Definitions of Alternative Medicine, Complementary Medicine, Adjunctive Medicine - Part 11 of 13

sacral/spinal energy balancing: Form of bodywork whose apparent main premise is that, when the "sacrum or 'sacred bone'" and the spine ("the 'tree of life'") align, the cranium "opens like a flower."

sacred psychology: "Experiential psychology" developed by psychologist Jean Houston, former president of the Association for Humanistic Psychology. Its theory posits three realms of experience: ordinary reality, a collective unconscious, and "the realm of God," which purportedly is immanent in the "High Self."

scalp acupuncture therapy (head acupuncture): Puncture of specific areas on the scalp that supposedly are externalizations of acupuncture meridians (alleged routes of Qi).

Schuessler biochemic system of medicine (biochemic medicine, biochemic system of medicine, biochemic system of medicines, tissue salts therapy): Quasi-homeopathic system founded in the late nineteenth century by German physician Wilhelm Heinrich Schuessler (also spelled "Schussler"). Schuessler held that all curable diseases were curable with minuscule "doses" of one or more of a dozen inorganic compounds, called "cell salts" or "tissue salts": the fluoride, phosphate, and sulfate salts of calcium; the chloride, phosphate, and sulfate salts of sodium and potassium; the phosphate salts of iron and magnesium; and silicon dioxide.

scientific palmistry: Variation of medical palmistry practiced by Nathaniel Altman, author of Discover Palmistry, Medical Palmistry, Palmistry for Lovers, The Palmistry Workbook, and Sexual Palmistry. Supposedly, it involves "analysis" of the consistency and flexibility of the client's hands and reveals "detailed" information about health and spirituality.

sclerology (sclera diagnosis): Ostensibly diagnostic method whose main assumption is that markings in the sclera (white of the eyeball), according to their shape and location, signify various health problems.

self-healing: Purported approach to health, or alleged process of attainment thereof, that typically involves using affirmations, prayer, and/or visualization techniques (see "creative visualization") to tap one's "innate healing potential" or vital force. Its apparent postulate is that anyone who does not have congenital or hereditary defects, has not had exposure to "damaging" radiation, has not ingested alcohol or other drugs excessively, has a "nourishing" diet, and genuinely wants to enjoy good health, can do so because each of his or her "basic systems" is perfect.

Shabda Yoga: An ancient method that involves chanting, devotional music, and simple hatha-yoga and kundalini-yoga postures and "techniques." Shabda Yoga is a purported means of dissolving "blockages," increasing vitality, and merging with the "divine energy" of the cosmos. The Sanskrit word "shabda" literally means "sound."

shadow sound therapy© (SST, shadow therapy): "Modality" developed by Elidé M. Solomont, Ph.D., composer, Jungian psychotherapist, "sound healer," and author of One Day We'll All Be Together and You Are Who You Hate--The Alchemy of Dissonance: History, Theory, Self Reports, Practice for Therapeutic Purpose (Vantage Press, Inc., 1995). SST is a combination of guided imagery and music therapy. According to its theory, (a) if one listens to unfamiliar, unstructured, or inharmonic music, one will face one's "shadow" (a "dark side" that disappoints); and (b) interpreting "images of the unconscious" can effect healing.

Shamanic Counseling: Derivative of shamanism that encompasses power animal retrieval and listening to prerecorded chanting and drumming. Its theory posits wise, helpful spirits. shamanic extraction healing (extraction method of healing): Method that purportedly involves sensing and removing "localized spiritual illness and pain."

shamanic healing: Group of methods including power animal retrieval, soul retrieval, and soul part integration.

shiatsu (acupressure, schiatsu, shiatsu massage therapy, shiatsu therapy, shiatzu): "Healing art" whose major types are acupressure, shiatsu massage, and Zen Shiatsu. Its theory posits ki ("vital energy"), meridians ("energy pathways"), and tsubos: "vital" points or "holes" on the body that are susceptible to healthful stimulation. "Shiatsu" is the abbreviation of a Japanese word that literally means "finger-pressure treatment" (shi means finger, or fingers, and atsu means pressure). Practitioners may be called "shiatsuists."

Shinkiko {Shinkiko (true ki) Energy Flow, true ki energy flow}: Allegedly the ultimate "healing art" from Japan. Shinkiko is an "intuitive medical science" founded by Masato Nakagawa, Ph.D. Somewhat similar to Qigong, it purportedly involves application of "Shin-ki" ("healing-energy"). Supposedly, Shinkiko "therapists" can tap a "limitless universal energy source." The Japanese word "shin" refers to an alleged soul-like "divine spirit." ("Kiko" means Qigong.)

Shirodhara: Ayurvedic "treatment" in which warm sesame oil, or a warm "herbal oil," streams onto the forehead of a recumbent person. Its purported design is to purify the "mind-body" and relax the nervous system.

Siddha (Saiva school of medicine, Siddha medicine, Siddha system, Siddha system of medicine): Tamil system related to Ayurveda and supposedly of divine origin. "Tamil" refers to an ancient tradition of southern India and northern Sri Lanka. Siddha theory posits five mahabhutas (see "prakrtika cikitsa"). The Sanskrit word "Siddha" literally means "perfect, complete."

Silva Mind Control (Silva Mental Dynamics, Silva Method, Silva Method of mind development, Silva Mind Control method, Silva Mind Control Method of Mental Dynamics, Silva Mind Control program of Mental Dynamics, Silva Mind Control system, Silva mind method): Brainchild of José Silva codeveloped by Burt Goldman. Silva, an unschooled electronics engineer born in Texas in 1914, expounded his method with different coauthors in The Silva Mind Control Method (1978) and The Silva Mind Control Method of Mental Dynamics (1988). Silva Mind Control is a "positive thinking philosophy" of meditative "self-help" that purportedly effects alpha rhythm, a brain wave that occurs in humans during wakeful relaxation. Proponents have claimed that the method enables telepathy. One of its principles ("universal rules") is that the universe is a "mental creation" of God. Another is that "vibration" is the root of health, illness, success, and failure.

Simonton method: Form of guided imagery developed by radiation oncologist Oscar Carl Simonton, M.D., and his former wife, psychologist Stephanie Matthews-Simonton. Dr. Simonton is coauthor of the bestseller Getting Well Again and its sequel, The Healing Journey: The Simonton Center Program for Achieving Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Health. Apparently, the "basic premise" of the Simonton method is that cancer is a message of love and an invitation to become "who we truly are."

Soaring Crane Qigong (crane style chi gong, Soaring Crane): Simplified and allegedly fast-acting form of Qigong developed by Zhao Jin-Xiang before 1980. Shen Rong-er introduced it in the United States with her husband, Wu Yi. Soaring Crane Qigong purportedly clears "meridians."

somatic therapy (somatic disciplines, somatic methods, somatics, somatic techniques, somatic therapies): Field that encompasses aikido, the Alexander Technique, applied kinesiology, Arica, Aston-Patterning, Awareness Through Movement, bioenergetics, Body-Mind Centering®, "Capoeria," "Continuum," CranioSacral Therapy, Eutony, Focusing, Functional Integration, Hakomi, Hellerwork, judo, karate, kundalini yoga, kung fu, "Lomi" (see "lomi-lomi" and "Lomi work"), "Oki yoga" (see "Oki-Do"), Process-Oriented Psychotherapy (process psychology), rebirthing, reflexology, Resonant Kinesiology, Rolfing, "Rosen work" (see "Rosen Method"), "sensory awareness," SHEN, somasynthesis, tai chi, Touch for Health, Trager, "Trans Fiber," yoga therapy, and Zero Balancing. "Subtle-energy elements" are a commonality of somatic therapies. Thomas Hanna, founder of the journal Somatics, coined the word "somatics."

Sotai (Sotai Therapy): "Natural" system of bodywork developed by Keizo (Keiji) Hashimoto, M.D., in Japan, and endorsed by Kenzo Kase, D.C. It purportedly enables one to adapt to one's environment by "harmonizing" breathing, eating, thinking, and moving. Sotai uses a "sensitive point" on the "liver meridian" (an alleged channel or pathway for "vital energy"). The word "Sotai" combines two Japanese characters: So, which means "to manipulate," and Tai, which means "body."

soul-centered psychology: Afrocentric mode of psychotherapy advanced by John Bolling, M.D. Its theory posits: (a) "soul perception" and (b) "archetypal energies of the psyche" that are susceptible to harmonization.

soul retrieval: Form of spiritual healing promoted by Sandra Ingerman, M.A., and Christina Pratt. In soul retrieval, the shamanic healer purportedly "journeys" to "other realms" to retrieve the client's "soul parts" and restore the client's "vital lifeforce."

spiritual healing: Form of channeling and energy medicine (vibrational medicine) that allegedly involves the "transference" (commonly through the hands) of "healing energy" from its spiritual source to one who needs help. Its theory posits a "spiritual body."

spiritual midwifery: Childbearing philosophy expounded by Ina May Gaskin in her book of the same name. It posits God; indivision of humanity ("We are all One"); shakti (divine female "energy"); and "spiritual energy" that is "Holy." Moreover, it euphemizes contractions as "energy rushes" and holds that "pregnant and birthing mothers" are "elemental forces" and that a husband and wife form a "single energy unit."

spiritual psychology: "Healing modality" that stems from anthroposophy, archetypal psychology, and Jungian psychology.

Sufi healing: Tradition of faith healing based on Sufism, an Islamic form of mysticism that developed mainly in Persia (Iran). It is based particularly on the teachings of one of the largest Sufi orders, the Chishti order. Sufi healing includes abjad, breathwork, fasting, and prayer. According to its theory--which posits devils, ghosts, and jinn (genies)--disbelief in God is the most severe "imbalance."

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