Page 13 - Terminology-Naturopathy

Crystal healing: Is a pseudoscientific alternative medicine Deep tissue bodywork: This general term describes a
technique that employs stones and crystals. Adherents range of therapies for unsticking the connective tissues
of the technique claim that these have healing powers, and muscles to encourage them to function properly
although there is no scientific basis for this claim. In one again. Among the conditions deep tissue bodywork treats
method, the practitioner places crystals on different parts are whiplash, low back and neck pain, and degenerative
of the body, often corresponding to chakras; or else the diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
practitioner places crystals around the body in an attempt to
construct an energy grid, which is purported to surround the Defined Organism Substance: 1. A substance from an
client with healing energy. herbal organism; 2. A food substance derived from an
herbal organism; 3. An organism that is a non-human
Cupping: A therapy of traditional Chinese medicine in animal, bacterium (but not a blue-green alga) or a probiotic.
which suction is created on the skin in order to stimulate 4. A substance from a non-human animal or bacterium (but
the flow of blood, which in turn promotes healing. not from a blue-green alga).
Demulcent: Soothing action on inflammation, especially of
mucous membranes.
D Dentistry, holistic: Holistic dentists are licensed dentists

who bring an interdisciplinary approach to their practices,
often incorporating methods such as homeopathy, nutrition,
and acupuncture into their treatment plans. Most holistic
Dance/movement therapies: This therapy uses expressive dentists emphasize wellness and preventive care and avoid
movement as a therapeutic tool for personal expression (and often recommend the removal of) silver-mercury
and psychological or emotional healing. Practitioners work fillings.
with individuals with physical disabilities, addictions,
and histories of sexual abuse, eating disorders, and other Dermatitis: Inflammation of the skin evidenced my
concerns. itchiness, redness, and various lesions.

Dark therapy: Also called scototherapy, light restriction Detoxicant: An agent that decreases or eliminates the
and darkness therapy, is a treatment which involves toxicity of a substance.
eliminating all light, or all blue light, in a subject’s
environment, for a period of several hours prior to Detoxicate: To detoxify a substance by detoxification; to
bedtime. Dark therapy manipulates the circadian rhythms detoxify a xenobiotic by metabolic conversion to a less
acting on hormones and neurotransmitters. It has been toxic form.
proposed recently (2005) to combine the chronobiological Detoxication (metabolic detoxification): Reduction
manipulations of light/dark and/or sleep/wake therapies or elimination of a toxic xenobiotic substance from a
with psychopharmacological medication for depression as living system by metabolic conversion to less toxic and
well as for circadian rhythm sleep disorders. Dark therapy usually more water-soluble substance(s) and thus more
has been used successfully for the treatment of mania in readily excreted than the original substance. Detoxication
bipolar depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, and for is considered to be of paramount importance in
migraines and headaches. complementary medicine and is usually achieved in a liver

cleansing programme or more comprehensively a combined
Decoction: A tea made from boiling plant material, usually
the bark, rhizomes, roots or other woody parts, in water. bowel and liver complementary programme.
May be used therapeutically. Natural dyes are often made Detoxification: Recovery from the toxic effects of drugs;
this way. the process of eliminating effects of toxicants from an
intoxicated individual, especially from alcohol or drug
Deep breathing exercises: An active process that involves
conscious control over breathing in and out. This may addiction; reduction or removal of the toxic properties of
involve controlling the way in which air is drawn in (for poison or of the virulence of a pathogenic organism.
example, through the mouth or nostrils), the rate (for Detoxify: To decrease or remove the toxic capacity of
example, quickly or over a length of time), the depth (for a substance or to diminish the virulence of a pathogenic
example, shallow or deep), and the control of other body organism through treatment; to treat the toxic state
parts (for example, relaxation of the stomach). produced by an overdose or any drug or medication.

TERMINOLOGY NATUROPATHY 13