This is a basic glossary of the main holistic concepts used on this website.
Ayurveda
“Ayurveda is a holistic system of medicine that is indigenous to and widely practiced in India. The world Ayurveda is a Sanskrit term meaning ‘science of life’. Ayu means ‘life’ or ‘daily living’ and Veda is ‘knowing’. Ayurveda was first recorded in the Vedas, the world’s oldest extant literature. This healing system has been practiced in daily life in India for more than 5000 years.” –Dr. Vasant Lad
Energy medicine
“Energy medicine is the art and science of fostering physical, psychological, and spiritual health and well-being. It combines a rational knowledge and intuitive understanding of the energies in the body and in the environment...Energy gives life to the body…In energy medicine, energy is the medicine…Energy heals, and energy systems are healed.” -Donna Eden.
Holistic Healing
“Holistic healing is a term that encompasses many types of philosophies of healing… Holistic comes from the word "whole" and represents treating the whole person, not just the condition or symptom that is being presented.” –The Holistic Healing Guide.
Naturopathic Medicine
“Naturopathic Medicine is a distinct system of primary health care that looks beyond symptoms to the root cause of disease. Many terms such as alternative medicine, integrative medicine, holistic medicine, complementary medicine, mind/body healing, and naturopathy have been used interchangeably”. –Dr. Lena Kian, ND
Personal Development
“Personal development is our conscious self-improvement and self-transcendence. It is the aspiration to realize our higher self.” –Sri Chinmoy
Spiritual Healing
“Spiritual Healing is a natural energy therapy that complements conventional medicine by treating the whole person - mind, body and spirit. Healers are thought to act as a conduit for healing energy, the benefits of which can be felt on many levels, including the physical.” -The Healing Trust
“Spiritual healing in simple terms is a transfer of energy…all healings are energy based and work with energy…Everyone has their own natural healing system within them. When a healer is performing a healing they are tapping into this system and delivering unconditional love energy to the body. The intent of the healer is the most important thing. As long as your intent is to heal for the highest good of all then the energy will work where it is needed. Many healers call on their spirit guides, angels or masters of healing to assist them in the process”. –Gail Faulkner
Wellness
“Wellness is a multidimensional state of being describing the existence of positive health in an individual as exemplified by quality of life and a sense of well-being.” - Charles B. Corbin
