that seek to promote happiness and self-acceptance.
Practitioners use a non judgmental dialogue process to facilitate self-exploration,
teach simple techniques that offer "shortcuts to happiness," guide clients
through a whole-body meditative process, or work with physically or mentally
challenged children and their parents.
option method : this personal growth method, which uses a question-and-answer
dialogue process, seeks to help people identify and unravel their self-defeating
and limiting beliefs in order to achieve happiness, well-being, and creative
freedom. The method may be incorporated by teachers, psychotherapists,
bodyworkers, and other professionals who deal with their clients' belief
systems. It can be used in private sessions, groups or workshops, and as
a self-help tool.
Ortho-Bionomy® : developed by a British osteopath,
Ortho- Bionomy involves the use of non invasive, gentle touch along with
dialogue and instruction in common movements such as walking, sitting,
standing, and reaching. Practitioners may also sometimes work with the
energy field surrounding the person. The goal of the work is the student's
enhanced well-being and empowerment--rather than physical healing per se.
osteopathy : a medical field incorporating
manipulative techniques for correcting abnormalities of the musculoskeletal
system, founded in USA in 1892 by Andrew Taylor Still (1828–1917), based
on the theory that the body can make its own remedies against disease and
other toxic conditions when it is in normal structural relationship and
has favorable environmental conditions and adequate nutrition. It uses
generally accepted physical, medicinal, and surgical methods of diagnosis
and therapy, while placing chief emphasis on maintenance of normal body
mechanics and on manipulative methods of detecting and correcting faulty
structure. Osteopathic medicine was based originally on the belief that
manipulation of soft tissue and bone can correct a wide range of diseases
of the musculoskeletal and other organ systems. Over the ensuing century,
osteopathy evolved progressively towards conventional (allopathic) medicine.
Today, the training, practice, credentialing, licensure, and reimbursement
of osteopathic physicians is virtually indistinguishable from those of
allopathic physicians, with 4 years of osteopathic medical school followed
by specialty and subspecialty training and certification by organizations
such as the American Board of Internal Medicine. Some osteopathic physicians
continue to practice spinal manipulation, primarily as a tool to address
specific musculoskeletal complaints.
osteopathic medicine : like M.D.'s, osteopathic physicians provide
comprehensive medical care, including preventive medicine, diagnosis, surgery,
prescription medications, and hospital referrals. In diagnosis and treatment,
they pay particular attention to the joints, bones, muscles, and nerves
and are specially trained in osteopathic manipulative treatment-- using
their hands to diagnose, treat, and prevent illness.
pain management techniques cover a broad spectrum, from exercise
and mental-health counseling to surgery and medication. Practitioners who
offer methods of relieving or coping with chronic pain include medical
doctors, dentists, chiropractors, podiatrists, psychologists, nurses, dietitians,
acupuncturists, social workers, biofeedback therapists, myotherapists,
rehab counselors, physical therapists, and occupational therapists.
past-life/regression therapies are based on the premise that many
physical, mental, and emotional problems are extensions of unresolved problems
from the past--whether from childhood traumas or from experiences in previous
lifetimes. The practitioner uses hypnosis (or altered states of consciousness)
and relaxation techniques to access the source of this "unfinished business,"
and helps clients to analyze, integrate, and release past traumas that
are interfering with their current lives.
Pathwork® a personal-growth process incorporating
spirituality and psychology, encourages the individual to face and transform
his or her "dark side" or shadow, with the goal of promoting integration,
inner peace, and activation of the soul's greater consciousness. Through
verbal dialogue, the practitioner assists the individual in the process
of removing physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual "blocks" often related
to past traumas.
phytotherapy : treatment by use of plants.
herbalism / herbal medicine : an ancient
form of healing still widely used in much of the world, herbalism uses
natural plants or plant-based substances to treat a range of illnesses
and to enhance the functioning of the body's systems. Though herbalism
is not a licensed professional modality in the United States, herbs are
"prescribed" by a range of practitioners, from holistic M.D.'s to acupuncturists
to naturopaths. Animals are also known to practise herbal medicine : chimpanzees,
for instance, chew on the bitter pith of the plant Verouta, not normally
a part of their diet, to ease pain. The animals cannot know exactly what
they are doing. With instances of illness few and far between, and plants
that vary in speed and effectiveness, it would be impossible for animals
to link cause and effect. This means that the use of herbs as medicines
may have been encouraged by natural selection rather than conscious learning.
Animals that eat pain-relieving plants, for instance, would be better able
to forage or look after young during a bout of illness. But how could this
habit arise unconsciously ? Some 78% of herbal supplements that have proved
to be effective in humans came from plants that have a bitter or astringent
taste. Animals that happened, by chance, to develop a penchant for bitter
plants when feeling off-colour would therefore be less vulnerable to
sickness. And if they passed that preference on to their offspring, the
habit would become a tradition, or an evolved trait. The idea that certain
herbs are used simply because they taste bitter could also help to explain
the many spurious claims made by advocates of herbal supplements. It's
one way of explaining the persistence of ineffective medicines in modern
use. But humans do now have a conscious appreciation of supplements' effects,
and can pass that knowledge on to others : humans can say 'when I got sick
I took this or that', but it's pretty hard to imagine that happening in
animals.
oleotherapy : treatment with oil, particularly treatment by the
injection of oil.
Pilates® method is a full-body exercise system that
emphasizes body alignment and correct breathing. With the help of an instructor,
clients perform strength, flexibility, and range-of-motion exercises on
specially designed equipment. The Pilates Method may be performed by people
of any age group or fitness level in order to improve their flexibility
and range of motion, and people in physical therapy may use the method
to aid in their recovery.
polarity therapy asserts that balancing the flow of energy in the
body is the underlying foundation of health. Practitioners use gentle touch
and guidance in diet, exercise, and self-awareness to help clients balance
their energy flow, thus supporting a return to health.
prolotherapy
/ regenerative injection therapy is an injection-based treatment for
chronic low back pain. Proponents of prolotherapy suggest that some back
pain stems from weakened or damaged ligaments. Repeatedly injecting them
with irritant solutions is thought to strengthen the ligaments and reduce
pain and disability. Prolotherapy protocols usually include co-interventions
to enhance the effectiveness of the injections.
Qi Gong (Chi-Kung) is an ancient Chinese exercise system that aims
to stimulate and balance the flow of qi (chi), or vital energy, along the
acu-puncture meridians, or energy pathways. Qi gong is used to reduce stress,
improve blood circulation, enhance immune function, and treat a variety
of health conditions.
rebirthing / conscious-connected breathing (or by some practitioners
as vivation), Rebirthing is a technique in which the therapist guides
clients though breathing exercises to help them re experience past memories
-including birth- and to let go of emotional tensions long stored in the
body.
reconstructive therapy / prolotherapy / sclerotherapy uses injections
of natural substances such as dextrose, glycerin, and phenol in order to
stimulate the growth of connective tissue and thus strengthen weak or damaged
joints, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons. This therapy is used to treat
degenerative arthritis, lower back pain, torn ligaments and cartilage,
carpal tunnel syndrome, and other conditions.
reflexology/zone therapy : manual stimulation
of points on the hands or feet, believed to affect distant organs, based
on the idea that specific points on the feet and hands correspond with
organs and tissues throughout the body. With fingers and thumbs, the practitioner
applies pressure to these points to treat a wide range of stress-related
illnesses and ailments
plantar reflexology : the science
or study of plantar reflexes
reiki : practitioners of this ancient Tibetan healing system use
light hand placements to channel healing energies to the recipient. While
practitioners may vary widely in technique and philosophy, Reiki is commonly
used to treat emotional and mental distress as well as chronic and acute
physical problems, and to assist the recipient in achieving spiritual focus
and clarity.
Reiki Plus® : developed by Reiki Master David Jarrell,
Reiki Plus supplements traditional Reiki (see above) with Psycho-Therapeutic
Reiki (in which hand placements on the head are used to tap into the collective
unconscious), nutrition counseling, and other natural-healing techniques.
Robert Jaffe Advanced Energy Healing : developed by a physician,
this healing approach uses "heart-centered awareness," clairvoyant perception,
and a variety of energetic healing techniques to identify, understand,
and transform the energy patterns that are believed to cause disease. Advanced
Energy Healing is used to treat physical disease, as well as emotional
and spiritual disorders.
Rolfing®/structural integration : a manual therapy
developed by biochemist Ida P. Rolf that uses deep tissue manipulation
of fasciae to restore the body's natural alignment, which may have become
rigid through injury, emotional trauma, and inefficient movement habits.
The process involves ten sessions, each focusing on a different part of
the body.
Rosen method : developed by former physical therapist Marion Rosen,
the Rosen Method combines gentle touch and verbal communication to evoke
relaxation and self-awareness. Because the work can bring up buried feelings
and memories, it is used as a tool for personal growth as well as pain
relief.
Rubenfeld Synergy® method : developed by healer Ilana
Rubenfeld, The Rubenfeld Synergy Method uses gentle touch, movement, verbal
exchange, and imagination to access memories and emotions locked in the
body. The approach integrates elements of the Alexander Technique, the
Feldenkrais Method, gestalt therapy, and hypnotherapy. Because it combines
bodywork and psychotherapy, The Rubenfeld Synergy Method may be used for
specific physical or emotional problems or for personal growth.
sexual/relationship reeducation : the practitioners listed under
this category provide information and support regarding sexual and/or relationship
issues.
Siddha medicine : an East Indian medical system (prevalent among
Tamil-speaking people) utilizing breathing techniques, incantations, herbs,
and muppu (a tri-salt preparation)
soma neuromuscular integration® : this bodywork method
seeks to improve posture, joint function, and body alignment through deep
manipulation of the muscular and connective tissue. The ten-session process,
which incorporates movement training and other adjuncts, also seeks to
promote greater access to the functioning of each hemisphere of the brain.
People with conditions such as chronic back pain, arthritis, asthma, scoliosis,
and headaches have sought relief from this method.
spirit releasement therapy is a form of psychotherapy in which the
practitioner seeks to release any nonphysical entities (such as the spirit
of a deceased person) that are "attached" to and interfering with the client.
After using a variation of hypnotic induction to help the client attain
an altered state of consciousness, the practitioner attempts to engage
the entities in dialogue. Since some "attachments" are believed to be related
to past-life events, the practitioner may also use the techniques of past-life
therapy.
spiritual/shamanic healing : practitioners of both spiritual healing
and shamanic healing often regard them selves as conductors of healing
energy or sources from the spiritual realm. Both may call upon spiritual
"helpers" such as power animals (characteristic of the shaman), angels,
inner teachers, the client's higher self, or other spiritual forces. Both
forms of healing can be used as part of treatment for a range of emotional
and physical illnesses.
stress management encompasses a range of modalities designed to
treat the physical and emotional toll of stress. The approaches used can
include bodywork, meditation, counseling, energy work, and education.
structural integration : a systematic approach to relieving patterns
of stress and impaired functioning, structural integration seeks to correct
misalignments in the body created by gravity and physical and psychological
trauma. As in Rolfing, in 10 sessions the practitioner uses hands, arms,
and elbows to apply pressure to the fascia, or connective tissue, while
the client participates through directed breathing.
tai chi / martial arts : the martial arts
are perhaps best known as means of self-defense, but they are also used
to improve physical fitness and promote mental and spiritual development.
The highly disciplined movements and forms are thought to unite body and
mind and bring balance to the individual's life. "External" methods (such
as karate and judo) stress endurance and muscular strength, while "internal"
methods (such as tai chi and aikido) stress relaxation and control. Tai
chi has been used as part of treatment for back problems, ulcers, and stress.
T'ai chi ch'aun : Chinese dancelike exercises described as a "moving
meditation"
therapeutic touch : popularized by nursing professor Dolores Krieger,
Therapeutic Touch is practiced by registered nurses and others to relieve
pain and stress. The Therapeutic Touch practitioner "assesses" where the
person's energy field is weak or congested, and then uses his or her hands
to direct energy into the field to balance it. Secular version of the laying
on hands, described as a "healing meditation" (a tri-salt preparation)
Touch For Health®: a self-help technique taught
by instructors, Touch For Health is a system of balancing the body's energy
by applying gentle pressure to contracted muscles and other points along
the body. Regular balancing is used to improve overall health and strengthen
resistance to common ailments and physical complaints
tincture : an alcoholic or hydroalcoholic solution prepared from
animal or vegetable drugs or from chemical substances.
Trager® bodywork : developed by Milton Trager, M.D.,
this movement-education approach seeks to address the mental roots of muscle
tension. By gently rocking, cradling, and moving the client's body, the
practitioner encourages the client to see that physically restrictive patterns
can be changed. Trager bodywork is meant to promote relaxation and increase
mobility and mental clarity. It is used by athletes for performance enhancement,
and by people with musculoskeletal and back problems. Light massage combined
with gentle passive movements to help patients maximize freedom of movement
trigger point/myotherapy : practitioners of this technique apply
pressure to specific points on the body to relieve tension. Trigger points
are tender, congested spots on muscle tissue that may radiate pain to other
areas. Though the technique is similar to shiatsu or acupressure, this
therapy uses Western anatomy and physiology as its basis.
thai-style bodywork : Thai-style bodywork is a general term for
a range of bodywork therapies that are indigenous to or derive from Thailand.
Practitioners may use their hands, elbows, knees, and feet to exert pressure;
gently rock the client's body or specific body parts; and lead the client
in deep stretching and mindfulness techniques. The goal is to create energetic
balance and wholeness of mind, body, and spirit in both the client and
the practitioner.
Unani medicine : an East Indian medial system, derived from Persian
medicine, practiced primarily in the Muslim community
holistic veterinary medicine : practitioners of holistic veterinary
medicine are typically licensed D.V.M.s who incorporate both conventional
and holistic modalities in serving the well-being of their animal patients.
Alternative treatments can include homeopathy, acupuncture, chiropractic
and massage, clinical nutrition, herbal medicine, aromatherapy, and more.
vibrational healing : practitioners of vibrational healing (also
called vibrational medicine) use a variety of modalities that seek to promote
healing by balancing the client's energy field. Such modalities may include
homeopathy, flower essences, acupuncture, and energy-based bodywork practices
such as Therapeutic Touch and Polarity Therapy.
Yoga instruction is a general term
for a range of body-mind exercise practices used to access consciousness
and encourage physical and mental well-being. Some forms concentrate on
achieving perfection in posture and alignment of the body; others aim at
mental control to access higher consciousness. Between these 2 forms are
yogas that focus on the interrelationship of body, mind, and energy.
Yoga therapy : an Indian practice that
includes postures (asanas), breathing exercises (pranayama),
and cleansing practices (kriyas). It is an emerging field of practices
that use yoga to address mental and physical problems while integrating
body and mind. Practitioners work one-on-one or in group settings, assisting
clients with yoga postures, sometimes combined with therapeutic verbal
dialogue.
Phoenix rising yoga therapy is designed to help clients achieve
greater spiritual balance in their lives. A therapy session combines hands-on
support in performing yoga postures with therapeutic dialogue techniques.
Phoenix Rising is based on the principles of Kripalu Yoga.
zero balancing is a method for aligning body structure and body
energy. Through touch akin to acupressure, the practitioner seeks to overcome
imbalances in the body's "structure/energetic interface," which is said
to exist beneath the level of conscious awareness. Zero Balancing is often
used for stress reduction.
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Copyright © 2001-2005 Daniele Focosi.
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