Acupressure (a blend of "acupuncture" and "pressure") is a traditional Chinese medicine) technique derived from acupuncture. In acupressure physical pressure is applied to acupuncture points by the hand, elbow, or with various devices.

Acu-points used in treatment may or may not be in the same area of the body as the targeted symptom. The TCM theory for the selection of such points and their effectiveness is that they work by stimulating the meridian system to bring about relief by rebalancing yin, yang and qi (also spelled "chi"). (source - Wikipedia)

Acupuncture (from Lat. acus, "needle", and pungere, "prick") is a technique of inserting and manipulating fine filiform needles into specific points on the body with the aim of relieving pain and for therapeutic purposes. According to acupuncture theory, these acupuncture points lie along meridians along which qi, a kind of vital energy, is said to flow.

Acupuncture is thought to have originated in China and is most commonly associated with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Different types of acupuncture (Classical Chinese, Japanese, Tibetan, Vietnamese and Korean acupuncture) are practiced and taught throughout the world. (source - Wikipedia)

In the Alexander Technique individuals are taught to correct their posture and movements. A teacher works with the student to help them monitor and control muscle tension. The Technique is also taught in groups, often using short individual lessons which in turn act as examples to the rest of the class. The Technique takes its name from F. Matthias Alexander, who first observed and formulated its principles between 1890 and 1900. The Alexander Technique is claimed to alleviate pain, promote rehabilitation, improve breathing, and decrease stage fright, as well as improve other conditions. (source - Wikipedia)

The term alternative medicine, as used in the modern western world, encompasses any healing practice "that does not fall within the realm of conventional medicine. "Commonly cited examples include naturopathy, chiropractic, herbalism, traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, meditation, yoga, biofeedback, hypnosis, homeopathy, acupuncture, and diet-based therapies, in addition to a range of other practices. It is frequently grouped with complementary medicine, which generally refers to the same interventions when used in conjunction with mainstream techniques, under the umbrella term complementary and alternative medicine, or CAM. Some significant researchers in alternative medicine oppose this grouping, preferring to emphasize differences of approach, but nevertheless use the term CAM, which has become standard.

Alternative medicine practices are as diverse in their foundations as in their methodologies. Practices may incorporate or base themselves on traditional medicine, folk knowledge, spiritual beliefs, or newly conceived approaches to healing. Jurisdictions where alternative medical practices are sufficiently widespread may license and regulate them. (source Wikipedia)

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is a type of therapy that involves an animal with specific characteristics becoming a fundamental part of a person's treatment. Animal-assisted therapy is designed to improve the physical, social, emotional, and/or cognitive functioning of the patient, as well as provide educational and motivational effectiveness for participants. AAT can be provided on an individual or group basis. During AAT, therapists document records and evaluate the participant's progress.

Many kinds of animals are used in therapy, including dogs, cats, elephants, birds, dolphins, rabbits, lizards, and other small animals. People who have pets benefit in various ways, for example, the comfort of physical contact with animals, reducing loneliness, and increased opportunities for meeting others, via the pets. In addition, caring for pets encourages nurturance, responsibility, and adherence to a daily schedule. (source - Wikipedia)

Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine that uses volatile liquid plant materials, known as essential oils (EOs), and other aromatic compounds from plants for the purpose of affecting a person's mood or health.

Aromatherapy is a generic term that refers to any of the various traditions that make use of essential oils sometimes in combination with other alternative medical practices and spiritual beliefs. Popular uses of these products include massaging products, medicine, or any topical application that incorporates the use of essential oils to their products. It has a particularly Western currency and persuasion. Medical treatment involving aromatic compounds may exist outside of the West, but may or may not be included in the term 'aromatherapy'. (source - Wikipedia)

Art Therapy is a form of expressive therapy that uses art materials, such as paints, chalk and markers. Art therapy combines traditional psychotherapeutic theories and techniques with an understanding of the psychological aspects of the creative process, especially the affective properties of the different art materials.

As a mental health profession, art therapy is employed in many clinical settings with diverse populations. Art therapists work with children, adolescents, and adults and provide services to individuals, couples, families, groups, and communities. Art therapists use the creative process and the issues that come up during art therapy to help their clients increase insight and judgment, cope better with stress, work through traumatic experiences, increase cognitive abilities, have better relationships with family and friends, and to just be able to enjoy the life-affirming pleasures of the creative experience. (source - Wikipedia)

Ayurveda or Ayurvedic medicine is an ancient Hindu system of health care that is native to the Indian subcontinent. The word "Ayurveda" is a tatpurusha compound of the word āyus meaning "life," "life principle," or "long life" and the word veda, which refers to a system of "knowledge." Thus "Ayurveda" roughly translates as the "knowledge of life" or "knowledge of a long life". According to Charaka Samhita, "life" itself is defined as the "combination of the body, sense organs, mind and soul, the factor responsible for preventing decay and death, which sustains the body over time, and guides the processes of rebirth." According to this perspective, Ayurveda is concerned with measures to protect "ayus", which includes healthy living along with therapeutic measures that relate to physical, mental, social and spiritual harmony. Ayurveda is also one among the few traditional systems of medicine to contain a sophisticated system of surgery (which is referred to as "salya-chikitsa"). (source - Wikipedia)

Bach Flower remedies are dilutions of flower material developed by Edward Bach, an English physician and homeopath, in the 1930s. The remedies are used primarily for emotional and spiritual conditions, including but not limited to depression, anxiety, insomnia and stress.

The remedies contain a very small amount of flower material in a 50:50 solution of water and brandy. Because the remedies are extremely dilute they do not have a characteristic scent or taste of the plant. Each remedy is used alone or in conjunction with other remedies, and each flower is believed by advocates to impart specific qualities to the remedy. Bach flower remedies are also used on pets and domestic animals. Remedies are usually taken orally. (source - Wikipedia)

Body Harmony is an open system, integrating both traditional and esoteric bodywork methods from around the world, with a singular focus: a gentle, sensitive, non-invasiveclient, not the practitioner, as the true source of healing, and sees the client's way rather than the practitioner's way as the path to that healing. touch and a personalized approach to each client and each client's issues. Body Harmony sees the

By listening to the body and following each person's own unique path to healing, Body Harmony allows the body to unwind, relax, and release past traumas, no matter what their origins or symptoms might be. With these releases, the body comes into the present moment and experiences more movement, freedom, vitality, and power. (source - BodyHarmony.org website)

The Bowen Technique is one version of a group of technical interpretations of the work of Australian self-proclaimed osteopath Tom Bowen (1916-1982) known as Bowen Therapy, which is a holistic system of healing.

The Bowen Technique involves a gentle, rolling motion, with very light touches. The rolls are supposed to either tighten or loosen off muscles depending on the way the move is done.

The practitioner will stimulate sets of points, often with two minute pauses, supposedly to allow the body to use the move and integrate it into the body's system. A view held by some Bowen Therapists is that the specific way that Bowen Technique addresses the muscles stimulates the stretch and golgi tendon reflexes as well as joint proprioceptors in a way that heightens the sensory awareness of the body in the area worked on. (source - Wikipedia)

It is widely accepted by those defining Bowen for the regulation process, that Bowen is a stand alone therapy, not mixed with other treatments. Bowen himself was very specific about his clients not receiving other treatments for at least seven days after a Bowen session and did not perform any other therapies himself.

Brain Gym is a commercial training program that makes various claims about the benefits of certain exercises and postures in learning. It is widely used in British state schools and is also offered to both children and adults in parts of the United States and Canada.

It is based on the premise that all learning begins with movement, also supporting the idea that any learning challenges can be overcome by finding the right movements, to subsequently create new pathways in the brain. It claims that the repetition of certain movements "activates the brain for optimal storage and retrieval of information". (source - Wikipedia)

The term Breathwork refers to many forms of conscious alteration of breathing, such as hyperventilation or connecting the inhale and exhale, when used within psychotherapy or meditation. Proponents believe the technique may be used to attain alternate states of consciousness, and that sustained practice of breathwork techniques may result in spiritual or psychological benefits.

Leonard Orr and Stanislav Grof are two practitioners from whose work many of the more recently created types of breathwork have derived the basis of their techniques.

Leonard Orr's style of Breathwork, Rebirthing-Breathwork is based on the technique of conscious connected breathing; connecting the inhale and exhale without pause or lock in between them. Stanislav Grof's Holotropic Breathwork can include hyperventilation, which Grof believes can aid emotional integration. (source - Wikipedia)

Building biology is the study of the relationship between buildings and life. More specifically, it is concerned with the impact of the built environment on human health and the use of this knowledge to create healthier homes and workplaces.

The primary concern of building biologists is the health and wellbeing of building occupants. We see your home or workplace as your "third skin" - ideally, a breathable, flexible structure that not only provides shelter, but also supports the health of your body, mind and spirit.

Building Biologists use professional equipment to assess homes and workplaces for health hazards such as electromagnetic fields (EMF's), radio frequencies (RF's), geopathic stress, mould, dust and chemicals.   Exposure to these hazards may result in a range of symptoms, including sleep disorders, fatigue, inability to concentrate, poor memory, eye/nose/throat irritation, headaches, asthma and breathing difficulties. The term "sick building syndrome" is sometimes used to describe ill health which is experienced in a particular building.

Once a building biologist has identified the health hazards present in a building, he/she will  recommend solutions to either eliminate or minimize exposure to each concern identified.                                                                                 

Source : Building Wellness Pty Ltd

The Buteyko method or Buteyko Breathing Technique is a holistic health philosophy, primarily for the treatment of asthma, that includes a set of breathing exercises developed by the late Russian doctor Konstantin Pavlovich Buteyko (Russian: Бутейко). The method is taught as a complementary therapy and several small clinical trials have shown that it can safely reduce asthma symptoms and the need for reliever medication in some people, as well as increasing quality of life scores. However, improvement takes time and commitment, requiring daily exercises over a period of weeks or months.

At the core of the Buteyko method is a series of breathing exercises that focus on nasal-breathing, breath-holding and relaxation. At present it is used to treat asthma, sleep apnea, snoring, anxiety attacks and panic attacks. These conditions are associated with disrupted or irregular breathing patterns and the Buteyko exercises aim to 'retrain' breathing to restore a natural pattern, akin to certain forms of Yoga.

The British Guideline on the Management of Asthma 2008 grants permission for British health professionals to recommend Buteyko, stating that the method "may be considered to help patients control the symptoms of asthma". The guideline also grades clinical research on Buteyko with a 'B' classification - indicating that high quality supporting clinical trials are available. No other complementary therapy has been endorsed by this body for the treatment of asthma. (source Wikipedia)

Chakra is a Sanskrit term meaning circle or wheel. There is a wide range of literature on chakra models, philosophy, and lore that underpin many philosophical systems and spiritual energy practices, religious observance, and personal discipline. Theories on chakras fit within systems that link the human body and mind into a single unit, sometimes called the "bodymind".

The chakras are described as being aligned in an ascending column from the base of the spine to the top of the head. In New Age practices, each chakra is often associated with a certain color. In various traditions chakras are associated with multiple physiological functions, an aspect of consciousness, a classical element, and other distinguishing characteristics. (source - Wikipedia)

Chakra Balancing refers to methodologies to create optimum flow of and within the Chakras individually and as a collective group. (source - Wikipedia)

Chi Nei Tsang (CNT) is an ancient form of bodywork from China that has been used for thousands of years for healing and maintaining good health. It uses a combination of massage, breath work and chi kung (energy management) to clear the body of physical toxins and emotional charges. Essentially it trains our internal organs to work more efficiently.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (also known as TCM) includes a range of traditional medical practices originating in China. TCM practices include theories, diagnosis and treatments such as herbal medicine, acupuncture and massage; often Qigong is also strongly affiliated with TCM. TCM theories derive from many sources including the theory of Yin-yang, the Five Phases, the human body Channel system, Zang Fu organ theory, and others.

Traditional Chinese medicine is largely based on the philosophical concept that the human body is a small universe with a set of complete and sophisticated interconnected systems, and that those systems usually work in balance to maintain the healthy function of the human body. The balance of yin and yang is considered with respect to qi ("breath", "life force", or "spiritual energy"), blood, jing ("kidney essence" or "semen"), other bodily fluids, the five elements, emotions, and the soul or spirit (shen). Unlike the Western anatomical model which divides the physical body into parts, the Chinese model is more concerned with function. Thus, the TCM spleen is not a specific piece of flesh, but an aspect of function related to transformation and transportation within the body, and of the mental functions of thinking and studying. (source - Wikipedia)

Chiropody, Podiatry or podiatric medicine is a field of healthcare devoted to the study and treatment of disorders of the foot, ankle, and the knee, leg and hip (collectively known as the lower extremity). It is practiced by podiatrists, chiropodists and podiatric surgeons. (source - Wikipedia)

Chiropractic (from Greek chiro- "hand-" + praktikós "concerned with action") is a complementary and alternative medicine health care profession that focuses on diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system and their effects on the nervous system and general health, with special emphasis on the spine. It emphasizes manual therapy including spinal manipulation and other joint and soft-tissue manipulation, and includes exercises and health and lifestyle counseling. Traditionally, it assumes that a vertebral subluxation or spinal joint dysfunction can interfere with the body's function and its innate ability to heal itself.

Although a wide diversity of belief exists among chiropractors, they share the principle that the spine and health are related in an important and fundamental way, and this relationship is mediated through the nervous system. Chiropractors pay careful attention to the biomechanics, structure and function of the spine, its effects on the nervous and musculoskeletal systems, and the role these systems play in preventing disease and restoring health. (source - Wikipedia)

Colon hydrotherapy - the use of Enemas in alternative medicine are referred to as colonic irrigation and involve the use of substances added or mixed with water in order to detoxify the body. Practitioners believe the accumulation of fecal matter in the large intestine leads to ill health, and false urban legends about fecal accumulation circulate on the internet. (source - Wikipedia)

Color therapy or Chromotherapy, sometimes called colorology, is an alternative medicine method where a therapist trained in chromotherapy can use color and light to balance energy wherever a person's body is lacking, be it physical, emotional, spiritual, or mental.

Chromotherapists claim a scientific basis for their practice proposing that colors bring about emotional reactions in people. When performing chromotherapy, color and light is applied to specific areas and acupoints on the body. Because colors get associated with both positive and negative effects in color therapy, specific colors and accurate amounts of color are deemed to be critical in healing. Some of the tools used for applying colors are gemstones, candles, wands, prisms, colored fabrics, bath treatments, and colored glasses or lenses. Therapeutic color can be administered in a number of ways, but is often combined with hydrotherapy and aromatherapy in an attempt to heighten the therapeutic effect. (source - Wikipedia)

Counseling (or counselling) can be defined as a relatively short-term, interpersonal, theory-based process of helping persons who are fundamentally psychologically healthy resolve developmental and situational issues.

There are probably as many definitions of counseling as there are practitioners to describe it. The term was originally used by Frank Parsons in 1908. It was adopted by Carl Rogers in response to widespread prejudice in the U.S. against lay therapists and also because he was not then permitted by the psychiatry profession to call himself a psychotherapist. (source - Wikipedia)

Craniosacral therapy (also called CST, cranial osteopathy, also spelled CranioSacral bodywork or therapy) is a method of Complementary and alternative medicine used by physical therapists, massage therapists, naturopaths, chiropractors and osteopaths. A craniosacral therapy session involves the therapist placing their hands on the patient, which they state allows them to tune into what they call the craniosacral system. By gently working with the spine, the skull and its cranial sutures, diaphragms, and fascia, the restrictions of nerve passages are said to be eased, the movement of CSF through the spinal cord can be optimized, and misaligned bones are said to be restored to their proper position. Craniosacral therapists use the therapy to treat mental stress, neck and back pain, migraines, TMJ Syndrome, and for chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia. (source - Wikipedia)

Crystal Therapy uses semiprecious and precious stones to enhance mental, spiritual and physical healing. It is based on the belief that certain crystals and gems possess a powerful energy that can positively affect imbalances in human energy fields and thus promote health and well-being.

During a Crystal Therapy session the patient may lie clothed on a comfortable bed or on a table. Stones of specific colour, pattern, or type can be placed around the body or on specific energy points. Stones may stay on sites of pain for 20 to 40 minutes. When a crystal or stone is held or topically applied, a person is accepting the vibrations that the gem has to offer, either intentionally or unconsciously. The interaction between the vibrations of the crystals and the vibrations of the person's body will trigger a series of responses including creating a spontaneous energy or vibrational flow. Crystal Therapy is a channel for pure positive energy and the client is responsible for accepting the healing. It can be deeply relaxing and can initiate the release of physical and emotional blockages. (source - naturaltherapypages.com.au website)

Cupping is a method of applying acupressure by creating a vacuum next to the patient's skin. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) it involves placing glass, plastic, or bamboo cups on the skin with a vacuum. The therapy is used to relieve what is called "stagnation" in TCM terms, and is used in the treatment of respiratory diseases such as the common cold, pneumonia, and bronchitis. Cupping is also used to treat back, neck, shoulder, and other musculoskeletal pain. This technique, in varying forms, has also been found in the folk medicine of Vietnam, the Balkans, modern Greece, Cyprus, Mexico, and Russia, among other places, including Iran where it is called 'bod-kesh' meaning literally 'pull with air'. Cupping was also commonly used as a Eastern European Jewish folk remedy, with the Yiddish name (bankes). Cupping is also sometimes practiced in BDSM for stimulation or pain. (source - Wikipedia)

Dance therapy, or dance movement therapy is the psychotherapeutic use of movement (and dance) for emotional, cognitive, social, behavioral and physical conditions. It is a form of expressive therapy. Certified dance therapists hold a masters level of training.

Dance therapy is founded on the premise that the body and mind are an interrelated continuum, that the state of the body may affect mental and emotional wellbeing in manifold ways. In contrast to artistic dance, which is usually concerned with the aesthetic appearance of movement, dance therapy explores the nature of all movement. Through observing and altering the kinesthetic movements of a client, dance movement therapists diagnose and help solve various psychological problems. As any conscious person can move on some level, this therapy can work with any population. (source - Wikipedia)

Dentistry is the "evaluation, diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment (nonsurgical, surgical or related procedures) of diseases, disorders and/or conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and/or the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body". Those in the practice of dentistry are known as dentists. Other people aiding in oral health service include dental assistants, dental hygienists, dental technicians, and dental therapists. (source - Wikipedia)

Dermatology is a branch of medicine dealing with the skin and its appendages (hair, sweat glands, etc). Hence, a dermatologist is schooled in aspects of surgery, rheumatology (many rheumatic diseases can feature skin symptoms and signs), immunology, neurology (the "neurocuteaneous syndromes", such as neurofibromatosis and tuberous sclerosis), infectious diseases and endocrinology. (source Wikipedia)

Dietitians (sometimes spelled dietician) are expert in food and nutrition. Dietitians help promote good health through proper eating. They also supervise the preparation and service of food, develop modified diets, participate in research, and educate individuals and groups on good nutritional habits. The goals of the dietary department are to obtain, prepare, and serve flavorsome, attractive, and nutritious food to patients, family members, and health care providers.

In many countries only people who have specified educational credentials can call themselves "dietitians" - the title is legally protected. The term "nutritionist" is also widely used; however, the term nutritionist is not regulated as dietitian is. People may call themselves nutritionists without the educational and professional requirements of registered dietitians. (source - Wikipedia)

Doula is a non-medical assistant who provides various forms of non-medical support (physical, emotional and informed choice) in the childbirth process. Based on a particular doulas training and background, the doula may offer support during prenatal care, during childbirth and/or during the postpartum period. A birth doula is a continuous care provider for labor in many settings. Thus a labor doula may attend a home birth or she might attend the parturient woman during labor at home and continue while in transport and then complete supporting the birth at a hospital or a birth center. A postpartum doula typically begins providing care in the home after the birth. Such care might include cooking for the mother, breastfeeding support, newborn care assistance, errands, light housekeeping etc. Such care is provided from the day after the birth, providing services through the first six weeks postpartum. In some cases, doula care can last several months or even to a year postpartum - especially in cases when mothers are suffering from postpartum depression, children with special needs require longer care, or there are multiple infants. (source - Wikipedia)

Ear candling, also called ear coning or thermal-auricular therapy, is an alternative medicine practice claimed to assist the natural clearing of earwax from a person's ear by lighting one end of a hollow candle and placing the other end in the ear canal. (source - Wikipedia)

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is a psychotherapeutic alternative medicine tool based on a theory that negative emotions are caused by disturbances in the body's energy field and that tapping on the meridians while thinking of a negative emotion alters the body's energy field, restoring it to "balance." The basic EFT technique involves holding a disturbing memory or emotion in mind and simultaneously using the fingers to tap on a series of 12 specific points on the body that correspond to meridians used in Chinese medicine. (source - Wikipedia)

Environment is a catch all phrase we use at Natural Health Library for anything that relates to our environment as distinct from a particular healing modality.

In this area you are likely to find articles relating to  genetic modification, cell phone radiation, immunisation and changes in the medical world where our environment is likelt to be endangered.

Exercise & Fitness is a generic term used for all aspects of exercise and fitness regimes, styles, sports and activities for the improvement of health and fitness.

Feldenkrais Method is an educational system centered on movement, aiming to expand and refine the use of the self through awareness. It is intended for those who wish to improve their movement repertoire (dancers, musicians, artists), as well as those wishing to reduce pain or limitations in movement, and many who want to improve their general well-being and personal development. Because it uses movement as the primary vehicle for gaining awareness, it is directly applicable to disorders that arise from restricted or habitually poor movement. But as a process for gaining awareness, it can expand a person's choices and responses to many aspects of life: emotions, relationships, and intellectual tasks; and it applies at any level, from severe disorder to highly professional performance. The Feldenkrais Method holds that there is no separation between mind and body, and thus learning to move better can improve one's overall well-being on many levels. (source - Wikipedia)

Feng shui (pronounced fung-shway or sometimes fung-shwee in English) is an ancient Chinese practice believed to utilize the Laws of both heaven (astronomy) and earth (geography) to help one improve life by receiving positive Qi. Many modern enthusiasts claim that feng shui is the practice of arranging objects (such as furniture) to help people achieve their goals. More traditionally, feng shui is important in choosing a place to live and finding a burial site, along with agricultural planning. Proponents claim that feng shui has an effect on health, wealth and personal relationships. (source - Wikipedia)

Herbalism is a traditional medicinal or folk medicine practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. Herbalism is also known as botanical medicine, medical herbalism, herbal medicine, herbology, and phytotherapy. Sometimes the scope of herbal medicine is extended to include fungi and bee products, as well as minerals, shells and certain animal parts.

Many plants synthesize substances that are useful to the maintenance of health in humans and other animals. These include aromatic substances, most of which are phenols or their oxygen-substituted derivatives such as tannins. Many of the herbs and spices used by humans to season food yield useful medicinal compounds.

Many of the pharmaceuticals currently available to physicians have a long history of use as herbal remedies, including opium, aspirin, digitalis, and quinine. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 80 percent of the world's population presently uses herbal medicine for some aspect of primary health care. Herbal medicine is a major component in all traditional medicine systems, and a common element in Ayurvedic, homeopathic, naturopathic, traditional Chinese medicine, and Native American medicine. (source - Wikipedia)

Homeopathy (also homœopathy or homoeopathy; from the Greek hómoios, "similar" + páthos, "suffering" or "disease") is a form of alternative medicine first defined by Samuel Hahnemann in the 18th century. Homeopathic practitioners contend that an ill person can be treated using a substance that can produce, in a healthy person, symptoms similar to those of the illness. According to homeopaths, serial dilution, with shaking between each dilution, removes the toxic effects of the remedy while the qualities of the substance are retained by the diluent (water, sugar, or alcohol). The end product is often so diluted that it is indistinguishable from pure water, sugar or alcohol. Practitioners select treatments according to a patient consultation that explores the physical and psychological state of the patient, both of which are considered important to selecting the remedy. Homeopathic remedies are generally considered safe, with rare exceptions. (source - Wikipedia)

Hypnotherapy is therapy that is undertaken with a subject in hypnosis.

The word "hypnosis" (from the Greek hypnos, "sleep") is an abbreviation of James Braid's (1843) term "neuro-hypnotism", meaning "sleep of the nervous system".

A person who is hypnotized displays certain unusual characteristics and propensities, compared with a non-hypnotized subject, most notably hyper-suggestibility, which some authorities have considered a sine qua non of hypnosis.

Hypnotherapy is often applied in order to modify a subject's behavior, emotional content, and attitudes, as well as a wide range of conditions including dysfunctional habits, anxiety, stress-related illness, pain management, and personal development. (source - Wikipedia)

Iridology (also known as iridodiagnosis) is an alternative medicine technique whose proponents believe that patterns, colors, and other characteristics of the iris can be examined to determine information about a patient's systemic health. Practitioners match their observations to iris charts which divide the iris into zones which correspond to specific parts of the human body. Iridologists see the eyes as "windows" into the body's state of health.

Iridologists use the corresponding charts to highlight certain systems and organs in the body as healthy and others as overactive, inflamed, or distressed. Iridologists believe this information may be used to demonstrate a patient's susceptibility towards certain illnesses, to reflect past medical problems, or to predict health problems which may be developing.

As it is not a method of treatment, its practitioners often study other branches of alternative medicine, such as naturopathy. (source - Wikipedia)

Kinesiology, also known as Human Kinetics, is the science of human movement. It focuses on how the body functions and moves. A kinesiological approach applies scientific and evidence based medical principles towards the analysis, preservation and enhancement of human movement in all settings and populations.

The practice of Kinesiology is the assessment of movement, performance, and function; and the rehabilitation, prevention, and management of disorders to maintain, rehabilitate, and enhance movement, performance, and function in the areas of sport, recreation, work, exercise, and activities of daily living. (source - Wikipedia)

Laser therapy is becoming increasingly useful for a wide range of skin and cosmetic conditions. The word laser stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.

Laser therapy works by putting out a very high intensity beam of light with a particular wavelength. The light passes through the outer layers of your skin and is absorbed by a specific target, which varies depending on the condition being treated. A number of conditions can be treated effectively with laser therapy. (source - mydr.com.au website)

Life coaching is a practice with the aim of helping clients determine and achieve personal goals. Life coaches use multiple methods that will help clients with the process of setting and reaching goals. Coaching is not targeted at psychological illness, and coaches are neither therapists nor consultants.

Life coaching has roots in executive coaching, which itself drew on techniques developed in management consulting and leadership training. Life coaching also draws inspiration from disciplines including sociology, psychology, positive adult development, career counseling, mentoring, and other types of counseling. The coach may apply mentoring, values assessment, behavior modification, behavior modeling, goal-setting, and other techniques in helping their clients. (source - Wikipedia)

Magnet therapy, magnetic therapy, magnetotherapy or magnotherapy is a complementary and alternative medicine practice involving the use of static magnetic fields. Practitioners claim that subjecting certain parts of the body to magnetostatic fields produced by permanent magnets has beneficial health effects. (source - Wikipedia)

Massage is the treatment and practice of manipulation of the soft body tissues with physical, functional, i.e. mechanical, medical/therapeutic, and in some cases psychological purposes and goals.

Massage involves acting on and manipulating the patient's body with pressure (structured, unstructured, stationary, and/or moving), tension, motion, or vibration done manually or with mechanical aids. Target tissues may include muscles, tendons, ligaments, skin, joints, or other connective tissue, as well as lymphatic vessels, and/or organs of the gastrointestinal system. Massage can be applied with the hands, fingers, elbows, forearm, and feet. There are over eighty different massage modalities. (source - Wikipedia)

Meditation is a discipline of consciousness, beyond the conditioned, "thinking" mind, in a state of relaxation. It often involves turning attention to a single point of reference. Meditation is recognized as a component of almost all religions, and has been practiced for over 5,000 years. It is also practiced outside religious traditions.

Different meditative disciplines encompass a wide range of spiritual and/or psychophysical practices which may emphasize different goals -- from achievement of a higher state of consciousness, to greater focus, creativity or self-awareness, or simply a more relaxed and peaceful frame of mind.

The various techniques of meditation can be classified according to their focus. Some focus on the field or background perception and experience, also called "mindfulness"; others focus on a preselected specific object, and are called "concentrative" meditation. There are also techniques that shift between the field and the object. As a method of stress reduction, meditation is often used in hospitals in cases of chronic or terminal illness to reduce complications associated with increased stress including a depressed immune system. (source - Wikipedia)

Mickel Therapy works by interpreting the message that the body has been trying to communicate via symptoms and then by giving clients a set of tools to guide themselves back to health. This allows clients to take responsibility for their own health and brings with it a sense of accomplishment and self-empowerment.    

A variety of so-called unfathomable and incurable conditions such as chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome are now in epidemic proportions around the world. Dr David Mickel MBChB MRCGP (UK), a medical doctor from the UK, spent years searching for answers, eventually creating Mickel Therapy which helps people to recover from these illnesses. Since using this treatment on hundreds of patients over a number of years, it has also been found to work effectively with stress, insomnia, anxiety and depression.

Mineral Therapy is a general term that can be applied to a variety of dissimilar methods. These methods range from the conventional medical to the alternative/complementary. Nutritional Therapists for instance believe that mineral deficiencies underpin many symptoms and illnesses and almost always prescribe minerals along with other trace elements and nutrients as part of their work. The doses prescribed are usually equal or greater than the recommended daily intake.

In contrast to the above, there is the older homoeopathic use of both macro and trace element minerals, where the mineral is mixed and diluted to the point where little or no physical mineral remains. Homoeopaths prescribe these remedies only following a very detailed assessment of not just the patient's physical condition, but also the patient's mental and emotional state.

The most notable method to stem from the homoeopathic era is that devised by Dr. William Schussler, who in 1873 identified twelve inorganic mineral salts that he believed to be essential for building and maintaining health. To this day, Schussler's mineral salts in both homoeopathic and non-homoeopathic form, are prescribed by practitioners and used by the self-medicating public as home remedies.

Myofascial Release is a form of soft tissue therapy which includes, but is not limited to structural assessments (where a formal diagnosis is not necessarily given) and manual massage techniques for stretching the fascia and releasing bonds between fascia, integument, muscles, and bones are mainly applied; with the goal of eliminating pain, increasing range of motion and balancing the body. The fascia is manipulated, directly or indirectly, allowing the connective tissue fibers to reorganize themselves in a more flexible, functional fashion. In addition Myofascial release can simply be considered a general manual massage technique any 'lay person' can use to eliminate general fascial restrictions. (source - Wikipedia)

Myotherapy is a chiropractic method intended to provide an integrated approach to alleviating musculoskeletal pain. It involves the treatment of nerves, joints and muscles, acting on all 3 during a treatment. It was first practiced in 1976 by Bonnie Pruden. Techniques used include: TENS therapy, Dry needling, Stretching, Corrective exercises, Mobilisation, Cupping, Massage. (source - Wikipedia)

Naturopathic medicine (also known as naturopathy or natural medicine) is a complementary and alternative medicine which emphasizes the ability of the body to heal and maintain itself, which practitioners believe is innate. Naturopathic practice may include different modalities and practitioners emphasize a holistic approach to patient care, and may recommend patients use conventional medicine alongside their treatments. Naturopathy has its origins in the Nature Cure movement of Europe. It is practiced in many countries but subject to different standards of regulation and levels of acceptance.

Naturopathic practitioners prefer not to use invasive surgery, or most synthetic drugs, preferring natural remedies, for instance relatively unprocessed or whole medications, such as herbs and foods. Graduates of a naturopathic medical school are trained to use diagnostic tests such as imaging and blood tests before deciding upon the full course of treatment. If the patient does not respond to these treatments, they are often referred to physicians who utilize standard medical care to treat the disease or condition. In some states, naturopathic doctors who hold an ND are licensed to prescribe pharmaceutical medicines and perform minor surgeries. (source - Wikipedia)

Neuro-linguistic programming (or NLP) is an interpersonal communication model and a controversial approach to psychotherapy, that was co-created by Richard Bandler and linguist John Grinder in the 1970s. It was based on the subjective study of language, communication and personal change, in particular, mainly through modeling three successful psychotherapists, Fritz Perls (gestalt therapy), Virginia Satir (family systems therapy), and eventually Milton H. Erickson (clinical hypnosis). Some consider NLP to be a set of techniques or strategies for enhancing communication and personal influence rather than a model or theory.

In general, NLP aims to increase behavioral and emotional flexibility and integration by instruction in using language, imagination, and the body in novel ways either by a practitioner/trainer, or by self-application. (source - Wikipedia)

A Nutritionist is a health specialist who devotes professional activity to food and nutritional science, preventive nutrition, diseases related to nutrient deficiencies, and the use of nutrient manipulation to enhance the clinical response to human diseases. They may also advise people on dietary matters relating to health, well-being and optimal nutrition. (source - Wikipedia)

Osteopathy is an approach to healthcare that emphasizes the role of the musculoskeletal system in health and disease. In most countries osteopathy is a form of complementary medicine, emphasizing a holistic approach and the skilled use of a range of manual and physical treatment interventions (osteopathic manipulative medicine, or OMM) in the prevention and treatment of disease. In practice, this most commonly relates to musculoskeletal problems such as back and neck pain.

Many osteopaths see their role as facilitating the body's own recuperative powers by treating musculoskeletal or somatic dysfunction. (source - Wikipedia)

Physiotherapy also known as Physical therapy in almost all English speaking countries provides services to individuals and populations to develop, maintain and restore maximum movement and functional ability throughout the lifespan. This includes providing services in circumstances where movement and function are threatened by aging, injury, disease or environmental factors. Functional movement is central to what it means to be healthy.

Physical therapy is concerned with identifying and maximizing quality of life and movement potential within the spheres of promotion, prevention, treatment/intervention, habilitation and rehabilitation. This encompasses physical, psychological, emotional, and social well being. Physical therapy involves the interaction between physical therapist (PT), patients/clients, other health professionals, families, care givers, and communities in a process where movement potential is assessed and goals are agreed upon. (source - Wikipedia)

The Pilates Method (or simply Pilates) is a physical fitness system developed in the early 20th century by Joseph Pilates. Pilates called his method Contrology, because he believed his method uses the mind to control the muscles. The program focuses on the core postural muscles which help keep the body balanced and which are essential to providing support for the spine. In particular, Pilates exercises teach awareness of breath and alignment of the spine, and aim to strengthen the deep torso muscles. (source - Wikipedia)

Podiatry, podiatric medicine or chiropody is a field of healthcare devoted to the study and treatment of disorders of the foot, ankle, and the knee, leg and hip (collectively known as the lower extremity). The range of disorders podiatry can address largely depends on the scope of practice laid down in national, state, and/or provincial jurisdiction. It is practiced by podiatrists, chiropodists and podiatric surgeons. (source - Wikipedia)

Polarity therapy is a "holistic" health system developed by Randolph Stone. Proponents believe that healing can be achieved through manipulation of what they describe as complementary (or "polarized") forces, and the term Stone borrowed from Chinese philosophy to describe those forces is yin and yang. Using touch, verbal interaction, exercise, nutrition and other methods, practitioners of Polarity Therapy seek to balance and restore the natural flow of energy which, it is claimed, flows from the universe and into the body through the chakras. The aim is to re-establish "balance". (source - Wikipedia)

Pranic Healing uses prana, or life energy, to create health and a feeling of well being in a person. Choa Kok Sui, a scientist, chemical engineer and teacher developed the modern form of Pranic Healing. Generally speaking, it works by clearing and correcting energy or pranic imbalances and blockages. Energy that is diseased, congested or depleted is removed, making room for fresh, new energy. (source - natural therapy pages website)

Psychiatry is a medical specialty which exists to study, prevent, and treat mental disorders in humans. Psychiatric assessment typically involves a mental status examination and taking a case history, and psychological tests may be administered. Physical examinations may be conducted and occasionally neuroimages or other neurophysiological measurements taken. Diagnostic procedures vary but official criteria are listed in manuals, the most common being the ICD from the World Health Organisation and the DSM from the American Psychiatric Association. Psychiatric medication is a central treatment option, which is largely unique to psychiatry along with rarer procedures such as Electroconvulsive therapy. (source - Wikipedia)

Psychology is an academic and applied discipline involving the phenomenological and scientific study of mental processes and behavior. Psychologists study such concepts as perception, cognition, emotion, personality, behavior, interpersonal relationships, and the individual and collective unconscious. Psychology also refers to the application of such knowledge to various spheres of human activity including issues related to daily life-e.g. family, education, and work-and the treatment of mental health problems. Psychology attempts to understand the role these functions play in social behavior and in social dynamics, while incorporating the underlying physiological and neurological processes into its conceptions of mental functioning. Psychology includes many sub-fields of study and application concerned with such areas as human development, sports, health, industry, media and law. (source - Wikipedia)

Psychotherapy is an interpersonal, relational intervention used by trained psychotherapists to aid clients in problems of living. This usually includes increasing individual sense of well-being and reducing subjective discomforting experience. Psychotherapists employ a range of techniques based on experiential relationship building, dialogue, communication and behavior change and that are designed to improve the mental health of a client or patient, or to improve group relationships (such as in a family). (source - Wikipedia)

Qigong (or ch'i kung) refers to a wide variety of traditional "cultivation" practices that involve methods of accumulating, circulating, and working with Qi or energy within the body. Qigong is sometimes mistakenly said to always involve movement and/or regulated breathing; in fact, use of special methods of focusing on particular energy centers in and around the body are common in the 'higher level' or evolved forms of Qigong. Qigong is practiced for health maintenance purposes, as a therapeutic intervention, as a medical profession, a spiritual path and/or component of Chinese martial arts. (source - Wikipedia)

Reflexology, or zone therapy, is the practice of massaging, squeezing, or pushing on parts of the feet, or sometimes the hands and ears, with the goal of encouraging a beneficial effect on other parts of the body, or to improve general health.

Whilst there is no consensus on how reflexology is supposed to work; a unifying theme is the idea that areas on the foot correspond to areas of the body, and that by manipulating these one can improve health through one's qi.

The precursor of modern reflexology was introduced to the United States in 1913 by William H. Fitzgerald, M.D. (1872-1942), an ear, nose, and throat specialist, and Dr. Edwin Bowers. Fitzgerald claimed that applying pressure had an anesthetic effect on other areas of the body. Reflexology was further developed in the 1930s and 1940s by Eunice D. Ingham (1899-1974), a nurse and physiotherapist. Ingham claimed that the feet and hands were especially sensitive, and mapped the entire body into "reflexes" on the feet. It was at this time that "zone therapy" was renamed reflexology. (source - Wikipedia)

Reiki is a spiritual practice used as a complementary therapy developed in 1922 by Mikao Usui. Reiki is described by adherents as a holistic therapy which brings about healing on physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels. The belief is that the energy will flow through the practitioner's hands whenever the hands are placed on, or held near a potential recipient, who can be clothed. Some teachings stress the importance of the practitioner's intention or presence in this process, while others claim that the energy is drawn by the recipient's injury to activate or enhance the natural healing processes.

A second level of training, is said to equip the practitioner to perform Reiki treatments from a distance. This method involves the use of special symbols to form a temporary connection between the practitioner and the recipient, regardless of location, and then to send the Reiki energy. (source - Wikipedia)

Remedial therapies are an extension of remedial massage which involves the application of a range of physical skills, to assist in bodily aches, pains, discomforts and physical limitations. The therapies listed under this banner include Acupressure, Aromatherapy, Sports Medicine, Chinese Massage, Shiatsu, Bach Flowers, Corrective Exercise Therapy, Nutrition, Reflexology and many other advanced bodywork techniques. (source - natural therapy pages website)

Rolfing or structural integration is a system of soft tissue manipulation, with the objective of realigning the body structurally and harmonizing its fundamental movement patterns in relation to gravity. The system was founded by Ida Pauline Rolf. Practitioners of Rolfing believe it to enhance vitality and well-being, and claim that after sessions, many clients stand up straighter, gain in height, and that soft-tissue bodily asymmetries tend to disappear. Rolfing is in some ways similar to deep tissue massage (see especially Myofascial Release), however, practitioners claim that Rolfing's attention to the balance of the body in gravity sets the practice apart. (source - Wikipedia)

Shamanic healing is conducted by Shamans who are reported to have the ability to diagnose and cure human suffering and, in some societies, the ability to cause suffering. This is believed to be accomplished by traversing the axis mundi and forming a special relationship with, or gaining control over, spirits. Shamans have been credited with the ability to control the weather, divination, the interpretation of dreams, astral projection, and traveling to upper and lower worlds. Shamanistic traditions have existed throughout the world since prehistoric times. (source - Wikipedia)

Shiatsu (Japanese from shi, meaning finger, and atsu, meaning pressure) is a traditional Japanese hands-on therapy based on anatomical and physiological theory and is regulated as a licensed medical therapy with the Ministry of Health and Welfare in Japan. Shiatsu is an evolving form. Various styles (called Derivative Shiatsu) incorporate (to differing degrees) aspects of Japanese massage traditions, Chinese Medicine practice, and "Western" anatomy and physiology.

In shiatsu therapy, practitioners promote the prevention and recovery of illnesses by stimulating the immune system and natural healing power that people already possess. Therefore, even without a diagnosis or with a language barrier, practitioners can, to quote Tokujiro Namikoshi, treat patients with "thumbs and thin futon" at any time. Treating the body as a whole, so they say, helps to restore the physical functions of the nervous system, circulatory system, bone structure, muscles, and internal secretion and stimulates its alleged natural ability to heal illness. That being said, skilled practitioners can contribute considerably to regional health and medical treatment. (source - Wikipedia)

Sound or Music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a qualified professional who has completed an approved music therapy program.

In other words, music therapy is the use of music by a trained professional to achieve therapeutic goals. Goal areas include, but are not limited to, motor skills, social/interpersonal development, cognitive development, self-awareness, and spiritual enhancement. Music therapy is now an established health service similar to occupational therapy and physical therapy. Music therapists use music to facilitate changes that are non-musical in nature. The use of music for those with arthritis provides opportunity for pain relief, anxiety and stress reduction and positive changes in both mood and emotional state.

Music therapists are found in nearly every area of the helping professions. Some commonly found practices include developmental work (communication, motor skills, etc.) with individuals with special needs, songwriting and listening in reminiscence/orientation work with the elderly, processing and relaxation work, and rhythmic entrainment for physical rehabilitation in stroke victims. (source - Wikipedia)

Speech Therapies is a generic term that covers the full range of treatments and/or devices used for creating clear speech and/or overcoming speech/hearing defects so that individuals are better able to communicate clearly and effectively.

Defined broadly, Spiritual or faith healing is the attempt to use religious or spiritual means such as prayer to prevent illness, cure disease, or improve health. Those who attempt to heal by prayer, mental practices, spiritual insights, or other techniques say they can summon divine or supernatural intervention on behalf of the ill. According to the varied beliefs of those who practice it, spiritual or faith healing may be said to afford gradual relief from pain or sickness or to bring about a sudden "miracle cure", and it may be used in place of, or in tandem with, conventional medical techniques for alleviating or curing diseases. (source - Wikipedia)

Tai chi chuan is generally classified as a form of traditional Chinese martial arts of the Neijia (soft or internal) branch. It is considered a soft style martial art - an art applied with internal power - to distinguish its theory and application from that of the hard martial art styles.

Since the first widespread promotion of tai chi's health benefits in the early twentieth century, it has developed a worldwide following among people with little or no interest in martial training, for its benefit to health and health maintenance. Medical studies of tai chi support its effectiveness as an alternative exercise and a form of martial arts therapy.

Some call it a form of moving meditation, as focusing the mind solely on the movements of the form purportedly helps to bring about a state of mental calm and clarity. Besides general health benefits and stress management attributed to tai chi training, aspects of traditional Chinese medicine are taught to advanced tai chi students in some traditional schools. (source - Wikipedia)

There are a number of different definitions of tantra from various viewpoints, not all of them necessarily consistent. Robert Brown notes that the term tantrism is a construction of Western scholarship and that:

It is not a concept that comes from within the religious system itself, although it is generally recognized internally as different from the Vedic tradition. This immediately makes it suspect as an independent category.

Rather than a single coherent system, Tantra is an accumulation of practices and ideas which has among its characteristics the use of ritual, the use of the mundane to access the supramundane and the identification of the microcosm with the . The Tantric practitioner seeks to use the prana (divine power) that flows through the universe (including one's own body) to attain purposeful goals. These goals may be spiritual, material or both. A practitioner of tantra considers mystical experience or the guidance of a guru imperative.

In the process of working with energy, the Tantric has various tools at hand. These include yoga, to actuate processes that will "yoke" the practitioner to the divine. Also important are the use of visualizations of the deity and verbalisation or evocation through mantras, which may be construed as seeing, listening internally and singing the power into a stronger state of being within the individual and an ever increasing awareness of the cosmic vibration through daily practice. Identification and internalisation of the divine is enacted, often through a total identification with a deity, such that the aspirant "becomes" the Ishta-deva or meditational deity

Source - Wikipedia

Tao is a metaphysical concept found in Taoism, Confucianism, and more generally in ancient Chinese philosophy. While the character itself translates as "way," "path," or "route," or sometimes more loosely as "doctrine" or "principle," it is used philosophically to signify the fundamental or true nature of the world. The concept of Tao differs from conventional (western) ontology: it is an active and holistic conception of the world, rather than a static, atomistic one.

While the Tao cannot be expressed, Taoism holds that it can be known, and its principles can be followed. Much of Taoist writing focuses on the value of following the Tao - called Te, or virtue - and of the ultimate uselessness of trying to control Tao outright. This is often expressed through yin and yang arguments, where every action creates a counter-action as a natural, unavoidable movement within manifestations of the Tao. Tao is often compared to water: clear, colorless, unremarkable, yet all beings depend on it for life, and even the hardest stone cannot stand in its way forever. (source - Wikipedia)

Theta healing was developed by Vianna Stibal and it is a fast, effective technique that is powerful and loving, and taps into a level of being that is beyond time and space. It helps you to quickly and safely change the way that you think and feel.

Theta healing looks for the causes of blockages to a person's natural functioning, such as their belief systems, genetic defects, repressed emotions, fears, and traumas. These blockages limit the flow of infinite spiritual energy. People often think that the path in front of them is too difficult and, when they start to achieve what they want, obstacles will arise that often seem insurmountable. Theta healing allows a person to identify those obstacles or blocks, and connect to the highest source in order to release the subconscious core beliefs and blocks on all four levels - core, genetic, past life, and soul. (source - natural therapy pages website)

Thought Field Therapy (TFT) was developed over 40 years ago by Dr Roger Callahan PhD, a pioneer of Cognitive Behavior Therapy. Put simply, TFT is a drug free and non-invasive treatment that is designed to eliminate the cause of negative emotions.

TFT is a meridian therapy and works by tapping specific meridian points on the body in a certain sequence. When these points are tapped in the correct order for a patient's specific disorder, the patient notices a rapid and dramatic improvement in the way that they feel. Usually, the patient is no longer troubled by their disorder. (source - Wikipedia)

Touch For Health is a form of kinesiology that restores the body to its natural state of health.  Developed in the early 1970s by Dr John Thie, Touch For Health is internationally recognized as the fundamental training concepts for kinesiology.

Touch For Health uses muscle monitoring or testing combined with Chinese medicine to diagnose and correct energy imbalances within the body.  It may use acupressure, touch or massage.  These are applied to the appropriate meridian points (energy points) within the body to improve the patient's health and wellbeing. (source - natural therapy pages website)

Traditional Chinese Medicine (also known as TCM) includes a range of traditional medical practices originating in China. It is considered a Complementary or Alternative Medical system in most of the world. TCM practices include theories, diagnosis and treatments such as herbal medicine, acupuncture and massage; often Qigong is also strongly affiliated with TCM. TCM theories derive from many sources including the theory of Yin-yang, the Five Phases, the human body Channel system, Zang Fu organ theory, and others.

Traditional Chinese medicine is largely based on the philosophical concept that the human body is a small universe with a set of complete and sophisticated interconnected systems, and that those systems usually work in balance to maintain the healthy function of the human body. The balance of yin and yang is considered with respect to qi ("breath", "life force", or "spiritual energy"), blood, jing ("kidney essence" or "semen"), other bodily fluids, the five elements, emotions, and the soul or spirit (shen). TCM has a unique model of the body, notably concerned with the meridian system. Unlike the Western anatomical model which divides the physical body into parts, the Chinese model is more concerned with function. Thus, the TCM spleen is not a specific piece of flesh, but an aspect of function related to transformation and transportation within the body, and of the mental functions of thinking and studying. (source - Wikipedia)

Trigger points, also known as myofascial trigger points, are areas of hyperirritability in the soft tissue structure. These can be acute sources of pain or latent, unnoticed by the client until pressure is applied by the practitioner. Trigger points are manifested as small contraction knots in the muscles, that control the state of contraction and active ones may cause muscle spasm and referred pain.

Treatment consists of physical therapy, manipulation and stretching. A firm digital pressure is applied by the practitioner, who is able to locate the specific points causing pain and restricted movement and these may often be located in places different to where the client actually feels the pain. (source - natural therapy pages website)

Tui na is a hands-on-body treatment using acupressure that is a modality of Chinese medicine whose purpose is to bring the body into balance. The principles being balanced are the eight principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The practitioner may brush, knead, roll/press and rub the areas between each of the joints (known as the eight gates) to open the body's defensive (wei) chi and get the energy moving in both the meridians and the muscles. The practitioner can then use range of motion, traction, massage, with the stimulation of acupressure points and to treat both acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions, as well as many non-musculoskeletal conditions. (source - Wikipedia)

Weight loss, in the context of medicine or health or physical fitness, is a reduction of the total body weight, due to a mean loss of fluid, body fat or adipose tissue and/or lean mass, namely bones mineral deposits, muscle, tendon and other connective tissue.

Therapeutic weight loss, in individuals who are overweight, can decrease the likelihood of developing diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, osteoarthritis and certain types of cancer. For healthy weight loss, a physician should be consulted to develop a weight loss plan that is tailored to the individual.

Weight loss occurs when an individual is in a state of negative energy balance. When the human body is spending more energy in work and heat than it is gaining from food or other nutritional supplements, it will use stored reserves of fat or muscle. Although weight loss may involve loss of fat, muscle or fluid, weight loss for the purposes of maintaining health should aim to lose fat while conserving muscle and fluid. (source - Wikipedia)

Yoga is an Indian spiritual path aimed at achieving the union with the Supreme Consciousness. Some yogas go beyond it and aim at the spiritual transformation of the entire human nature and obtaining immortality even for the physical body. A practitioner of Yoga is called a Yogi (male) or Yogini (female).

Outside India, yoga is mostly associated with the practice of asanas (postures) of Hatha Yoga or as a form of exercise. The majority of practitioners of yoga outside India are primarily interested in improving health and fitness. (source - Wikipedia)