D

dance therapy Also called dance movement ther-
apy, methods or techniques involving physical
motion, accompanied or unaccompanied by music,
to achieve stress reduction, release, creativity, play-
fulness, and self-expression for individuals with
emotional disturbances, depression, or other prob-
lems. Dance therapists work with people whose
problems are connected with their particular way of
moving, who can improve their emotional state and
resolve issues (assertiveness, self-image, self-iden-
tity, trust, etc.) through specific dance movements.

dan tien In Chinese medicine, the body’s three
energy centers—upper, middle, and lower—where
qi(or ch’i, the vital force or vital energy) is stored.
The upper center is between the eyebrows (also
known as the “third eye”); the middle is in the cen-
ter of the torso, and the lower is the lower abdomen.
See also QI.

Davis, Adelle A well-known nutritionist and
author of Let’s Eat Right To Keep Fit, Let’s Have Healthy
Children, Let’s Get Well,and Let’s Cook It Right (New
York: New American Library, Harcourt Brace
Jovanovich Inc., 1954–1970). During the 1950s and
1960s until her death in 1971, Davis was one of the
pioneers of nutrition as a way to treat illness and
dysfunction in the body and promote wellness.
Believing that nutrition can determine one’s physi-
cal, emotional, and spiritual status, she studied at
Purdue University and graduated from the Univer-
sity of California at Berkeley, did postgraduate work
at Columbia University and the University of Cali-
fornia at Los Angeles, and received a master’s degree
in biochemistry from the University of Southern
California Medical School. Davis worked extensively
with doctors at Bellevue and Fordham Hospitals and

at the Judson Health Clinic. Later she was a consult-

ing nutritionist for physicians at the Alameda

County Health Clinic and the William E. Branch

Clinic in Hollywood. Davis was married to Frank

Sieglinger and was the mother of two children.

decimal scale, homeopathic Designated by an x

in homeopathy, the measure of potency of a rem-

edy in tenths; for example, one drop of mother

tincture (stock or “batch” of a remedy) is diluted

with nine drops of water or alcohol to yield a rem-

edy that is said to have 2x potency.

See also CENTESIMAL SCALE; HOMEOPATHIC.

decoction From the Latin words deand coquere,

or to boil down, the homeopathic term for a herb

or combination of herbs that are boiled in water,

which is then reduced to make a concentrate.

When a decoction, essentially a liquid medicinal

preparation, does not require a precise strength, it

may be made by boiling five parts of the herb or

vegetable or crumbled pieces of a drug with 100

parts water for 15 minutes. In traditional Western

medicine, there are no specific decoctions.

deep-muscle massage See MASSAGE.

demulcent From the Latin word demulcens,

meaning “to stroke softly,” a substance or agent,

such as glycerin, honey, lanolin, and olive oil, that

soothes, moisturizes, softens, and protects mucous

membranes. Demulcents are used in homeopathy.

See also HOMEOPATHY.

depression, effects of In bioenergetic healing

and vibrational medicine, a theory that the energy

produced by clinically or psychotically depressed

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