Public Resources
Definition of Medical Terms
Allopathy / Allopathic
Regular Medicine, Conventional (Western) Medicine Wikipedia Definition
Naturopathy / Naturopathic
Naturopathic practice may include a broad array of different modalities, including manual therapy, hydrotherapy, herbalism, acupuncture, and so on. Practitioners tend to emphasize a holistic approach to patient care. Naturopathic Practitioners also employ the use of prescription medications and surgery when necessary and refer out to other medical practitioners. Wikipedia Definition
Link to Oregon Board of Naturopathic Examiners Description of Natural Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine
TCM is a range of traditional medical practices used in China and developed over several thousand years. These practices include herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage, and much more. Wikipedia Definition
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a technique of inserting and manipulating needles into “acupuncture points” on the body to restore health and well-being, and is particularly good at treating pain and addictions. Wikipedia Definition
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic is a complementary and alternative health care profession with the purpose of diagnosing and treating mechanical disorders of the spine and musculoskeletal system with the intention of affecting the nervous system and improving health. Wikipedia Definition
Acute
In medicine, an acute disease is a disease with either or both of: 1) a rapid onset; 2) a short course (as opposed to a chronic course). Wikipedia Definition
Chronic
In medicine, a chronic disease is a disease that is long-lasting or recurrent. The term chronic describes the course of the disease, or its rate of onset and development. A chronic course is distinguished from a recurrent course; recurrent diseases relapse repeatedly, with periods of remission in between. As an adjective, chronic can refer to a persistent and lasting medical condition. Wikipedia Definition
Primary Care
Primary care is a term used for a health care provider who acts as a first point of consultation for all patients. Generally, primary care physicians are based in the community, as opposed to the hospital. Alternative names for the field are general practice and family medicine, although the terms are not synonymous. Wikipedia Definition