Natural Dictionary

ACUPRESSURE: Acupressure is a form of acupuncture in which fingers and thumbs rather than needles are used to press chi points on the surface of the body.

Acupressure relives muscular tension, which enables more blood--and therefore more oxygen and nutrients--to be carried to tissue throughout the body. This helps promote physical calmness and mental alertness, and aids in healing by removing waste products. Many researchers now believe that, like acupuncture, acupressure triggers the release of endorphins, the neurochemicals that relieve pain.

(See also: Acupressure , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

FASTING: Those who fast for health cite many benefits of fasting: rest for internal organs; improved digestion and circulation; greater mental and spiritual clarity and energy; elimination of drug cravings; improved sleep; weight loss. Adherents say that fasting can relieve symptoms of emotional depression and anxiety and foster a feeling of well-being.

Advocates of fasting during illness believe that this restraint aids healing; eating, they believe, taps energy for digestion that could be better used for recovery. In addition, some claim that fasting may release a hormone that stimulates the body's immune system in its fight against disease.

(See also: Fasting , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

CELL THERAPY: Cell therapy promotes physical regeneration through the injection of healthy cellular material into the body.

It is used to stimulate healing, counteract the effects of aging, and treat a variety of degenerative diseases such as arthritis, Parkinson's disease, atherosclerosis, and cancer. Although not approved in the United States, cell therapy is used throughout Europe and in many countries worldwide.

(See also: Cell therapy , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

CHAKRA BALANCING: Chakra balancing is the clearing of energy blocks from the chakras. By utilizing various methods, the obstructed energy in the chakras can be balanced and harmonized.

Chakras are like relay stations for the vital Life Force energy, and serve as channels of communication between an individual's inner nature or subtle body and the physical body. There are seven chakras and each has a particular gland, organ, or area of the body, and a mental, emotional, or spiritual feeling.

(See also: Chakra balancing , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

APPLIED KINESIOLOGY: Applied kinesiology can determine health imbalances in the body's organs and glands by identifying weaknesses in specific muscles.

By stimulating or relaxing these key muscles, an applied kinesiologist can diagnose and resolve a variety of health problems.

(See also: Applied kinesiology , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

AUTOGENIC TRAINING: Autogenic training, also known as Autogenics, is a system of simple mental (meditative) exercises which consciously focuses the creative power of the mind on relaxation and awareness.

It promotes deep relaxation, greater awareness, self-discovery, and self-regulation. It is designed to switch off the "fight or flight" response and invoke the rest, relaxation, and recreation system within the body.

(See also: Autogenic training , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

EXERCISE: Vigorous exercise benefits the body both directly and indirectly by stimulating the immune system and enabling people to cope with a variety of stressors and toxins.

The psychological benefits are equally as important, and exercise has been successfully used to treat disorders such as depression.

(See also: Exercise , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

BIORHYTHMS: According to the principle of biorhythms, life is a series of progressive 'ups' and 'downs'.

1. The physical cycle includes resistance to disease, strength, and coordination.
2. The emotional includes sensitivity, mood, perceptions, and mental balance, and the
3. intellectual affects memory, alertness, and logic.

Because the cycles are of varying length, they rarely overlap. For example, while the intellectual cycle may be peaking, the emotional cycle may be in decline, and the physical cycle a variant somewhere in between. The 'highs' of the cycles are times of maximum effectiveness, and tend to produce positive thoughts and moods, while the 'lows' are times of negativity and possible risk--because one is prone at these times to make errors of judgment.

(See also: Biorhythms , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Vastu Shastra

Vastu Shastra is an ancient science energy flow throughout the house/office/factory that allows inflow of fresh air and natural light that promotes health, wealth, peace and happiness.

The most ancient science of architecture that goes back to the Vedic ages, it is composed of specific rules and regulations, set down by sages of those times, that an architect / builder / owner was expected to religiously follow to avoid coming under negative or evil influences. Today, it is looked upon as a highly evolved, comprehensive building philosophy in which directions and shapes are the most vital aspects of designing.

Right from the selection of site to correct slope of land down to the shape of the building, this oldest form of architecture covers nearly every aspect of construction. Not only for houses but temples, palaces, forts, offices...just about every possible form of construction. Often providing relief if not cures to physical or emotional problems simply by relocating an entrance, window or room.

Some of the important points made therein are:

• Directional Alignment
• Shape Of The Site
• Slope Of The Land Surface
• Impact of Gates At Various Locations
• Brahmasthan (Central Zone of the Building)
• The Staircase
• Inner Planning of a House
• Inner Planning of an Office
• Internal Planning of any Industrial Building

See also: Vastu Shastra

(See also: Vastu Shastra , Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Alternative medicine: This term was originally coined to describe health care approaches not taught in medical schools. It has been replaced with “complementary medicine” since Americans rarely use these approaches to the exclusion of Western, conventional medicine. Integrative medicine refers to the proactive, deliberate combination of conventional and complementary therapies.

(See also: Alternative medicine , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

ACUPUNCTURE: Acupuncture originated in China over five thousand years ago. It is based on the belief that health is determined by a balanced flow of qi (also referred to as chi), the vital life energy present in all living organisms.

According to acupuncture theory, qi circulates in the body along twelve major pathways, called meridians, each linked to specific internal organs and organ systems. According to William Michael Cargile, B.S., D.C., F.I.A.C.A., Chairman of Research for the American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental medicine, there are over a thousand acupoints within the meridian system that can be stimulated to enhance the flow of qi. When special needles are inserted into these acupoints (just under the skin), they help correct and rebalance the flow of energy and consequently relieve pain and/or restore health.

(See also: Acupuncture , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Meditation: A range of practices that involve training one’s attention or awareness so that body and mind can be brought into greater harmony. The stilling of one’s thoughts in a variety of practices such as sitting or walking mindfully, which stimulates the “relaxation response” and supports healing. Goals range from reducing stress or lowering blood pressure to achieving a mystical sense of oneness with a higher power.

(See also: Meditation , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

AYURVEDIC MEDICINE: Ayurvedic medicine stresses a holistic approach to health.

It defines disease as the result of climatic extremes, bacterial attack, nutritional deviance, and stress, as well as other forms of emotional imbalance. Optimal health is achieved by cultivating mental and physical habits that are conductive to physical and spiritual well-being, and treatment often includes hatha yoga, diet, and the development of positive attitude.

(See also: Ayurvedic medicine , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY: Applied physiology uses the science and art of muscle/fascial monitoring to learn about states of stress in the body.

Certain specific muscles are related to various organs and body systems through the acupuncture meridian network. By monitoring a specific muscle, it is possible to get a "readout" of energy related to a particular organ or body system.

(See also: Applied physiology , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Acupressure: Part of Traditional Chinese Medicine, often called “acupuncture without needles.” The practitioner applies pressure to centers along energy channels in the body to activate, balance, or drain excess energy in the body.

(See also: Acupressure , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

BIOLOGICAL DENTISTRY: Biological dentistry stresses the use of nontoxic restoration materials for dental work, and focuses on the unrecognized impact that dental toxins and hidden dental infections can have on overall health.

(See also: Biological dentistry , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Psychic: Being sensitive to energy emanating from guides such as angels, or a higher self. The ability to hear, see, feel energy from a source other than self.

(See also: Psychic , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Meditation:

According to Joan Borysenko, Ph.D., a pioneer in the field of mind/body medicine, meditation can be broadly defined as any activity that keeps the attention pleasantly anchored in the present moment. When the mind is calm and focused in the present, it is neither reacting to memories from the past nor being preoccupied with plans for the future, two major sources of chronic stress known to impact health. “Meditation,” says Dr. Borysenko, “helps to keep us from identifying with the ‘movies of the mind.’”

(See also: Meditation , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Norse magic: Western European magical tradition. It is a form of ritual magic that enlists:

(a)           the Aesir (Asa-Gods), whose mythical home is Asgard;

(b)           Light (helpful) elves;

(c)           good dwarves;

(d)           the rulers of the Elements; and (e) dead ancestors. Norse magic promotes mental, physical, and spiritual health.

(See also: Norse magic , Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

ACTIVE MUSCULAR RELAXATION TECHNIQUES: Active muscular relaxation techniques are a powerful new approach to bodywork used for relaxing overactive muscles and managing soft tissue pain. Over-activity in local musculature is a typical response to pain from trauma or poor posture.

Active muscular relaxation techniques utilize resisted isometric contractions of the overactive muscle or its antagonist (the one opposing its action). The objective of this procedure is to relax and/or lengthen (stretch) the overactive muscle.

(See also: Active muscular relaxation techniques , Body Mind and Soul)