DICTIONARY OF HEALING MODALITIES

Acupressure--Oriental healing system using the application of fingertip pressure on specific tension spots on the body to reduce stress and pain and to treat specific symptoms or disorders.

Acupuncture--Ancient Oriental healing therapy which stimulates or disperses the flow of subtle energy or chi within the body by inserting fine needles into specific points on the skin, by massage, by thermal therapy or by a combination of all three. Each point is located along a meridian and is associated with specific organs. Every acupuncture point is considered to have a particular therapeutic effect.

Adaptogen--Agents, usually from plants such as ginseng, which help or adapt the body or protect it from stress.

Alexander Technique--F. Matthias Alexander created the method after concluding that bad posture was responsible for his own chronic voice loss. Practitioners use gentle hands on guidance, verbal instruction, teach simple, efficient ways of moving as a means of improving balance, posture, coordination and to relieve tension and pain.

Allopathy--A system of medical treatment using remedies that produce effects upon the body differing from those produced by disease; now generally applied to refer to standards or orthodox medical practice. (Western/Conventional Medicine)

Alternative Medicine--Almost any form of therapy, which is outside the preview of conventional modern medicine. Examples include homeopathy, chiropractic, and naturopathy.

Amma Therapy--A system of bodywork therapy that uses traditional oriental medical principles for assessing and evaluating imbalances in the energetic system. It aims to restore, promote and maintain optimum health through the treatment of the physical body, bioenergy and emotions.

Aroma Therapy--The use of various aromatic herbs, volatile oils and similar preparations from plants, flowers, trees and herbs to achieve health, vitality and rejuvenation of the body, mind and spirit.

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