panchakarma (Pancha Karma therapy, rejuvenation therapy, Ayurveda): Ayurvedic group of five purificatory steps or elimination therapies. Panchakarma comprises:

(a)  emesis therapy (therapeutic vomiting);

(b)  purgation therapy - evacuation of the bowels with a laxative;

(c)  errhine therapy (nasal insufflation therapy) - intranasal application of decongestants such as medicated oils, powdered herbs, and ghee (fat derived from butter of cow or buffalo origin);

(d)  oily enema therapy; and

(e)  decoction (watery) enema therapy. Some Ayurvedists regard the two types of enema therapy as one step and bloodletting therapy (Raktamoksha) as the fifth.

See: Ayurveda

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

Ray

(Theosophy) One of seven streams or chanels of force, or emanations, from the Logos; the seven qualities of God expressing individualized attributres of divine nature. Each bequeaths its quality, color, and sound as it impacts consciousness.

The seven Rays are divided into three major Rays of aspect and four minor Rays of attribute. The Rulers, or Chohans, of the Rays are also known as Seven Spirits, or Elder Brothers before the Throne, or (in Eastern thought) Seven Great Rishis.

They are:

I-will, power (red);

II-love, wisdom (blue);

III-intelligence (yellow);

IV-art, harmony, beauty (green);

V-scientific understanding (orange);

VI-devotion (indigo or rose);

VII-ceremonial order (purple)

(See also: Ray , Body Mind and Soul)

integrative acupressure: Form of acupressure whose chief distinction is a technique called acupressure lymphatic release.

(See also: Integrative acupressure , Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Kobayashi Technique (Applied Kobayashi Techniques, Kobayashi Techniques): rejuvenescent system promoted by Master Healer Ken Kobayashi. It encompasses acupuncture, Do-In, shiatsu massage, special diets, and the use of herbal tea preparations and the Shintsu-Riki (Healing Ki energy).

(See also: Kobayashi Technique , Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Grape Cure (grape diet): Mono-diet advanced by Johanna Brandt, N.D., Ph.N., author of The Grape Cure ((c) 1928). The front matter of the 1967 edition, a paperback published by Benedict Lust Publications, quotes the author: My discovery of the Grape diet is the direct result of Divine Illumination.

The grape diet consists of grapes or grape juice. Brandt held that the mind operated through magnetism and that the Grape Cure contributed to the purification and buildup of magnetism. She recommended it for appendicitis, cancer, diabetes, gout, pyorrhea, rheumatism, scurvy, sex problems, tuberculosis, unnatural cravings (as for alcoholic beverages, coffee, tea, and tobacco), and other conditions. Under the heading Sex Problems, she stated: By the magical purification of the blood the nerves are stabilized, self-control is established and our God-given heritage of sense and desire is transmitted into divine creative power.

(See also: Grape Cure , Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Seicho-No-Ie (SNI): Supradenominational truth movement founded in 1930 in Japan by Dr. Masaharu Taniguchi (b. 1893), author of The Role of Mind in Cancer (1965) and The Truth of Life, a series of twenty books. Spiritual healing is a major component of Seicho-No-Ie, which combines Christianity and Buddhism.

In a nutshell, the principle of Seicho-No-Ie healing is that illness does not exist in Reality (the true spiritual world at the core of the phenomenal world) and that it is a false appearance. Seicho-No-Ie literally means House of Growth.

(See also: Seicho-No-Ie , Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP)

The unexplained embedding of discarnate voices on magnetic tape. Discovered by the Swedish artist Friedrich JŸrgenson in 1959

(See also: Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP) , Body Mind and Soul)

paranormal healing: Field of metaphysical health-related practices.

It encompasses absent healing, Bach flower therapy, Bioplasmic healing, channeling, faith healing, the laying on of hands, LeShan psychic training, magnetic healing, psychic dentistry, psychic healing, psychic surgery, psychosynthesis, remote diagnosis, Seicho-No-Ie, self-healing, shamanism, the Simonton method, spirit healing, spirit surgery, spiritual healing, and Therapeutic Touch.

(See also: Paranormal healing , Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

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)

iridology (eye analysis, iridiagnosis, irido-diagnosis, iris diagnosis): Ostensibly diagnostic system whose principle is that every bodily organ corresponds to a location on the iris (the colored portion of the eye surrounding the pupil). According to iridology theory, the iris serves as a map of the body and gives warning signs of physical, mental, and spiritual problems. Proponents ascribe modern iridology to Hungarian physician Ignatz von Peczely (1826-1911), author of The Discovery in Natural History and Medical Science, a Guide to the Study and Diagnosis from the Eye (1881). , von Peczely discovered the iris-body connection in his childhood, when he broke the leg of an owl and a black stripe spontaneously appeared on the owl's iris. Probably the leading proponent of iridology in the United States is author and nutritionist J. Bernard Jensen, D.C., Ph.D.

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

Wicca (The Craft, Craft of the Wise, modern witchcraft, Wicca Craft): A form of paganism. It is related to shamanism and includes various forms of white magick.

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

Chalukya: (Sanskrit) Indian dynasty (4501189) in the Punjab area. Buddhism and Saivism were prominent. This dynasty completed the Buddhist Ajanta Cave frescoes and advanced the art of Hindu temple building.

(See also: Chalukya , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Nature Cure (Nature Care): Progenitor of naturopathy. Nature Cure is a variation of self-healing whose most important measures are fasting and rest. Originally, Nature Cure was a hydropathy-centered natural lifestyle.

Its principle is:

(a)           that all disease, barring accidents and the consequences of hostile surroundings, is due to violations of nature's laws, and

(b)           that, therefore, true healing consists in a return to natural habits.

(See also: Nature Cure , Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Viviano method: Approach to behavior modification developed by Dr. Ann Viviano, a New York psychologist, minister, reiki master, and NLP practitioner. It reportedly borrows from meditation, New Age mysticism, and quantum physics.

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

Jungian past-life therapy: Combination of Jungian psychology and past-life therapy promoted by Roger J. Woolger.

(See also: Jungian past-life therapy , Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Foot Reflexology: An ancient cousin of acupuncture. It involves pressing reflex areas on the feet. Its principle is that these areas correspond to organs and systems of the body. Foot Reflexology really cleanses the mind and body and revitalizes energy. A common theory of reflexology holds that massaging certain areas of the feet restores health by breaking up and dispersing crystals.

(See also: Foot Reflexology , Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

visceral meridian manipulation technique (VMM): Life enhancing tool that combines classic organ manipulation, kinesiology (see above), and meridian therapy.

(See also: Visceral meridian manipulation technique , Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

transformation-oriented bodywork (transformational bodywork): Combination of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual processes related to energetic balancing (see energy balancing), psychotherapy, spiritual counseling, and touch therapy. Transformation-oriented bodywork descends from bioenergetics, massage, the personal/spiritual growth movement, and Reichian Therapy. its fundamental principles include the following. (a) Constricted muscles block energy in the body. (b) Constriction shows up as pettiness. (c) The Highest Ideal lies in the realm of Divinity, the Source of both life and meaning for humans and the earth.

(See also: Transformation-oriented bodywork , Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

dowsing

Practice of locating water, minerals, or other objects through the use of a rod, pendulum, or other object

(See also: Dowsing , Body Mind and Soul)

Reich Blood Test: Ostensibly diagnostic component of orgonomic medicine (orgone therapy). The Reich Blood Test is a means of ascertaining overall energetic health.

Its principle is that the morphology of erythrocytes indicates the energetic state of an organism at the time of their removal. , red blood cells with bions (which resemble blue beads) at their center are abnormal. Proponents characterize bions as semi-living, bacterium-sized, vesicular manifestations of orgone and as the building blocks of cells.

(See also: Reich Blood Test , Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Watsu (water shiatsu): Component of Bodywork Tantra performed in chest-high water at body temperature. Watsu borrows from Zen shiatsu. Its design is to release blockages in the meridians (energy pathways) of the body.

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