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

Upledger CranioSacral TherapySM: Apparently, the brand of CranioSacral Therapy promoted by the International Alliance of Healthcare Educators, which shares an address in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, with The Upledger Institute, Inc.

urine therapy (amaroli, auto-urine-therapy, shivambu kalpa, uropathy): Subject of The Water of Life (1937), by English urine therapist John W. Armstrong. "Urine therapy" refers to any "healing" method characterized by the application of an individual's urine to that individual. Forms of urine therapy include ingestion of urine, application to the skin, enemas, and injection. Some proponents claim that urine is a God-given panacea.

Vedic Astrology (Jyotish, jyotisha): Ancient system that allegedly helps to resolve doubts concerning children, health, "spiritual growth," and other subjects. Suggestions regarding donations, gemstones, herbs, mantras, yantras (mystic "diagrams"), and rituals are integral to the system.

vibrational medicine (energetic medicine, energetics medicine, energy medicine, subtle-energy medicine, vibrational healing, vibrational therapies): "Healing philosophy" whose main "tenet" is that humans are "dynamic energy systems" ("body/mind/spirit" complexes) and reflect "evolutionary patterns" of "soul growth." Its postulates include the following. (a) Health and illness originate in "subtle energy systems." (b) These systems coordinate the "life-force" and the "physical body." (c) Emotions, spirituality, and nutritional and environmental factors affect the "subtle energy systems." Vibrational medicine embraces acupuncture, aromatherapy, Bach flower therapy, "chakra rebalancing," channeling, color breathing, color therapy, crystal healing, absent healing, Electroacupuncture According to Voll (EAV), etheric touch, flower essence therapy, homeopathy, Kirlian photography, laserpuncture, the laying on of hands, meridian therapy, mesmerism, moxibustion, orthomolecular medicine, Past-life Regression, Polarity Therapy, psychic healing, psychic surgery, radionics, the Simonton method, sonopuncture, Toning, Transcendental Meditation, and Therapeutic Touch. The expressions "energy healing," "energy work," and "energetic healing work" appear synonymous with "vibrational medicine."

wise woman healing (WiseWoman Healing Ways, Wise Woman tradition, wisewoman ways): Variation of Nature Cure. It emphasizes empiricism and intuition and includes herbalism, meditation, ritual, spirit healing, and "spirit work with plants." One of its postulates is that the moon guides women's bodies.

Wu Ming Qigong (Wu Ming Qigong system, Taoist Wu Ming Qigong): Millennia-old "self-healing practice" taught by the American Taoist Healing Center, Inc., in New York City. It allegedly helps users connect body, mind, and spirit. Its theory posits a transfer, from teacher to student, of "energy" that heals and guides the student. Proponents use the Chinese expression "wu ming," which literally means "no name," to refer to the "original natural force" from which everything's "essence" flows.

yagya: Vedic (Hindu) ceremony purportedly designed to engage at least one deity in promoting health and restoring "environmental balance."

Yantra Yoga (Tibetan Yantra Yoga, Yantra Tibetan Yoga): Tibetan Buddhist variation of hatha yoga. The purported benefits of practicing Yantra Yoga include "balanced energy" and "spiritual development."

Zazen: Ancient form of meditation that purportedly enables touching the "source of life." Apparently, Zazen supposedly also helps to "awaken" jariki, a form of "spiritual energy."

Zen Macrobiotics: Early form of macrobiotics, endorsed by Herman Aihara (1920-1998) and Cornelia Aihara. The Aiharas were students of George Ohsawa (see "macrobiotics") and founded, in 1974, the Vega Study Center, in Oroville, California. The school teaches Zen Macrobiotics.

Zone therapy (Reflex Zone Therapy, reflex zone massage): Early form of Western reflexology introduced in the United States in 1913 by William H. Fitzgerald, M.D., a specialist in diseases of the ear, nose, and throat. Fitzgerald, author of Zone Therapy, or Relieving Pain at Home (1917), divided human anatomy into ten zones and professed that "bioelectrical" energy flowed through these zones to "reflex points" in the hands and feet. His method, which was also called "zonotherapy," included the fastening of wire springs around toes. Fitzgerald's associate, Edwin F. Bowers, M.D., coined the name "zone therapy." Today, zone therapy may include the attachment of clothespins to fingertips and the use of pencils and aluminum combs.

A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods by Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. © 1997 & 1998 American Council on Science and Health