Att D - CAM definitions

Attachment D: CAM Definitions
Herbs or other nonvitamin supplements are taken by mouth and contain a dietary
ingredient intended to supplement the diet other than vitamins and minerals. Examples
include herbs or herbal medicine (as single herbs or mixtures), other botanical products
such as soy or flax products, and dietary substances such as enzymes and glandulars.
Among the most popular are echinacea, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, feverfew, garlic, kava
kava, and saw palmetto. Garlic, for example, has been used to treat fevers, sore throats,
digestive ailments, hardening of the arteries, and other health problems and conditions.
Guided imagery involves a series of relaxation techniques followed by the visualization
of detailed images, usually calm and peaceful in nature. If used for treatment, the
individual will visualize their body free of the specific problem or condition. Sessions
are typically 20 to 30 minutes in length, and may be practiced several times a week.
Meditation: Refers to a group of techniques, most of which started in Eastern religious
or spiritual traditions. In meditation, a person learns to focus his attention and suspend
the stream of thoughts that normally occupy the mind. This practice is believed to result
in a state of greater physical relaxation, mental calmness, and psychological balance.
Practicing meditation can change how a person relates to the flow of emotions and
thoughts in the mind.
Progressive relaxation is used to relieve tension and stress by systematically tensing and
relaxing successive muscle groups.
Chiropractic (kye-row-prak-tik) manipulation is a form of health care that focuses on
the relationship between the body’s structure, primarily of the spine, and function.
Doctors of chiropractic, who are also called chiropractors or chiropractic physicians, use
a type of hands-on therapy called manipulation (or adjustment) as their core clinical
procedure.
Osteopathic Manipulation is a full-body system of hands-on techniques to alleviate
pain, restore function, and promote health and well-being.
Acupuncture (ak-you-punk-chur): The term acupuncture describes a family of
procedures involving stimulation of anatomical points on the body by a variety of
techniques. American practices of acupuncture incorporate medical traditions from
China, Japan, Korea, and other countries. The acupuncture technique that has been most
studied scientifically involves penetrating the skin with thin, solid, metallic needles that
are manipulated by the hands or by electrical stimulation.
Naturopathy (nay-chur-ah-pah-thee):Naturopathic medicine proposes that there is a
healing power in the body that establishes, maintains, and restores health. Practitioners
work with the patient with a goal of supporting this power, through treatments such as
nutrition and lifestyle counseling, dietary supplements, medicinal plants, exercise,
homeopathy, and treatments from traditional Chinese medicine.

Attachment D: CAM Definitions
Homeopathy (ho-mee-AH-puh-thee) is a system of medical practices based on the
theory that any substance that can produce symptoms of disease or illness in a healthy
person can cure those symptoms in a sick person. For example, someone suffering from
insomnia may be given a homeopathic dose of coffee. Administered in diluted form,
homeopathic remedies are derived from many natural sources, including plants, metals,
and minerals.
Biofeedback uses simple electronic devices to teach clients how to consciously regulate
bodily functions, such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure, in order to improve
overall health. Biofeedback is used to reduce stress, eliminate headaches, recondition
injured muscles, control asthmatic attacks, and relieve pain.
Hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness characterized by increased responsiveness
to suggestion. This hypnotic state is attained by first relaxing the body, then shifting
attention toward a narrow range of objects or ideas as suggested by the hypnotist or
hypnotherapist. The procedure is used to effect positive changes and to treat numerous
health conditions including ulcers, chronic pain, respiratory ailments, stress, and
headaches.
Yoga combines breathing exercises, physical postures, and meditation to calm the
nervous system and balance body, mind, and spirit. Usually performed in classes,
sessions are conducted once a week or more and roughly last 45 minutes.
Tai chi (tie-chee): A mind-body practice that originated in China as a martial art. A
person doing tai chi moves his body slowly and gently, while breathing deeply and
meditating (tai chi is sometimes called "moving meditation"). Many practitioners believe
that tai chi helps the flow throughout the body of a proposed vital energy called qi…A
person practicing tai chi moves her body in a slow, relaxed, and graceful series of
movements. One can practice on one's own or in a group. The movements make up what
are called forms (or routines).
Qi gong (chee-kung, also chee-goong) is an ancient Chinese discipline combining the use
of gentle physical movements, mental focus, and deep breathing directed toward specific
parts of the body. Performed in repetitions, the exercises are normally performed two or
more times a week for 30 minutes at a time.