Toxins Dictionary

CRYOTHERAPY

Also known as ice therapy, this modality uses the application of cold hydrotherapy in the form of ice packs and cold water immersions to alleviate blood flow, swelling, and inflammation with the contraction of blood vessels. Used in conjunction with heat, cryotherapy can increase circulation, and, hence, remove wastes and toxins from an injured area.

(See also: CRYOTHERAPY , Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

vital energy healing (energy healing): a 6,000-year-old means of removing disease, negative energy, and toxins from internal organs without dietary restrictions drugs, surgery, or side effects. Its theory posits vital ki energy and inherited energy blockages.

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

GUA SHA

Used in China for more than 2,000 years, gua sha means to scrape toxins. A method of promoting blood circulation and removing toxic heat, blood, and lymph from the body, gua sha involves scraping the skin with a flat tool to facilitate pain relief. Olive oil and herbs are usually applied to the skin to open pores, increase deep cleansing, and improve circulation.

(See also: GUA SHA , Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

Colon Hydrotherapy

(referred to also as colon irrigation or a colonic) is a soothing process of removing toxins and debris that limit your energy and keep you from vibrant health and well-being. A small amount of warm, purified water flows into the colon, gently stimulating the natural peristaltic action to release softened waste.

This procedure results in better elimination, creating a more favorable environment for good flora, and providing the whole body with a clean water supply (for the colon is the entire body's reservoir). Enhanced immune function, increased vitality, a clearer mind, and a more positive outlook are frequently reported benefits.

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

NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE: The philosophy and practice of treating disease by following the principles and laws of nature, rather than utilizing chemicals, drugs, surgery, or other "artificial" or "intrusive" methods. Naturopaths endeavor to stimulate the innate healing resources of the body itself, through a variety of methods.

These include fasting to eliminate toxins, physical manipulative therapies like osteopathy and chiropractic, techniques like acupuncture and shiatsu which stimulate energy flow, and approaches like hypnosis and biofeedback which tap the "inner potential".

Herbal remedies, mineral and vitamin supplements, and homeopathic treatments are frequently employed, and some naturopaths also practice iridology, a technique of identifying disease symptoms through the different zones of the iris.

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

outer healing: detoxification and Rebuilding through breathwork, diet, feng shui, Hands-on-Healing (see bodywork), herbs, Lymphatic Therapy, and the removal of environmental toxins.

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

BREATH THERAPY

The use of respiratory exercises to open lung passages, oxygenate the blood, and cleanse the body by eliminating gaseous toxins. The client is encouraged to breath deeply while the therapist works the appropriate muscles. Breath therapy can ease anxieties and reduce stress.

(See also: BREATH THERAPY , Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

MANUAL LYMPH DRAINAGE

The strokes applied in manual lymph drainage are intended to stimulate the movement of the lymphatic fluids in order to assist the body in cleansing. This is a gentle, rhythmical technique that cleanses the connective tissue of inflammatory materials and toxins, enhances the activity of the immune system, reduces pain, and lowers the activity of the sympathetic nervous system. The most widely taught and generally accepted form of this technique was created by Dr. Vodder of Austria and requires advanced training and precise movements.

(See also: MANUAL LYMPH DRAINAGE , Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

2005-04-23

Panchkarma Basic Principles

Panchakarma consists of medicated emesis (vamana) to remove excess kapha, therapeutic purgation (viracana) to clear excess pitta, medicated enema (vasti) to eject excess vata, nasal drops or snuffs (nasya) for diseases of the head & neck and bloodletting (raktamokshana) in case of blood disorders. Five purification procedures for removing accumulated toxins and other waste material in the body.

As the humors and tissues are related closely to each other, this discharge procedure affects the tissues indirectly by the strong elimination of related humor. For example, the pronounced elimination of kapha by herb induced emesis causes an effect on the nutrient tissue fluid pool, containing water and electrolytes, plasma, muscle, fat. Or the large release of pitta by selective purgation similarly causes an indirect effect on the total colouring material in the body or blood. Vasti is somewhat different, as it is meant to nullify excess vata and contains warm oleation substances. During its long contact with the membrane of the large intestine, it separates layers of faecal matter and thus enhances better absorption, which is responsible for the ultimate nourishment of all tissues. Nasya in turn cleans the sinus and thereby improves the function of sense organs.

Physical and mental diseases occur due to the vitation of somatic doshas vata, pitta and kapha and due to mental doshas Rajas and Tamas. Volitional transgression, effect of time and senses are the three primary causes responsible for vitation of biological and mental doshas. Food, drinks & environmental factors with similar properties to the doshas vitiates them and cause disease. Panchakarma's purificatory therapies balance out the three doshas, acting both as a curative and a preventive measure.

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

Panchkarma Nasal Administration

Making use of medicated oils taken through the nostrils, it is used to assist emesis therapy in dislodging toxins and excess kapha from the throat, nose, sinus & other organs. It is effective for diseases in the head, ears, nose, throat, teeth and improving connections between the senses & respective organs. Although it is not suitable for patients suffering from indigestion, thirst, hunger, grief or pregnancy. And in excess it may lead to an excessive discharge from the nose and eyes, heaviness of the body, abnormal functioning of the sense organs.

(See also: Nasal Administration , Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Do-In [dough-in] (Dao-In, Tao-In, Taoist Conducting and Attuning Energy Practice, Taoist yoga, Taoist hatha yoga, Tao Yin): Ancient system of stretching, bodily postures, and movements, comparable to hatha yoga. Michio Kushi (see macrobiotics) introduced Do-In in the United States in 1968. Its theory posits Chi energy flow and the energy meridians of acupuncture and shiatsu.

it also posits a human ability to absorb nutrition from the air and from surrounding energy. With each Do-In posture, one inhales ki (life source energy) and exhales jaki (harmful toxins). Although Do-In is a discipline of self-healing, its ultimate goal is spiritual harmony with the universe.

(See also: Do-In , Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

PFRIMMER DEEP MUSCLE THERAPY

This technique utilizes deep cross-fiber strokes applied with the thumbs and fingers. Developed by Theresa Pfrimmer of Canada, this is a deep muscle therapeutic technique. As with many pioneers, the technique was discovered in an effort to help herself recover from paralysis.

The work enables free flow of lymph and blood, as well as improving joint movement and removal of waste products/toxins from the muscle tissue. Conditions that benefit from Pfrimmer DMT include arthritis, multiple sclerosis, headache, and fibrositis, among others.

(See also: PFRIMMER DEEP MUSCLE THERAPY , Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

Manual Lymphatique Drainage (MLD): In addition to the relaxation which it gets, this technique of massage reactivates the flow of the lymph and supports the elimination of toxins.

The therapist mobilizes lymphatic tissues by slow and regular gestures on the whole body. The circular motions alternate with pumpings.

One recommends the lymphatic drainage in the case of a specific oedema or chronique.It reduces especially the accumulation of water (oedema) to the level of the legs, of the arms and the face.It activates the system of defenses of the body activates and reinforces the system immunitaire.

(See also: Manual Lymphatique Drainage (MLD) , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)