Chapter 15 Glossary

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Glossary

Chapter 15

Acupuncture Chinese medical system that requires body piercing with fine needles during therapy to relieve pain and treat ailments and diseases.

Allopathic medicine See conventional Western medicine.

Ayurveda Unconventional Hindu system of medicine based on herbs, diet, massage, meditation, and yoga to help the body boost its own natural healing.

Chiropractics Health care system that believes that many diseases and ailments are related to misalignments of the vertebrae and emphasizes the manipulation of the spinal column.

Chronological age Calendar age.

Complementary and alternative medicine A branch of medicine concerned with treatments and health care practices not widely taught in medical schools, not generally used in hospitals, and not usually reimbursed by medical insurance companies.

Conventional Western medicine Traditional medical practice based on methods that are tested through rigorous scientific trials.

Dentist Practitioner who specializes in diseases of the teeth, gums, and oral cavity.

Magnetic therapy Unconventional treatment that relies on magnetic energy to promote healing.

Massage therapy The rubbing or kneading of body parts to treat ailments.

Naturopathic medicine Unconventional system of medicine that relies exclusively on natural remedies to treat disease and ailments.

Nonallopathic medicine See complementary and alternative medicine.

Nurse Health care practitioner who assists in the diagnosis and treatment of health problems and provides many services to patients in a variety of settings.

Ophthalmologist Medical specialist concerned with diseases of the eye and prescription of corrective lenses.

Optometrist Health care practitioner who specializes in the prescription and adaptation of lenses.

Oral surgeon A dentist who specializes in surgical procedures of the oral-facial complex.

Orthodontist A dentist who specializes in the correction and prevention of teeth irregularities.

Osteopath A medical practitioner with specialized training in musculoskeletal problems who uses diagnostic and therapeutic methods of conventional medicine in addition to manipulative measures.

Physician assistant A health care practitioner trained to treat most standard cases of care.

Physiological age The biological and functional capacity (age-related) of the body.

Primary care physician A medical practitioner who provides routine treatment of ailments; typically, the patient’s first contact for health care.

Quackery/Fraud The conscious promotion of unproven claims for profit.

Unconventional medicine See complementary and alternative medicine.

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Last changed: September 03, 2004

Acupuncture	Chinese medical system that requires body piercing with fine needles during therapy to relieve pain and treat ailments and diseases.
Allopathic medicine	See conventional Western medicine.
Ayurveda	Unconventional Hindu system of medicine based on herbs, diet, massage, meditation, and yoga to help the body boost its own natural healing.
Chiropractics	Health care system that believes that many diseases and ailments are related to misalignments of the vertebrae and emphasizes the manipulation of the spinal column.
Chronological age	Calendar age.
Complementary and alternative medicine	A branch of medicine concerned with treatments and health care practices not widely taught in medical schools, not generally used in hospitals, and not usually reimbursed by medical insurance companies.
Conventional Western medicine	Traditional medical practice based on methods that are tested through rigorous scientific trials.
Dentist	Practitioner who specializes in diseases of the teeth, gums, and oral cavity.
Magnetic therapy	Unconventional treatment that relies on magnetic energy to promote healing.
Massage therapy	The rubbing or kneading of body parts to treat ailments.
Naturopathic medicine	Unconventional system of medicine that relies exclusively on natural remedies to treat disease and ailments.
Nonallopathic medicine	See complementary and alternative medicine.
Nurse	Health care practitioner who assists in the diagnosis and treatment of health problems and provides many services to patients in a variety of settings.
Ophthalmologist	Medical specialist concerned with diseases of the eye and prescription of corrective lenses.
Optometrist	Health care practitioner who specializes in the prescription and adaptation of lenses.
Oral surgeon	A dentist who specializes in surgical procedures of the oral-facial complex.
Orthodontist	A dentist who specializes in the correction and prevention of teeth irregularities.
Osteopath	A medical practitioner with specialized training in musculoskeletal problems who uses diagnostic and therapeutic methods of conventional medicine in addition to manipulative measures.
Physician assistant	A health care practitioner trained to treat most standard cases of care.
Physiological age	The biological and functional capacity (age-related) of the body.
Primary care physician	A medical practitioner who provides routine treatment of ailments; typically, the patient’s first contact for health care.
Quackery/Fraud	The conscious promotion of unproven claims for profit.
Unconventional medicine	See complementary and alternative medicine.