Glossary of Holistic Practices

The following descriptions of holistic practices represent those practitioners who have expressed an interest in being listed or who are listed in public sources. These descriptions will be expanded upon or omitted as we become aware of practitioners entering or leaving the area.

Acupressure – is the manual stimulation by application of pressure to specific meridian points, based on Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is considered "the people’s therapy" because the intense study required for acupuncture is absent. The pressure points on the hand and wrist to reduce sensations of nausea are examples. Points are commonly used by many therapies and bodyworkers.

Acupuncture – is a direct practice from Traditional Chinese Medicine. It involves the stimulation of specific meridian points by fine needles based on diagnostic results. One of the modern theories of acupuncture , based on laboratory studies, proposes that these points may have electrical properties that release neurotransmitters when stimulated. This release is associated with further chemical and therapeutic changes within the body. Electro-acupuncture is sometimes used as a variation: low currents applied to needles reputedly increase electrical stimulation. Acupuncture is a recognized profession in most states; graduation from a recognized school is required. The profession is licensed in MA.

Alexander Technique® – is a gentle, movement education process which identifies areas of tension, stress, and fatigue which impacts on free movement of the body as well as mental efficiency. The technique was developed by Frederick Alexander, an Australian actor, who observed tensions created by poor posture and inefficient movement. He was able to regain his failing voice by altering his posture, habits, and behavior. Practitioners are called "teachers," as they engage in a re-education of the body. Teachers devote themselves to a 3-year, full-time intensive study program to become certified.

Applied Kinesiology – a biofield and physical method, also called "touch for health," which is both diagnostic and therapeutic in addressing dysfunctions of the body. It was developed by George Goodheart in the 1960s, and considers meridians and other "holding points" using "muscle testing" to indicate the body area that needs work. This method is often used by chiropractors as well as independent applied kinesiology practitioners.

Aromatherapy – involves the therapeutic use of plant extracts, or oils, which when absorbed through the skin or inhaled, react with the body. Aromatics derived from plants have been used since the early Egyptians. Modern studies come from works of the French, beginning in the 1920s. Essential oils are said to have chemical, psychological, and physiological effects. Oil purity and storage is important, and some oils are contraindicated for certain conditions. Independent aromatherapy practitioners generally are not certified. Aromatherapy may be used ancillary to other health practices.

Ayurvedic Medicine - See Holistic Healthcare Systems.

Biofeedback – considered a mind-body intervention, primarily uses electronic instruments to help a person learn desired muscular or vascular responses that were previously not under conscious control. Through trial and error the client gradually narrows in on thoughts that will control physical or physiological processes. For instance, in re-education of a partially paralyzed muscle, a person may use the audio and visual feedback cues of the instruments to correlate muscle contraction with effort in the muscle attached to electrodes. In learning what is required to achieve the contraction, he may then continue to use these thoughts or sensations without the instruments. In a sense, instrumentation objectifies what is normally unseen. The theory behind biofeedback is based on the works of Neal Miller around 1961, who suggested that the autonomic nervous system – which controls blood pressure, heart rate, and other activity – can itself be controlled, or trained. Common measurements for feedback include muscle tension, brain waves, skin temperature, skin resistance, and respiration. Biofeedback is often used with behavior modification. It is commonly used in pain management, physical therapy, psychology, and other health fields. National certifications are available, and training is necessary for application and interpretation of the more involved instrumentation. The Biofeedback Certification Institute of America (BCIA) is a major certifying body.

Chiropractic - See Holistic Healthcare Systems.

Colon Therapy – or Colon Hydrotherapy, has a history dating back to the ancient Egyptians and Greeks. Dr. Kellogg of Battle Creek, MI, is said to have treated over 40,000 clients with colon therapy/enemas to treat gastrointestinal problems. Colon irrigation machines were common in hospitals and doctors’ offices up until the 1930s. The irrigation of the colon is based on the premise that wastes and the toxins they create are not completely eliminated and therefore reside up to years in the colon to become sources of illness. Unlike enemas – which introduce water into a short length of the rectum until the colon eliminates its contents by spasm – the modern day irrigating system provides a continuous water flow into the 5-foot length of colon with a simultaneous outflow that is sanitary and odorless. Chiropractors and naturopaths may provide this therapy as well as individual colon therapists. The American Colon Therapy Association and the International Association, among others, offer certifications for Colon Hydrotherapy.

Craniosacral Therapy (CST) – is based on osteopathic techniques begun in the 1920’s by William Sutherland, D.O., and developed by John Upledger, D.O., in recent years. It is a subtle, manipulation technique based on two premises considered unlikely by most allopathic doctors in the U.S., but mostly embraced outside our borders: (1) the skull bones are not fused but have movement; and (2) the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which bathes the brain and spinal cord, constitutes a closed hydraulic system that moves with a perceptible rhythm. The practitioner can detect relative strengths of the CSF to detect imbalances and release tension within the system, including the membranes within the brain. Some elements of Myofascial Release and directed energy are present in Upledger’s methods. Practitioners usually are certified by the educational facility.

Deep Tissue Massage – is a focused technique using friction (across-fiber) movements of the thumbs, fingertips, or heel of the hand to penetrate to the deeper muscles and joints.

Feldenkrais Method – was developed by Moshe Feldenkrais, a physicist and engineer, who became interested in human body mechanics. In the 1940’s he published his first book on the subject, noting how the brain seems to hardwire certain learned movement patterns in response to new stimulus. The Feldenkrais practitioner helps the client develop new neural pathways to extinguish muscular dysfunction. Movement Through Awareness and Functional Integration are the two parts of Feldenkrais, using gentle manipulation, stretching, and teaching. Practitioners devote themselves to three years of study, and are certified by the educational facility.

Herbal Remedies – are known as "the people’s medicine." Every culture has used indigenous plants to restore health, relieve pain, and to prevent illness. Herbs have had a special significance in religious practices. The studied herbalist knows his plants, their growth needs, when to harvest, preparation and storage, how and when to mix, and their various uses and contraindications. Herbs may be ingested, as teas for instance; or applied topically. Aromatherapy can be considered a subcategory. Chinese herbalism , Native American herbalism, and Ayurvedic herbalism have their own traditions. The thrust of western herbalism is to restore the body’s ability to heal itself. Many herbalists are known purely by their reputations; other herbalists may hold certifications, from the American Herbalists Guild, for instance.

Homeopathy - See Holistic Healthcare Systems.

Hypnosis – is the state of mind achieved by hypnotism; most people erroneously use these terms interchangeably. This mind technique promotes suggestibility in the recipient to instill positive outcomes at a mental, physical, or behavioral level. Contrary to popular myth, people can not be "made" to cluck like chickens – only if they want to. Hypnotists have had to overcome the type-cast of entertainment, or stage hypnotism. Today, hypnotism is taught in medical schools and used for health enhancement, behavioral modification, pain management, self-improvement, and performance enhancement. Practitioners may hold health care licenses or be certified hypnotists, the largest certifying body being the National Guild of Hypnotists.

Massage – in its broadest sense, is any systematic technique of therapeutic value involving touching, rubbing, pressing, kneading or the like to the body in order to promote circulation, to stimulate the underlying tissues, or to induce relaxation. Massage techniques may include variations on the Oriental Traditions, such as acupressure, shiatsu, and reflexology; as well as deep tissue massage, and Swedish massage. Other techniques are often used, more under the umbrella of "bodywork," which are borrowed from other disciplines such as polarity therapy, and craniosacral therapy. Massage is performed in the U.S. primarily by massage therapists, less frequently by physical therapists. The major certifying body is the American Massage Therapy Association. No state license is required in MA, but municipalities do require town licenses.

Meditation – is the deliberate suspension of thought in order to induce a state of calmness and relaxation. The most well known technique, Transcendental Meditation ®(TM), is derived from Ayurvedic tradition and made popular in the U.S. in the 1960s when it was introduced by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. In this technique a mantra, or sound provided by the instructor, is mentally repeated with the eyes closed. Dr. Herbert Benson of Harvard has used TM to trigger the relaxation response. Relaxation has been correlated with a reduction in blood pressure and heart rate associated with stress; and of course stress is a major contributor to many diseases in the modern world. Instructors are not usually certified. Group sessions are initially helpful.

Myofascial Release (MFR) – is a subtle to light, stretching form of bodywork for evaluation and treatment based on the interconnection of fascia throughout the body. Some form of MFR appeared in the early works of Dicke and Rolf, as well as in developing osteopathic models. The current form of MFR was developed by John F. Barnes, a physical therapist who advanced techniques that relieved his own disc pain. Fascia is a connective tissue that lines every organ, muscle fiber, and internal elements. Normal fascia moves easily, while fascia that is deformed or thickened due to disease, inflammation, trauma, or postural habits may resist movement. Since all fascia in connected, restrictions in one area of the body may impact on other areas. MFR practitioners are typically certified.

Myotherapy – is a manual therapy method and a generic term loosely used to include forms of trigger point therapy. "Trigger points" are sensitive, often painful muscle areas that have sustained trauma, disease, or other insult, and often refer the pain to another location in the body. Trigger points became prominent in the rehab literature through the work of Dr. Janet Travell, physician to President Kennedy, who treated his pain with injections. Bonnie Prudden Myotherapy® -– conceived by Bonnie Prudden, a skier and fitness devotee who developed many "firsts" in the U.S., including infant swimming programs, creation of the President’s (Eisenhower) Council on Youth Fitness, and many women’s and girls’ fitness programs conducted by the YMCA – uses pressure to free the muscle, followed by specific exercises to prevent a relapse. Certification is available to Bonnie Prudden graduates, who have successfully completed the 1300-hour curriculum.

Naturopthy - See Holistic Healthcare Systems.

Osteopathy - See Holistic Healthcare Systems.

Pilates – The Pilates Method of Body Conditioning® was developed by Joseph Pilates in the 1920s after his immigration to New York City. His method, which incorporates stretching and strengthening movements, either on a floor mat or with equipment, requires strict focus and concentration on the exercise and breathing. Long the method of choice for limbering New York City dancers, Pilates is becoming more widespread among rehabilitation professionals. Pilates instructors teach in "studios," true to dance tradition. Certification is from the educational facility.

Polarity Therapy – is more like a natural health system. It is the creation of Dr. Randolph Stone, a chiropractor, naturopath, and osteopath. In the 1950s Dr. Stone’s observations led him embrace the concept of a human energy field, that there is a naturally subtle flow of energy, or life, and that disease is an obstruction to that flow. "Polarity" refers to the energy fields animating the body, and the conventional flow from positive to negative. Touch or gentle manipulation, diet, exercise, and awareness/ counseling restore health. The method draws from Oriental teachings, but especially from Ayurveda. Many practitioners are licensed in other disciplines. The American Polarity Therapy Association (APTA) maintains a directory of registered therapists.

Shiatsu – is a Japanese form of massage originating in the 1800s. It literally means "finger pressure," which is applied to any of 365 acu-points. In this respect it is similar to acupressure, but does not strictly follow the meridians in freeing the flow of chi.

Swedish Massage – is the "free form" of massage practices, varying with the individual practitioner. It is also called Hoffa massage, after the German who developed it. It became popular after World War I, when it was used by physical therapists as part of their rehabilitation of veterans. The technique is characterized by relaxed stroking, kneading, and some friction.

Reflexology – practiced by many ancient cultures, was promoted in the U.S. by Eunice Ingham, a physiotherapist. It is based on the older "zone theory" of Fitzgerald: the body is divided into ten longitudinal zones or energy meridians, so that the sole of the foot – as well as the hands and the ears – form a grid upon which the body can be superimposed. Thus there is a corresponding reflex point for each body part or organ. The foot is more commonly used because it is larger and more sensitive. With stimulation, areas will be cleared so that energy, or chi, can flow and the energy centers, known in Ayurveda as chakras, can open up. According to expert Laura Norman, foot reflexology is emphatically not a foot massage; rather it is facilitation of a subtle energy flow. Certification is from the educational facility.

Reiki – a subtle energy technique, is the distillation – and some claim the rediscovery – of Oriental healing systems using, sounds, hands-on, and symbols of effect energy and healing at all levels. The traditional Usui system is considered to be the purist form of Reiki. It is based on the teachings of Dr. Mikao Usui of Japan, a Christian educator who in the mid-1800s began a quest to discover the healing secrets of Jesus, Buddha, and the other great healers. Reiki practitioners receive "attunements" by a Reiki Master, to increase their energy and strength, progressing to the third attunement or level, which is the Reiki Master. Practitioners may use laying on of hands, hovering of hands, or absentee healing techniques. They are generally certified by their Reiki Master.

Touch for Health – see Applied Kinesiology

Traditional Oriental Medicine - See Holistic Healthcare Systems.

Yoga – is based on the traditions of Ayurveda. In the West it is primarily seen as a movement technique using "asanas," postures designed to stretch and stimulate the muscles. However, immersion in the way of the yogis also includes controlled breathing, relaxation, diet, and meditation. Yoga fosters physical flexibility and promotes the relaxation response. Most instructors are well experienced but not certified.