rather how and when to use it. The dynamic balance
that Chinese medicine equates with health mani-
fests as smooth and constant movement. When Qi
and Bloodstagnate, the processes of elimination and
regeneration deteriorate, constituting the basic con-
dition underlying many forms of illness....
“Acupuncture is not like a drug that is supposed
to produce a discrete and limited result. In Western
medicine a given drug or procedure results in a
limited, desired effect, plus so-called side effects,
which are adverse changes in the organism as a
whole. In Chinese medicine, this logic is reversed,
so that global changes in the whole organism result
in the disappearance of specific symptoms. In
acupuncture ‘secondary’ effects are intended, all
part of one continuous process of change.”
See also RELAXATION.
affirmations Sentences, phrases, or words that
are composed in order to emphasize and reinforce
a certain belief, used as a therapeutic device for its
emotional force or impact when they are spoken
and repeated. According to the self-help author
Stuart Wilde, there are four types of affirmations—
word, thought, feeling, and action—and there are
both positive and negative affirmations. Wilde
wrote in his book Affirmations(Nacson & Sons PTY
LTD, Australia, and White Dove International, Inc.,
Taos, N. Mex., 1993) that affirmations of word
resemble a prayer or mantra, such as “I am the
power, I am the light, I control my life.” Affirma-
tions of thought, such as Wilde’s “I grant myself
forgiveness and complete absolution. For my
energy has now risen above and beyond any errors
I may have made in the past,” are geared to calm-
ing emotions and evoking the energetic, personal
power to transcend difficulties. An example of a
heart or feeling affirmation is “My life is heroic. I
acknowledge and honor each step I take.” Wilde
says developing affirmations of feeling increases
sensitivity and honesty, as affirmations of action
help promote good choices and deeds, as in “In
softness I have strength.” The author and healer
Louise Hay also provides affirmations for personal
growth and self-esteem, including “I deserve love.”
Affirmations may be used as a component of self-
healing, positive thinking, meditation, psychother-
apy, relaxation, and other alternative techniques.
agni Ayurvedic term referring to the element of
fire, the central bodily fire, the digestive fire, or the
pitta temperament.
See also AYURVEDA.ahara rasa The “nutrient plasma” that contains
nutrition for all the dhatus(basic vital bodily struc-
tures) in Ayurvedic medicine.
See also AYURVEDA.Alexander Technique A type of holistic training for
stress reduction developed by the Australian actor
Frederick Matthias Alexander (1869–1955, born in
Tasmania), who believed that “every man, woman
and child holds the possibility of physical perfection;
it rests with each of us to attain it by personal under-
standing and effort.” Also referred to at times as pos-
ture training, the Alexander Technique involves a
process of mind-body connection and of reeducation
of what Alexander determined to be the body’s
innate poise and grace in order to control posture,
balance, and action. When a person’s body does not
move or rest harmoniously, he taught, stressors such
as tension and emotional problems may become
worse or evolve into more serious health problems.
As a result of a seemingly intractable laryngitis
during his acting career, Alexander discovered
that although he had lost his voice onstage, he
was able to speak normally when not performing.
Using several mirrors so he could observe any dif-
ferences between his onstage and offstage experi-
ences, he realized that as he gave a dramatic
reading, he had the tendency to suck in air and
pull his head down, actions that put pressure on
his vocal cords and adversely affected his spine,
back, and breathing pattern. As he spoke nor-
mally, he observed that his posture was similar,
but significantly less tense. He concluded that
undue tension in the head, neck, and back created
an imbalance that could lead to physical ailments.
After he developed specific ways to improve gen-
eral body use, including the correlation between
the head and neck and the rest of the body as a
key principle that he called “The Primary Con-
trol,” Alexander began to teach fellow performers
and others. With his vocal cord problems elimi-
nated, he felt inspired to go to London in 1901
and thereafter to America to develop further andAlexander Technique 5