Health / Acupuncture Glossary

Acupuncture: The practice of inserting needles into the body to reduce pain or induce anesthesia . More broadly, acupuncture is a family of procedures involving the stimulation of anatomical locations on . . . View Full Definition

Acupuncturist: A person skilled in the practice of acupuncture, who may or may not be credentialed by a national accrediting body.

Addiction: A chronic relapsing condition characterized by compulsive drug-seeking and abuse and by long-lasting chemical changes in the brain. Addiction is the same irrespective of whether the drug is . . . View Full Definition

Analgesia: The inability to feel pain while still conscious. From the Greek an-, without + algesis, sense of pain.

Analgesic: A drug that relieves pain. With an effective analgesic, there is an inability to feel pain while still conscious. From the Greek an-, without + algesis, sense of pain.

Anatomy: The study of form. Gross anatomy involves structures that can be seen with the naked eye. It is as opposed to microscopic anatomy (or histology) which involves structures seen under the micr . . . View Full Definition

Asthma : A common disorder in which chronic inflammation of the bronchial tubes (bronchi) makes them swell, narrowing the airways. Asthma involves only the bronchial tubes and does not affect the air . . . View Full Definition

Attention: The ability to focus selectively on a selected stimulus, sustaining that focus and shifting it at will. The ability to concentrate.

Back Pain: Pain felt in the low or upper back. There are many causes of back pain.

Bacterial: Of or pertaining to bacteria. For example, a bacterial lung infection.

Blood: The familiar red fluid in the body that contains white and red blood cells, platelets, proteins, and other elements. The blood is transported throughout the body by the circulatory system. B . . . View Full Definition

Blood Pressure: The blood pressure is the pressure of the blood within the arteries. It is produced primarily by the contraction of the heart muscle. It's measurement is recorded by two numbers. The first ( . . . View Full Definition

Brain: That part of the central nervous system that is located within the cranium ( skull ). The brain functions as the primary receiver, organizer and distributor of information for the body. It h . . . View Full Definition

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A type of compression neuropathy (nerve damage) caused by compression and irritation of the median nerve in the wrist. The nerve is compressed within the carpal tunnel, a bony canal in the p . . . View Full Definition

Chemotherapy : 1. In the original sense, a chemical that binds to and specifically kills microbes or tumor cells. The term chemotherapy was coined in this regard by Paul Ehrlich (1854-1915).

Circulation: The movement of fluid in a regular or circuitous course. Although the noun 'circulation' does not necessarily refer to the circulation of the blood, for all practical purposes today it does. . . . View Full Definition

Clinical: 1. Having to do with the examination and treatment of patients. 2. Applicable to patients. A laboratory test may be of clinical value (of use to patients).

Conventional Medicine: Medicine as practiced by holders of M.D. (medical doctor) or D.O. (doctor of osteopathy) degrees and by their allied health professionals, such as physical therapists, psychologists, and reg . . . View Full Definition

Diagnosis: 1 The nature of a disease : the identification of an illness. 2 A conclusion or decision reached by diagnosis. The diagnosis is rabies . 3 The identification of any problem. The diagnosis wa . . . View Full Definition

Disease: Illness or sickness often characterized by typical patient problems (symptoms) and physical findings (signs). Disruption sequence: The events that occur when a fetus that is developing norma . . . View Full Definition

Elbow: The juncture of the long bones in the middle portion of the arm. The bone of the upper arm (humerus) meets both the ulna (the inner bone of the forearm) and radius (the outer bone of the for . . . View Full Definition

Electro-Acupuncture: A system whereby a minimal electric current is sent to certain meridian points. This can be done with or without needles.

Elements: The Chinese belief that everything around us comes in five elements. These elements are fire, water, metal, earth, and wood. The body’s meridians are organized in such a way to reflect this. . . . View Full Definition

Endogenous: Inside. For example, endogenous cholesterol is cholesterol that is made inside the body and is not in the diet.

Essential: 1. Something that cannot be done without.

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