Glossary

We know, medical jargon can be hard to understand, so this list defines some of the terms you'll find in this Web site. Looking for a definition that's not on this list? Just send us an email and we'll get back to you - then we'll add it to our Glossary! Thanks.

ACUPUNCTURE
The term acupuncture is derived from the Latin “acus” (needle) plus the English “puncture.” It is a method which originated in the ancient orient, particularly in China, to manipulate energy flow in the body. Utilizing very thin needles, the practitioner inserts the needles at specific points along the body’s energy meridians (see Meridian System). The needles are inserted to various depths, and left stationary or rotated to raise or lower the flow of energy. “Blockages” to the free flow of energy are removed, thereby allowing the body to return to health. In the U.S., it has been especially accepted and used to relieve painful conditions.

ACUTE
A condition with a sudden onset (usually within the last few weeks), that is relatively severe in nature.

ADJUSTMENT
The terms adjustment and manipulation are often used interchangeably, but they are not exactly the same (see Manipulation). An adjustment is a treatment unique to the chiropractic profession which mobilizes (loosens) and realigns a bone, usually a vertebra, which has lost its normal range of movement and alignment with an adjacent bone (see Subluxation). Prior to the adjustment, in-depth analysis helps to identify only those few bones in the body which have lost normal movement. The force (adjustment) must be delivered with precise direction, amplitude and depth to move only one bone at a time. Most of the time, this force/adjustment is delivered by hand, but mechanical instruments also may be used. By contrast, manipulation is much less precise.

ALLERGY
Medically the term is more specific, but for purposes of this site, an allergy is defined as any physical or emotional reaction to a substance or energy that a large number of other people don’t react to. The symptoms of reaction can include acne, brain fog, digestive upset, fatigue, depression, headaches, sinusitis, weight problems, addictions and virtually anything in between. An allergen - the thing that causes the allergic reaction - can be living or not, and can trigger a reaction by contact, inhalation, ingestion and exposure (such as is the case with sunlight and other energies).

ARTHRITIS
Inflammation and damage in a joint. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis, also called degenerative arthritis. It is not so much a disease as it is a process. Generally, it is due to wear and tear on a joint, resulting from repetitive stressful movement, and/or abnormal rubbing in the joint resulting from boney misalignment due to previous trauma (see Subluxation). The second most common form of arthritis is rheumatoid, which is a disease process whereby the body attacks and destroys its own connective tissue in the joints. Although the cause isn’t fully known, there is a relationship to allergies, and flair-ups are many times triggered by stress, exposure to toxins, and/or certain foods

AUTONOMIC
The part of the nervous system which controls the tissues, organs and systems without conscious thought. There are two divisions: the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic. Generally, the sympathetic system speeds up most functions and the parasympathetic system slows them down to create a balance. None of the nerves in the autonomic system carries pain sensations.

CERVICAL
The section of the spine in the neck, which is composed of 7 vertebra and their discs.

CHIROPRACTIC
The word chiropractic comes from the combination of two Greek words: “Chiro” meaning hand and “Practos” meaning done by. Reversing the order of the words and joining them results in “done by hand”, which is primarily how chiropractic analysis and treatment is performed. More specifically, chiropractic is a conservative, holistic from of health care. If focuses primarily on the nervous system, which controls the function of the entire body, and the spinal column, which houses the spinal cord and can affect the function of the nervous system.

CHIROPRACTOR
A doctor whose emphasis is on removing interference with the function of the nervous system caused by the spine. Chiropractors are especially interested in finding the cause of a symptom or disease and correcting it. In many cases, the symptom or disease results from interference with the proper functioning of the nervous system. This interference is usually produced by a bone in the spinal column irritating or placing pressure on a spinal nerve root. When this occurs, it results in malfunction of the organ controlled by that nerve and/or pain. The primary method of treatment is adjustment (see Adjustment) of the bones in the spinal column, but chiropractors may also utilize physical therapy modalities, food supplements, exercise, dietary and other lifestyle changes to assist healing and help maintain health. Drugs and surgery are not utilized by chiropractors.

CHRONIC
A condition which has been present several months or more and can range in severity from mild to extreme.

DISC
A tough shock absorbing pad separating the vertebrae in the spinal column, which allows one vertebra to pivot on the other. It is made up of rings of criss-crossing collagen (connective tissue) fibers surrounding a jelly-like center called the nucleus. The fibers of collagen can tear and allow the nucleus to bulge outward, even totally extrude, however, the disc itself can not slip due to its strong attachment to the adjacent bones.

FIXATION
Loss of the normal range - of - movement of a bone due to muscle spasm, constriction of the ligaments or capsule around a joint, or bony changes, such as in the case of arthritis. This can be caused by major traumas, such as automobile accidents or falls, repeated minor traumas, such as from keyboarding or using power tools for many hours, or from certain disease processes.

GONSTEAD CHIROPRACTIC
This is a specific system of treatment and case management within chiropractic developed by Dr. C.S. Gonstead. Dr. Gonstead was a mechanical engineering before be coming a chiropractor, therefore, he used engineering principles to analyze the spine and skeletal structure in general. Practicing in a small town in Wisconsin for over 50 years, he saw more patients in his lifetime than any other chiropractor to date. People came from all over the world to see him. He was also known as the chiropractor’s chiropractor, because of the incredible results he achieved with even the most difficult cases. He revolutionized Chiropractic treatment and the use of x-rays in chiropractic analysis. His method of analysis, treatment and case management is known for its preciseness, comprehensiveness, safety, and most importantly results. For complete information about Dr. Gonstead and his revolutionary techniques, click here <insert link to Gonstead PDF>

HOLISTIC (or Wholistic)
This refers to “taking into consideration” the whole person as it relates to their health. When diagnosing a person’s health problem(s), the care giver must consider the integration of their body, mind and spirit. Alternative care providers are usually “generalists” who take a holistic approach, where as, medical doctors tend to be more specialized in their approach. They focus more on the area of the chief complaint, with less regard for how the rest of the body parts interrelate.

HOMEOSTASIS
A condition in the body where all organs, systems and processes are functioning in balance and harmony. The checks and balances are operating properly and there is neither too much activity nor too little. Homeostasis equals health.

KINESIOLOGY
This refers generally to the study of human movement as it relates to health and disease. Applied Kinesiology more specifically observes and tests body movement and muscle strength to diagnose imbalances in the body and monitor the effectiveness of corrective treatments.

LUMBAR
The section of the spine in the lower back, composed of 5 vertebra and their discs

MANIPULATION
The terms manipulation and adjustment are often used interchangeably, but they are not exactly the same (see Adjustment). A manipulation moves bones and increases movement in joints, but generally, there is less analysis to determine which bones to manipulate. As a result, there is less preciseness in delivering the force and which bones move. With a manipulation, usually multiple bones move with the delivered force (typically, with the thrust of the hand). This may loosen several joints that are restricted, but it is less likely to improve alignment and may over-stretch some joints which were already moving normally. In contrast, a chiropractic adjustment is much more precise.

MERIDIAN SYSTEM
This is the unseen system in the body which is involved with the flow of energy or life force. There are connections with the “Universe” from outside in, and internal channels like tiny rivers along which the energy flows. Along these energy pathways are (acupuncture/acupressure) points, where the energy is more concentrated and can be increased or decreased by massage, vibration, needles or electricity, or some combination of these (see Acupuncture).

MISALIGNMENT
A bone which has moved from its normal position in relation to an adjacent bone or bones (see Subluxation).

NAET
Nambudripad’s Allergy Elimination Technique was developed by Dr. Devi Nambudripad, Chiropractor, Licensed Acupunturist, P.h. D. and M.D. Born in India, but residing in California, she developed a method of desensitizing the body to virtually any allergen without injections, medications, or nutritional supplements. The principles of this technique are derived from Dr. Nambudripad’s various backgrounds in health care. It utilizes the acupuncture points along the meridian energy system for analysis and treatment. By having a patient hold a suspected allergen and the doctor testing the strength of a muscle while touching various acupuncture points, the doctor can determine if there is a drop in energy in any of the meridians, indicating a sensitivity. Treatment is then administered by tapping, massaging, and/or using vibration over acupuncture points along the spine and on the arms and legs. This is followed by not touching and/or eating the allergen for at least 24 hours after the treatment to “lock-in” the correction. For more information about Dr. Nambudripad and her amazing NAET, click here <insert link to NAET>

NRT
Nutritional Reflex Technique utilizes muscle testing to analyze the flow of energy through the body’s meridian system and determine if there is malfunction in a tissue or organ. By touching specific acupuncture points and performing a manual muscle strength test at the same time, a doctor can determine if there is an imbalance in the function of a certain tissue or organ. Then by repeating he test with the patient holding samples of various nutritional supplements, the doctor can also determine those supplements which would be helpful in correcting the imbalances. This system is not meant to diagnose a specific pathology or disease, but through the step-by-step supplement and diet programs indicated, many times homeostasis is restored to the body, and thus health. For more information about NRT and it’s developer, Dr. Lasneski, click here <insert link to NAET>

PALPATION
Touching the body lightly or deeply in a stationary position is called static palpation. It is used to check the shape, size, and/or consistency (status) of an organ or tissue. Motion palpation involves touching the body over a part, while the body is moved. It is used to determine if a structure, such as a vertebra, is moving normally.

PATHOLOGY
Disease development

SCOLIOSIS
Side to side curvature of the spine. Typically with a “classic” scoliosis there is an S-shape to the spine, starting to one side in the low back, then to the opposite side and back again in the middle and upper back. However, scoliosis can simply be a one-sided curve in any part of the spine.

SOMATIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
This is the part of the nervous system which carries pain sensations and voluntarily controls muscle functions.

SUBLUXATION
A vertebra or other bone which has misaligned (moved from its normal position) and become fixated (restricted) in movement, causing irritation of the surrounding tissue. The irritation results in inflammation, swelling, pain, and eventually loss of function and degeneration/atrophy. In the case of a vertebra, the misalignment and fixation will result in irritation, or occasionally compression or pinching, of the spinal nerve root exiting the spinal column between that bone and the adjacent one. This irritation or compression of the nerve will, in turn, cause pain along the course of the nerve and/or malfunction (with or without pain) of the tissue or organ supplied that nerve.

SUPPLEMENTS
Vitamins, minerals, food concentrates and herbs which are taken orally to boost the nutritional level of the body. They can be used to make-up for deficiencies or to add extra elements to the body to bring about a physiologic change. Generally, they are used to help restore and maintain health.

THORACIC
The section of the spine in the mid to upper back composed of 12 vertebra and their discs. Each vertebra in the thoracic spine is also attached to 2 ribs, one on each side.

VERTABRA
One of the bones which makes up the spinal column. There are 24 vertebrae in the spine: 7 cervicals (neck), 12 thoracic (mid and upper back) and 5 lumbar (lower back). All vertebrae, except the top two, are separated by a disc. From between each two vertebrae, a pair of spinal nerves, which branch off from the spinal cord, exits the spine.