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Glossary of Holistic Terms (Part Three)

The world of holistic medicine and healing is replete with many terms because there are so many facets of the trade. Let us pick up our look at the holistic terms as we start with energy therapies.

Energy Therapies

Energy therapies are all of the forms of alternative therapies and treatments that make use of energy fields. These include magnet therapy, reiki, therapeutic touch and medical qigong.

Exercise-Based Therapy

Exercise-based therapy makes use of physical activity in a number of different ways in order to help improve an individual's level of health and well being and also to support longevity. Exercise-based therapy is also helpful when it comes to relieving stress and stress related disorders, increasing an individual's muscle mass and treating specific types of health problems. Some examples of these types of the therapy include aerobics, aerobic exercise, the Alexander Technique, bodybuilding, Feldenkrais method, martial arts, physical culture, Pilates, PNF stretching, stretching, some types of qigong, tai chi, weight training and walking.

Herbalism

Herbalism is the practice whereby herbal remedies are created and prescribed to help to treat a variety of medical problems.

Homeopathy

Homeopathy is a holistic form of treatment that is based on the concept of like and like. The theory beneath homeopathy is that "disease states are cured by remedies which produce, on a healthy person, similar effects to the symptoms of the patient's complaint."

Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy involves the process of hypnotism in order to treat the symptoms of a disease or addiction, etc. Hypnotherapy takes a patient into an altered state of consciousness and from there the person's becomes more responsive to any number of suggestions to improve the condition they are suffering from.

Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy makes use of the healing power of water in order to treat a number of different kinds of infections, diseases and conditions.

Jin Shin Jyutsu

Jun Shin Jyutsu is an ancient practice that got its start in Japan and involves healing by energy, which makes use of deep breathing techniques as well as hand placement on certain areas of the human body, which are referred to as Safety Energy Locks (or abbreviated to SELs). This practice was started by Master Jiro Murai in the early 1900s in Japan. He then taught it to a woman by the name of Mary Burmeister around the late 1940s. She was the person who then brought the practice to the United States.

Manipulative and Body-Based Methods

What is known as manipulative and body-based methods are forms of alternative and holistic healing treatments that involve the movement and/or manipulation of one part of the body or sometimes many parts of the body. This is also sometimes referee to as manipulative therapy. Some examples of these methods include acupressure, body work, Bowen technique, chiropractic, martial arts, massage therapy, medical acupuncture, metamorphic technique, myofascial release, osteopathy, rolfing, shiatsu, tajiiquan and tui na.

Massage Therapy

Massage therapy makes use of a variety of techniques such as pressing, rubbing and other soft tissue and muscle manipulations in order to relax the body, as well as lengthen the muscles, release pain and encourage greater oxygen and blood flow to the area that is afflicted. Massage therapy is beneficial for many stress related problems and it is extremely beneficial for neck, shoulder and back pain as well as headaches, tendonitis and bursitis.