Alternative Medicine Words
Commonly Used & Alternative Medicine Terminology
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |
In these “back to nature” times, many patients are seeking alternative care in the form of ancient methods of treatment. It may also be a way to get around the HMO dilemma! Whether or not these methods are effective is not the problem for a transcriptionist; we simply need to know how to spell the alternative and unconventional medical terms that doctors may dictate with relation to the types of treatment(s) and products patients are self-prescribing. Some of the following products and practices are actually prescribed by a conventional medicine practitioner, such as acupuncture, echinacea, glucosamine and midwifery; however, many patients have never seen a conventional doctor (conventional by American standards, that is) in their entire lives.
As with all lists of both conventional frequently used medical terminology and alternative medical terminology, this one is ongoing and will never be completed. Those listed below are ones that my colleagues and I have most often encountered in dictation. The herbs are not listed here. There are some frequently used medical terminology specific to Oriental exercise programs you may find on the Net.
Stedman’s has a dictionary of Alternative Medicine Words if you end up doing lots of alternative medicine dictation. By the way, AAMT’s CMT exam has questions on alternative and unconventional medical terms.
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A
Acu-Pellets
acupressure
acupuncture, acupuncturist
Addiquip needle – used in acupunture
aikido – Japanese exercise program
amygdalin, apricot seeds, laetrile – available in Mexico
animal sacrifice – it still exists
anthelix – antihelix (of the ear)
antitragus (of ear)
apricot seeds, amygdalin, laetrile – available in Mexico
aquatherapy – hydrotherapy
ardha chandrasan – a yoga position (half moon pose)
Arthro-7 – a product of Gero Vita Laboratories (GVL)
aromatherapy
aromamassage
art therapy
asanas – postures (as in yoga)
astrological signs (see Zodiac)
astrology – study of how the stars influence our lives
Atkins products
audiotherapy – such as music or sounds of nature
auricular acupressure
aura – karma
auricular (or ear) point
auris – the ear
‘ava – Samoan for kava
‘awa – Hawaiian word for kava
ayurveda – an ancient science
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B
barotherapy – for treatment of nonhealing wounds
bili lights – for treatment of jaundice
binge and purge – a dangerous dieting habit
biofeedback
biofield – touch therapy
BioFIT Herbgels – a product line
biomagnetic
biostimulator
blood letting – leeching
Body Alive Colon Hydrotherapy (a company)
Bodymate nutritional products
Boiron products
Brahma – Holy Spirit (yoga)
breathing exercises – ranayamas
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C
Celestial Seasonings Herb Teas – caffeine-free teas
Chapman reflex therapy
charms – worn on wrist, ankles and around the neck
chelation therapy – pronounced “KEY-lation”
chi (or) qi – internal energy force
Chinese herbs
Chinese shadow boxing – tai chi chuan
chiropractic manipulation
Chongmo program
colonics; high colonics
condroitin sulfate
Christian Science
clay pack
cleansing herbs
coffee enemas
cold therapy – ice
Collastin
complementary medicine – syn for alternative medicine
conventional medicine
copper bracelet – said to relieve arthritis pain
cosmic force
craniosacral therapy
CravEx Plan – dieting
CW needle – used in acupuncture
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D
DairyCare – OTC dietary supplement
dance therapy – always fun for anyone
dandasana – a yoga position (staff pose)
DBC needle – used in acupuncture
deep tissue massage
DHA supplement
DHEA – dehydroepiandrosterone
dimethylaminoethanal – DMAE
divine thread tied to God – the shushumna of spinal column
dream interpretation
drum therapy (bongo, Indian, voodoo, etc.)
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E
ear apex
ear point (or auricular point)
echinacea (see herbal list)
Eden products
EDTA – ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (chelation therapy)
effleuratage
electro-acupuncture
electrostimulation
Ensemble – Kellogg’s heart-healthy food product line
enzymatic therapy
Estrogentle – a menopausal aid
Estroven – a menopausal aid
Everlasting/Everlasting Support
exercise therapy – a good idea for anyone
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F
facial gathering point
fasting for detoxification
Feldenkrais verbal therapy
feng shui
free association
free flowing movement of energy
focus on…
foot massage
foot point – in acupuncture
fortune teller (see tarot cards)
Fukuoku – brand name for a fingertip massage unit
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G
garlic and vinegar therapy
gelatin therapy
GeniSoy products
Gero Vita H3 – GH3
ginko (see herbal list)
ginseng (see herbal list)
Glucosamine Chondroitin – an OTC product said to aid bone (reconstruction see Osteo Bi-Flex)
glucosamine sulfate
grasp a sparrow’s tail –a hand maneuver in tai chi
group therapy
guided imagery
guru – teacher
GVL – Gero Vita Laboratories of Ontario, Canada
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H
hair analysis – a diagnostic procedure
Harmonex
Hatha yoga
heat therapy
helix (of ear)
herbal medicines/therapy (see list of same)
herbal tea (see tisane)
herbal wrap
holding the ball – a hand maneuver in tai chi
holistic medicine, aka wholistic medicine
homeopathy
honey, garlic and vinegar home remedies
hot coins – an Asian treatment for abdominal pain
hothouse or hot house – sauna
hot tub – such as a Jacuzzi
hot water therapy – such as in a Jacuzzi
hot mud – messy, but said to be therapeutic
Hua-Ching
HuaXia needle – used in acupuncture
hug therapy – always welcome for anyone
HwaTo needle – used in acupuncture
hydrotherapy – aquatherapy
hypnotherapy
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I
ice, icing
ida – left spinal cord (yoga)
incense
integrative medicine
in tune with nature
IpriCal Plus – for bone building
IpriFlavone – for bone building
iridology – diagnosis via eye color and appearance
Ito needle – used in acupuncture
Ito Laser Pen
Iyengar yoga
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J
Jacuzzi – capitalize; a brand name
Jing
joss stick – an incense stick
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K
Kama Sutra
karma – aura
kava – (Vanuatu, Piper methysticum) a nonalcoholic South Pacific tranquility herb
Kava Kava – a marketing name for kava
Kegel exercise – for tightening perineal muscles
kidney-body strengthening
Kidsoothe – pediatric St. John’s wort
Kirlian camera
Klieg lights
Knox NutraJoint – a gelatine drink which claims to help joint mobility
kundalini – serpent energy (yoga)
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L
laetrile, apricot seeds, amygdalin – available in Mexico – banned in the US
laser biostimulator
leech – for blood letting
leeching – blood letting
left brain perception – yang
Lhasa equipment
light therapy; bili light, sunlight, Klieg light
liver yang 1-hepatitis
liver yang 2-hepatitis
lobule of ear
loofah (or) luffa sponge – can be pronounced “lee-fa”
lotion massage
lotus position – yoga
lower burner
lucky piece
lymphatic drainage massage
lymphatic pump
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M
macrobiotics – an environmental approach, organic foods, etc.
manual medicine
magic, magical
magician
magnet or magnetic therapy
Maharishi Ayurveda – a holistic research center in Colorado
Maharishi Vedic – a holistic research center in Maryland
massage pillow, m. chair, m. bed
massage therapy
medicine man – see shaman
meditation
Met-Rx products
MetaboLife – OTC dietary supplement
MicroClip
midwifery
mind/body medicine
ministerial fire
Moxa
mud bath, m. pack
music therapy
myofascial therapy
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N
Nasoya Tofu products
Natrol products
Nature’s Code herbal products
Nature’s Resource products
Nature’s Way products
naturopathy
NCCAM – National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Neuromin’s supplements
neuromuscular reeducation – NMR
New Age Medicine
nutritional medicine
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O
OAM – Office of Alternative Medicine (see NCCAM)
oil massage
OMT – osteopathic manipulative treatment
original essence
orthalbionomy
orthomolecular therapy – megavitamins
Oscillo – a cold/flu remedy
Osteo Bi-Flex Glucosamein Chondroitin
osteopathic manipulation
osteopathy
ostivone – a bone support product
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P
PABA – para-aminobenzoic acid
palmist, palmistry
Pantheon Research products
parsvottanasana – a yoga pose (sidewise stretch)
pedal acupressure
pedal point – in acupuncture and acupressure
pet therapy – for the pet owner, not necessarily the pet
petrissage
phototherapy
physiatry
pingala – right spinal cord (yoga)
pinna (of ear)
Piper methysticum – kava
placebo effect (of certain nonprescription drugs)
point locator – in acupuncture
points (in acupuncture. NOTE: numbers are in arabic)
BL-(number)
CV-(number)
FP-(number)
FT-(number)
GB-(number)
GV-(number)
KI-(number)
LI-(number)
LR-(number)
SI-(number)
ST-(number)
postures – asanas
pranayamas – breathing exercises
prayer – always a good idea for anyone
Promensil – a menopausal aid
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Q
qi flow – internal energy force
Qi Gong
Quanterra herbal supplements
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R
reflexology – a type of acupressure massage
Rejuvex – a menopausal aid
Remifemin Enzymatic Therapy – a menopausal aid
right brain perception – yin
rolfing – a “sort of” astrological approach to good health
roller massage
ruou ran – Vietnamese snake wine for impotence
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S
salamba sarvangasana – a yoga position (shoulder stand)
sakau – Pohnpei for kava
sand bath
satanism – still practiced in the United States
sauna – dry heat therapy
saw palmetto – an herbal treatment for the prostate
Schiff products
Seirin needle – used in acupuncture
setu bandha sarvangasana – yoga position (supported bridge pose)
shaman – a spiritual advisor
Shenmen point – spirit door
shiatsu massage
Shiatsu products
shushumna – the innermost thread of the spinal cord (yoga)
similia similibus curantur – likes are cured by likes
solar therapy
somato-emotional release
sorcery, sorcerer
soothing oils
soothsayer
soul retrieval
sovereign fire
spirit door – Shenmen point
squeeze ball – to strengthen hand muscles
steam bath
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T
tadasana – a yoga position (mountain pose)
tae kwon do – Korean exercise program
tai chi chuan (or) tai chi exercise – Chinese shadow boxing
Taki needle – used in acupuncture
Tandino muscle test
Taoism
tarot cards – used by fortune tellers
TCM – traditional Chinese Medicine
telepathic therapy
TENS unit – transcutaneous electrical nerve stimula
Thera-P – product name for magnetic therapy items
therapeutic massage
therapeutic touch
thermal therapy (heat)
tisane; Syn: herbal tea, tincture of…)
TM – transcendental meditation
tofu
totem
Touch for Health – an organization
traditional Chinese Medicine – TCM
Trager verbal therapy
tranquility
transcendental meditation – TM
tridoshas – a type of energy
trigger point(s)
triple burner – a term used in acupuncture
triple warmer – a term used in acupuncture
Tui Na
TwinLab products
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U
Ukio needle – used in acupuncture
upper burner – a term used in acupuncture
utanasana – a yoga position (folding forward bend)
utthita trikonsana – a yoga position (triangle pose)
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V
Vanuatu – kava
vis medicatrix naturae – nature’s healing force
visceral manipulation
voodoo – still practiced in the United States and Haiti
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W
Wee Dan exercises
water therapy – hydrotherapy
wizardry
wrap therapy – herbal w., mud w.
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X
xerotripsis
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Y
yang – fast, firey, bright; the opposite of yin
yangona – Fiji for kava
yin – soft, cool, slow; the opposite of yang
yoga, Hatha y., Iyengar y.
Yuan Jing
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Z
Zand herbal products
Zen, Zen Buddhist
zero balancing
Zodiac, signs of (astrology)
Aquarius – water bearer Jan 21-Feb 19
Pisces – fish Feb 20-Mar 20
Aries – ram Mar 21-Apr 20
Taurus – bull Apr 21-May 21
Cancer – crab May 22-Jun 21
Gemini – twins Jun 22-Jul 23
Leo – lion Jul 24-Aug 23
Virgo – virgin Aug 24-Sep 23
Libra – scales Sep 24-Oct 23
Scorpio – scorpion Oct 24-Nov 22
Sagittarius – archer Nov 23-Dec 21
Capricorn – goat Dec 22-Jan 20