Pain Flashcards
Definition: allopathic medicine
(Biomedicine) the term generally used to describe “traditional” medical care, dominant for about 100 years, which spearheaded remarkable advances in biotechnology, surgical interventions, pharmaceutical approaches, and diagnostic tools.
Definition: acupuncture
Procedure consisting of placing very thin, short, sterile needles at particular acupoints, believed to be centers of nerve and vascular tissue, along a meridian to either increase or decrease flow of chi along the meridian, restoring the balance of yin and yang, and thereby contributing to healing.
Definition: alternative modalities
Methods not included in the scope of conventional medical care.
Definition: aromatherapy
The use of essential oils of plants to treat symptoms.
Definition: aura
Consists of at least seven layers of energy that surround the body and relate to the chakras.
Definition: Ayurveda
A science of life that delineates the diet, medicines, and behaviors that are beneficial or harmful for life and considers that balance among people, the environment, and the larger cosmos is integral to human health.
Definition: chakra
Concentrated areas of energy aligned vertically in the body, which relate to each other as well as to specific areas of the body/mind/spirit.
Definition: chiropractic medicine
Science that investigates the relationship between structure (the spine) and function (mainly the nervous system) of the human body to restore and preserve health.
Definition: complementary therapies
(Alternative Therapies) alternative treatments used with traditional medical interventions.
Definition: dosha
The patient’s basic condition; understanding dosha is central to Ayurvedic medicine.
Definition: Healing Touch (HT)
Uses a collection of energy techniques to assess and treat the human energy system, thereby affecting physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health and healing.
Definition: holism
Theory and philosophy that focuses on connections and interactions between parts of the whole.
Definition: holistic nursing
Nursing practice built on a holistic philosophy.
Definition: homeopathy
Practice of medicine based on the belief of supporting the body while the symptoms are allowed to “run their course” to stimulate and strengthen the immune system and promote healing.
Definition: imagery
Using all five senses to imagine an event or body process unfolding according to a plan.
Definition: Integrative care
Care that uses some combination of allopathic and complementary/alternative modalities.
Definition: intercessory prayer
Involves praying for the benefit of another person to Judeo-Christian God.
Definition: meridian
Part of an intricate structure of 72 energy circuits that nourish and support all cells and organs of the body, through which Qi flows vertically in the body.
Definition: Naturopathic Medicine
A relatively new system of medicine that is not only a system of medicine but also a way of life, with emphasis on patient responsibility, patient education, health maintenance, and disease prevention.
Definition: Qi
Represents an invisible flow of energy that circulates through plants, animals, and people, as well as the earth and sky.
Definition: Qi gong
System of posture, exercise (both gentle and dynamic), breathing techniques, and visualization that regulates the Qi.
Definition: relaxation response
An alert, hypometabolic state of decreased sympathetic nervous system arousal, which can also be viewed as the opposite of Selye’s general adaptation syndrome response.
Definition: shamanism
A belief that illness originates in the spirit world and usually involves a loss of power; treatment consists of first, restoring the individual’s power, and second, treating symptoms.
Definition: Therapeutic Touch
(TT) an alternative therapy that involves using one’s hands to consciously direct an energy exchange from the practitioner to the patient to facilitate healing or pain relief.
Definition: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
Healing system that believes the interaction of people with their environment is most significant in creating health.
Definition: Yin-yang
Energy forces in Chinese teaching that must be in balance for good health; expression of strong motions results in disharmony and imbalance between these forces.
Physical Therapy
Specialized movements to strengthen weak areas of the body, often through resistance training.
Yoga
An Indian practice of meditative stretching and posing.
Pilates
A resistance regimen that strengthens core muscles.
Tai Chi
A slow, flowing Chinese practice that improves balance.
Feldenkrais
A therapy that builds efficiency of movement.
Anti-inflammatory diet
A Mediterranean eating pattern high in whole grains, fresh fruits, leafy vegetables, and olive oil.
Omega-3 fatty acids
Nutrients abundant in fish oil and flaxseed that reduce inflammation in the body.
Ginger
A root that inhibits pain-causing molecules.
Turmeric
A spice that reduces inflammation
MSM (Methsulfonylmethane)
A naturally occurring nutrient that helps build bone and cartilage.
Meditation
Focusing the mind on something specific (such as breathing or repeating a word or phrase) to quiet it.
Biofeedback
With a special machine, becoming err to body processes, such as muscle tightening, to learn to control them.