| With so many people moving toward natural health | | | | Homeopathy was developed by a physician named |
| modalities, it seems appropriate to review some | | | | Samuel Hahnemann. It is a method of treating |
| common terms in the natural health field. There are | | | | disease by balancing energy and restoring the life |
| countless methods of natural healing that have been | | | | force of the recipient. Homeopathic remedies are |
| used since the dawn of humankind. Families, tribes, | | | | ultra-diluted solutions of materials that originated from |
| and communities of people have been utilizing natural | | | | plant, mineral or animal sources. Homeopathy |
| medicine long before the development of the MRI | | | | operates under the "Law of Similars" or "like treats |
| and Prozac. This is just a brief snapshot of some | | | | like" where a remedy contains the essence of a |
| common terms in natural health. Stay tuned for | | | | substance that would cause the same symptoms |
| future segments. | | | | that it is used to treat, if it were given at |
| Alternative Medicine - Refers to any health-related | | | | substantially higher doses. |
| practice that is not typical of modern-day (allopathic, | | | | Integrative Medicine - Combines (integrates) |
| western) medicine; includes acupuncture, herbal | | | | modalities of both eastern and western medicine, |
| remedies, homeopathy, and much more. | | | | such as using herbs or acupuncture to relieve the |
| Ayurveda - A centuries-old practice of holistic health | | | | side-effects of chemotherapy. |
| that originated in India. Ayurveda involves everything | | | | Life Force - The energy that flows through a living |
| from yoga and meditation to foods, herbs and | | | | body. Called Qi (chi) in Chinese medicine and Prana in |
| lifestyle practices. Translates as "Life Science" and is | | | | Ayurveda and Yoga. The life force flows through |
| based on three body/personality types called Doshas. | | | | channels in the body called meridians and extends |
| Herbology - The study of the use of plants in | | | | beyond the body in the aura. |
| restoring or maintaining health and balance. Plants or | | | | Naturopath - Refers to natural health professionals |
| plant extracts are used internally or externally to | | | | who are trained as either Traditional Naturopaths or |
| treat or support a wide variety of conditions from | | | | Medical Naturopaths. These people focus on treating |
| wound healing, to constipation, to stress and much | | | | and preventing disease and restoring/maintaining |
| more. | | | | balance using natural methods. Each Naturopath will |
| Holistic - Emphasizes whole health of body, mind and | | | | have a variety of modalities that they implement |
| spirit. | | | | based on their unique training specialties. |
| Homeopathy - Often confused with "Holistic". | | | | |