Definitions of Alternative Medicine, Complementary Medicine, Adjunctive Medicine - Part 10

Psychology of evil: Nascent Christian psychological philosophy endorsed by M. (Morgan) Scott Peck, M.D. Peck is the author of The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth (Simon & Schuster, 1979), People of the Lie: The Hope for Healing Human Evil (Simon & Schuster, 1983), Further Along The Road Less Traveled: The Unending Journey Toward Spiritual Growth (Simon & Schuster, 1993), In Heaven as on Earth: A Vision of the Afterlife, and The Road Less Traveled and Beyond: Spiritual Growth in an Age of Anxiety (Simon & Schuster, 1997). In The Road Less Traveled (p. 273), Peck equated laziness with original sin, an alleged condition that Christianity ascribes to the first human's act of disobedience to God. Peck stated that the "lazy part of the self may actually be" the devil. In People of the Lie, which he called a "dangerous book," Peck claimed that he had "met" Satan. He stated: "As well as being the Father of Lies, Satan may be said to be a spirit of mental illness." In Further Along The Road Less Traveled, he asserts (pp. 186-187): "Spiritual/religious ideas and concepts are necessary in the treatment of many people. I realized that there was no way to treat people [with phobias] effectively without trying to convert them to a more benign worldview: a view of the world as at least a place in which they.had some kind of protection in the form of God's grace."

Psycho-Neuroaligning (PNA): System advanced by hypnotherapist and "Kinesiologist" Anthony Cimino, N.D., Ph.D. Its basic "procedures" include acupressure, muscle testing (see above), "neuro-communion," "nutritional therapy," "past life investigation," and reflexology.

Psycho-Neuro Integration (PNI, psychic healing): Method for "realigning" alleged "subtle energy centers" through integration of "subtle" and physical forms of energy.

psychosynthesis (psychosynthesis therapy): Form of spiritual psychotherapy originated in 1910 by Italian psychiatrist Roberto Assagioli, M.D. (1888-1974), and developed by Johannes Schultz. Its purported design is to effect the "integration" and "growth" of the self and to release and direct "psychic energies" allegedly generated thereby. Its theory posits chakras ("energy centers").

Psycho-Therapeutic ReikiSM (Psycho-Therapeutic ReikiSM healing): One of several Reiki Plus "healing modalities" allegedly co-created by God and Reverend David G. Jarrell. Its purported design is to release "the memories retained in the bodies and conscious and soul memory." Its theory posits a collective unconscious. pulse diagnosis: Purported detection or prediction of any "imbalance" simply by feeling the pulse.

Pythagorian numerology: System of numerology originated by the Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras; the Western form of numerology.

Qigong (also spelled "chi gong," and "chi gung"; originally called daoyin): 1. (Chi Kung, Chinese Energetic healing, Chinese Qigong therapy, Chinese yoga, internal Qigong, Kiko, Qi Gong, Qigong healing) Chinese form of self-healing whose purported aim is to "stimulate" and "balance" the flow of qi (chi, "vital energy") through meridians ("energy pathways"). It involves contemplation, visualization (imagery), assumption of postures, and stylized breathing and body movements. "Gong" (or "kung," as in "kung fu") is a Chinese word that pertains to skill. The word "qigong" literally means "breathing exercise," "to work the vital force," "practicing with the breath," or "working with the energy of life." Interpretations of the word include "energy skill" and "energy mastering exercise." 2. A vast group of systems and methods of ancient Chinese and twentieth-century origin that encompasses Qigong therapy.

quantum healing: Variation of self-healing advanced by Deepak Chopra, M.D. (see "Magical Mind, Magical Body" and "Primordial Sound Meditation"). Quantum healing is an alleged process of peacemaking wherein one "mode of consciousness"--the mind--corrects "mistakes" in another "mode of consciousness"--the body.

Quan Yin Method (Quan Yin Method of meditation): Ancient, theistic, lactovegetarian martial art unearthed and taught by Vietnamese-born Suma Ching Hai, whose father was a Catholic naturopath. The Quan Yin Method is a purported means of conquering all manner of "negative force" in or around oneself. One of its teachings is that eggs attract ghosts.

Radiance Breathwork: Form of breathwork developed by university professor Gay Hendricks, Ph.D., and dance therapist Kathlyn Hendricks, Ph.D. (who obtained her doctorate from a nonaccredited institute). Purportedly, it: (a) releases "unresolved" emotions "held" in the body, (b) increases one's ability to handle "positive energy," (c) can "clear" the effects of birth trauma, and (d) can ultimately "connect" one to life's boundless transpersonal dimension.

radionics (psionics): Ill-defined offshoot of radiesthesia founded and named by San Francisco-born neurologist Albert Abrams, M.D., M.A. (1863-1924), author of Spondylotherapy(1910) and New Concepts of Diagnosis and Treatment (1916). Radionics, which encompasses radionic diagnosis and radionic therapy, is a combination of clairvoyant diagnosis, distant diagnosis (remote diagnosis), and psychic healing. Abrams associated different diseases with different radio waves supposedly emitted by various parts of the body and by tissue samples. He invented an ostensibly diagnostic electrical system whose components included: a "Dynamizer"a receptacle for blood or tissue samples; three rheostats (devices that regulate electric current); and an electrode, which the practitioner would affix to the patient's forehead. Abrams claimed that one could even ascertain a patient's religion with his system, and that the patient's autograph could substitute for blood in the "Dynamizer." For "treatment," he recommended his "Oscilloclast": a device allegedly designed to emit curative vibrations.

Rainbow Diet: Theistic form of vegetarianism, chakra healing, and color therapy advanced by Gabriel Cousens, M.D., a practitioner of auricular acupuncture, crystal healing, and homeopathy. Cousens is also the author of Conscious Eating, Sevenfold Peace, and Spiritual Nutrition and The Rainbow Diet (1986). The Rainbow Diet's postulate is that every colored food--except flesh, fast food, junk food, frozen food, and irradiated food--"builds," "cleanses," "energizes," heals, and "rebalances" those glands, organs, and nerve centers associated with whichever major chakra is related to the food's surface color.

Raktamoksha: Ayurvedic form of bloodletting. According to its theory, (a) "toxemia" is the "basic cause" of hypertension, "thrombotic elements," and repeated acne, eczema, herpetic symptoms, hives, leukoderma, and scabies; (b) pitta ("fire plus water," one of the three Ayurvedic "humors") is a derivative of disintegrated red blood cells in the liver; (c) an increase of pitta in the blood may cause many disorders; and (d) extraction of a small amount of venous blood relieves the "tension" caused by "pittagenic toxins" in the blood.

radionic diagnosis (radionic analysis, radionic analysis technique, radionic diagnostic work): Form of remote diagnosis that involves using a "radionic diagnostic instrument." The basic modes of radionic diagnosis are the "stick pad" technique and a variation of telediagnosis.

raw juice therapy: Purported "Natural" therapy expounded by John B. Lust. It centers on ingestion of juice extracted fresh, with electric juicers, from fruits and vegetables. Its purported design is to correct "colloidal cell chemical composition" that has become "unbalanced" because of "unnatural" habits. Unpleasant reactions to raw juice therapy allegedly indicate that the juices do not "harmonize" with an unhealthy gastrointestinal condition or with an "acid condition" of the blood; supposedly, such reactions are thus signs of improvement.

Ray methods of healing: Subject of Ray Methods of Healing (Samuel Weiser, Inc., 1993), by Zachary F. Lansdowne, Ph.D. The Ray methods of healing are a takeoff on the Seven Ray techniques (esoteric healing) and embrace homeopathy, Pranic Healing, raja yoga (astanga yoga), and white magic.

rebirthing (circular breathing, conscious breathing, conscious-connected breathing, free breathing, vivation): A form of bodywork that uses hyperventilation. Leonard Orr developed rebirthing in the 1970s. Its purported goal is to resolve repressed attitudes and emotions that supposedly originated with prenatal and perinatal experiences. Practitioners, called "rebirthers," encourage patients to reenact the birth process.

receptive imagery: Freewheeling form of imagery (see above) whose design is to obtain insight into a particular problem. Supposedly, it may include a "dialogue" with images that represent symptoms. receptive prayer: Exercise of "spiritual faculties" that draws from "Infinite source currents."

reflexology: 1. Variation of acupressure whose postulate is that all bodily organs have corresponding external "reflex points" (on the scalp, ears, face, nose, tongue, neck, back, arms, wrists, hands, abdomen, legs, and feet), and that manipulation of these points can enhance the flow of "energy." 2. Foot Reflexology. 3. Zone therapy. 4. Macroreflexology and microreflexology. 5. A type of shiatsu that focuses on the hands and feet.

Reflexology Workout: Form of reflexology that is the subject of The Reflexology Workout: Hand and Foot Massage for Super Health and Rejuvenation, by Stephanie Rick. Purportedly, it is the equivalent of an internal massage and enables push-button control of hormone release.

Reichian Therapy (psychiatric orgone therapy, Reichian bodywork therapy, Reichian massage; called "vegetal therapy" in Europe): Psychoanalytic form of bodywork developed by Wilhelm Reich (1897-1957), the "discoverer" of orgone (see "orgone therapy"). According to Reichian theory, blockages to orgone cause neuroses and most physical disorders. Muscular contractions ("body armor") in various parts of the body supposedly manifest such "blockages." The Reichian "therapist" intuitively decides where the greatest "body armor" is and supposedly seeks to "dissolve" or "dismantle" it. Approaches to "dissolving" this "armor" include massage and having the patient breathe deeply, cry, gag, kick, make faces, scream, and roll his or her eyes. Apparently, Reichian Therapy is also called "Reichian vegetotherapy."

Reiki [ray-key] (reiki healing, Reiki system, reiki therapy, Usui method of Natural Healing, Usui Reiki, Usui shiki ryoho, Usui shiko ryoho, Usui shiko ryoho system of healing, Usui System, Usui System of Natural Healing; formerly called "leiki"): A form of chakra healing and a variation of the laying on of hands. It encompasses Reiki I and a form of distant healing (absent healing). Dr. Mikao Usui "rediscovered" Reiki in the late 1800s, in Japan. Reiki "therapists" supposedly channel reiki, "universal life energy power," through their bodies for storage in the solar plexus, and into "dis-eased" individuals for "rebalancing." Reiki purportedly works simultaneously on emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual "levels" and does not have any limitations. The Reiki system's postulate is that activated "Sacred Universal Symbols" evoke "healing energies." The word "reiki" combines two Japanese expressions: rei, which means "spirit" or "soul," and ki ("energy," "life force").

remote diagnosis (distant diagnosis): Alleged paranormal discovery and rendering of the type and/or cause of a particular patient's disease in the absence of the patient. Modes of remote diagnosis include clairvoyant diagnosis, the de la Warr system, distant pulse diagnosis, psionic medicine, radionic diagnosis, and telediagnosis.

Rife therapy: Purported electronic near-panacea originated by Royal Raymond Rife (b. 1888), who allegedly discovered a cure for cancer in 1930. According to its theory, every specific disease has a unique, modifiable electromagnetic signature. Use of "Rife instruments" characterizes the method.

Rolfing® (Rolfing Method of Structural Integration, structural integration, structural processing): Form of myofascial massage developed in the 1930s in New York by Ida P. Rolf, Ph.D. (1896-1979), an organic chemist who had studied yoga and chiropractic. The Rolf Institute, in Boulder, Colorado, founded in 1971, quoted her in a pamphlet: "Rolfers make a life study of relating bodies and their fields to the earth and its gravity field, and we so organize the body that the gravity field can reinforce the body's energy field." Rolfing theory posits "muscle memory": recollection of an incident "held" or "recorded" in a particular part of the body. Rolfers adjust the massage when they supposedly detect areas of "energy imbalance" within the body. Proponents claim that one's posture reveals past traumatic experiences, that Rolfing effects emotional and "energetic" release, and that this alleged release restores the flow of "vital energy" and integrates mind and body.

Rosen Method (Rosen Method bodywork, Rosen Method psychospiritual bodywork): "Psycho-physical" system of bodywork developed in the 1970s by San Francisco physical therapist Marion Rosen, coauthor of The Rosen Method of Movement. It purportedly unlocks the unconscious and integrates body, mind, emotions, and spirit. The method reportedly involves "non-intrusive" touching, verbal interaction, and experiencing breath as the "gateway to awareness." A postulate of the Rosen Method is that the body protects one from painful past experiences by separating one from one's "essential self" ("true self"). Shortness of breath and chronic muscle tension supposedly manifest this alleged protection.

Rubenfeld Synergy® Method (Rubenfeld Synergy): Form of body-centered psychotherapy that borrows from the Alexander Technique, the Feldenkrais Method, Gestalt therapy, and hypnotherapy. Onetime orchestra conductor Ilana Rubenfeld developed the method in the early 1960s. Rubenfeld has described the body as "the sacred sanctuary of the soul." Rubenfeld Synergy includes aura analysis and dreamwork.

rune casting (casting): Mode of divination in which one throws "runestones"--pebbles bearing glyphs, which typically are characters used by ancient Germanic and Norse peoples. In runic divination (a related method), one may toss "matchstick Runes" or draw from a bag or hat: (a) "notepad Runes," folded sheets of scratch pad paper bearing special figures ("Runes"); or (b) tiles from the board game Scrabble®.

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