Glossary

Biotherapeutic Drainage

Biotherapeutic drainage refers to the medicine used to encourage proper enzymatic functions to aid in restoring homeostasis.

Botanical Medicine

Botanical medicine is medicine made from plants.

Central Nervous System

The central nervous system (CNS) represents the largest part of the nervous system, including the brain and the spinal cord. Together with the peripheral nervous system, it has a fundamental role in the control of behavior. The CNS is contained within the dorsal cavity, with the brain within the cranial subcavity, and the spinal cord in the spinal cavity.

Circulatory System

The circulatory system (or cardiovascular system) is an organ system that moves substances to and from cells; it can also help stabilize body temperature and pH. The main components of the circulatory system are the heart, the blood, and the blood vessels. The circulatory systems are closed, meaning that the blood never leaves the system of blood vessels consisting of arteries, capillaries, and veins. Arteries bring oxygenated blood to the tissues (except pulmonary arteries), and veins bring deoxygenated blood back to the heart (except pulmonary and portal veins). Blood passes from arteries to veins through capillaries, which are the thinnest and most numerous of the blood vessels and these capillaries help to join tissue with arterioles for transportation of nutrition to the cells.

Fascia

Fascia is a specialized connective tissue layer that surrounds muscles, bones, and joints, providing support and protection while giving structure to the body. It consists of three layers: the superficial fascia, the deep fascia, and the subserous fascia.

The superficial fascia is located directly under the subcutis of the skin. Its functions include the storage of fat and water, and it also provides passageways for nerves and blood vessels. In some areas of the body, it also houses a layer of skeletal muscle that allows for movement of the skin.

The deep fascia is beneath the superficial fascia and aids muscle movements and, like the superficial fascia, provides passageways for nerves and blood vessels. In some areas of the body, it also provides an attachment site for muscles and acts as a cushioning layer between them.

The subserous fascia is located between the deep fascia and the membranes lining the cavities of the body. There is a potential space between the subserous fascia and the deep fascia that allows for flexibility and movement of the internal organs.

Homeopathy

Homeopathy refers to the form of medicine that uses the ‘like cures like’ philosophy.

Homeostasis

Homeostasis refers to the balance within all body systems and functions that creates optimal health.

Hormonal system

The hormonal system is your body’s way of communicating between systems and between cells. Your body makes chemical substances (hormones) that act as specialized messengers to cells allowing for regulation of your body’s functions.

Integrated Health

Integrated health is a collaboration of practitioners working together in their respective disciplines to aid in the care and maintenance of your health. The focus of the practitioners is on health and healing rather than disease and treatment. It views patients as whole people with minds and spirits as well as bodies and includes these dimensions into diagnosis and treatment. It also involves patients and doctors working to maintain and enhance health by paying attention to lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, quality of rest and sleep, and the nature of relationships.

Lymphatic Drainage

Lymphatic drainage is a therapeutic method that uses massage-like manipulations to stimulate lymph movement. Lymph is the plasma-like fluid that maintains the body’s fluid balance and removes bacteria. Combined with other techniques of complete decongestive physiotherapy, it is used to treat lymphedema (swelling in the limbs caused by lymph accumulation).

Myofascial Release

Myofascial release is a manual massage technique for stretching the fascia and releasing bonds between fascia and integument, muscles, and bones, with the goal of eliminating pain, increasing range of motion, and balancing the body. Injuries, stress, trauma, overuse, and poor posture can cause restriction to fascia. Myofascial release frees fascial restrictions, and allows the muscles to move efficiently. This is usually done by applying shear, compression or tension in various directions, or by skin rolling.

Neuromusculoskeletal System

The Neuromusculoskelatal system relates to the nerves, muscles, bones, and joints of the body and how they interact together as a system.

Neutriceuticals

Neutriceuticals are nutritional supplements.

Peripheral Nervous System

The peripheral nervous system (PNS) is part of the nervous system and consists of the nerves and neurons that reside or extend outside the central nervous system to serve the limbs and organs, for example. Unlike the central nervous system, however, the PNS is not protected by bone or the blood-brain barrier, leaving it exposed to toxins and mechanical injuries. The PNS is divided into the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system.

Prolotherapy

Prolotherapy is an inflammatory injection modality used to heal injured joints.

Respiratory System

The human respiratory system consists of the airways, the lungs, and the respiratory muscles that mediate the movement of air into and out of the body. Within the alveolar system of the lungs, molecules of oxygen and carbon dioxide are passively exchanged, by diffusion, between the gaseous environment and the blood. Thus, the respiratory system facilitates oxygenation of the blood with a concomitant removal of carbon dioxide and other gaseous metabolic wastes from the circulation. The system also helps to maintain the acid-base balance of the body through the efficient removal of carbon dioxide from the blood.

Trigger Point Therapy

Manual trigger point therapy is used to decrease the pain elicited from trigger point activity. Trigger points are described as hyperirritable spots in skeletal muscle that are associated with palpable nodules in taut bands of muscle fibers. The palpable nodules are said to be small contraction knots and a common cause of pain. Compression of a trigger point may elicit local tenderness, referred pain, or motor dysfunction. According to proponents of the concept, a trigger point does not really cause a contraction, but rather causes a contracture. A contraction is muscular activity mediated by the nervous system, while a contracture is said to be a mechanical “sticking” of the muscle fibers with no involvement from the nervous system.