Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
Glossary

Acupressure: a traditional Chinese touch therapy involving finger pressure applied to specific areas of the body to restore the flow of qi (the fundamental life energy responsible for health and vitality).

Acupuncture: a traditional Chinese medical practice using thin acupuncture needles inserted into specific points of the body to restore the flow of qi (the fundamental life energy responsible for health and vitality).

Alexander Technique: a method of developing conscious control of one's posture and movement in order to improve them.

Allopathic medicine: conventional, or Western, medical practices and systems of health care.

Alternative medicine: practices and systems of health care other than conventional, or Western, approaches, used in place of these allopathic treatments.

Aromatherapy: the use of fragrances and essential oils from plants for psychological and physical wellbeing.

Ayurvedic medicine: the traditional Hindu system of medicine emphasizing preventative treatment through hygiene, exercise, herbal preparations, and yoga, and the treatment of illnesses with herbal medicines, physiotherapy, and diet.

Biofeedback: a patient-guided treatment that teaches individuals to control muscle tension, pain, body temperature, brain waves, and other bodily functions through relaxation, visualization, and other cognitive control techniques.

Childbirth doula: a non-medical assistant trained to provide physical and emotional support to a pregnant woman, her infant, and the family before, during and after childbirth.

Chiropractic manipulative therapy (CMT): mechanical spinal adjustments made by a chiropractor to correct biomechanical problems in the skeletal framework of the body

Complimentary medicine: practices and systems of health care other than conventional, or Western, approaches, used to supplement allopathic treatments.

Craniosacral therapy (CST), craniosacral release: the use of gentle touch to help the body release tension, stress and trauma in order to correct restrictions resulting from stress on the central nervous system.

Energy work: therapies such as Reiki that manipulate the body through light touch to promote healing and relief.

Felenkrais method: an educational system that helps patients develop an awareness of the self, expanding movements for function and expression.

Holistic: a treatment approach that takes into consideration the whole body and its environment, including the mind, body and spirit.

Homeopathy: the use of prescribed substances created from plant, animal, or mineral products diluted thousands-fold in water or alcohol to stimulate the body’s own healing responses.

Hydrotherapy: the external use of water in its liquid, solid or vapor form in therapeutic treatment.

Hyperbarics, hyperbaric oxygen therapy: a treatment method that uses an enclosed space, called a hyperbaric or pressure chamber, to increase the amount of oxygen in the blood.

Integrative Medicine: a model of health care rooted both in conventional (allopathic) and alternative medicine.

Myofascial Release:  a specialized soft tissue manipulation technique used to ease the pain of conditions such as fibromyalgia, myofascial pain syndrome, movement restrictions, temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ), and carpal tunnel syndrome.

Naturopathy, Naturopathic medicine: a combination of nutrition, medicinal supplements and herbs, hydrotherapy, homeopathy and lifestyle modifications used to identify and treat the root causes of symptoms and disease. 

Neuromuscular therapy: uses soft tissue manipulation to balance the nervous system with the structure and form of the musculoskeletal system to alleviate pain and promote homeostasis.

Osteopathic manipulative therapy (OMT) mechanical spinal adjustment used in conjunction with conventional medical therapies in osteopathic medicine.

Qigong: a Chinese system of postures, exercises, breathing techniques, and meditation designed to improve and enhance the flow of the body's qi (the fundamental life energy responsible for health and vitality).

Reflexology: a method of relieving pain and nervous tension by using finger pressure to stimulate predefined pressure points on the feet and hands.

Reiki: a Japanese healing and spiritual treatment in which experienced practitioners use a technique similar to the laying on of hands to channel healing energy through their palms to certain vital energy fields in the body.

Somato emotional release (SER): a therapeutic procedure that uses the concepts of craniosacral therapy to free the body and mind of the discomforting effects of past trauma and associated negative responses.

Spinal manipulative therapy (SMT): adjustment and manipulation of the vertebral column, commonly used to treat lower back pain.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): ancient Chinese medicinal treatments include acupuncture, diet, herbal therapy, meditation, physical exercise, and massage to prevent, diagnose and treat disease.

Visceral manipulation: a gentle hands-on therapy working with the internal organs and nervous system, locating and alleviating abnormal points of tension and encouraging their normal mobility and motion.