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Glossary

                

Some reference of terms used within health topics.

The following terms as used in: Correlative Urinalysis: The Body Knows Best, By M. T. Morter, Jr., BS, MA, DC, Copyright Ó1987 by B.E.S.T. Research Inc.
 

A  
acid ash   Metabolic residue of particular foods, including animal and vegetable protein. Re­quires buffering, or neutralizing, before being eliminated through the kidneys. Puts additional strain on the body.  
acidosis  High hydrogen ion concentration. The accumulation of more acid in the body than can be handled effectively.  
albumin   Simple proteins found in plant and animal tissue, blood, milk, eggs, and other substances. When albumin is coagulated by heat, it becomes insoluble in water.  
alkaline ash  Metabolic residue of organic foods, includ­ing most vegetables and fruits. Can be processed for elimination through the lungs and/or kidneys. Causes little stress to the body.
alkaline reserve   Substances available to neutralize extra­cellular acid. Stored in cells throughout the body but predominantly in the liver. Made up principally of 1) bicarbonate ions, and 2) fixed reserves of sodium, potassium, cal­cium, iron, and magnesium.  
  Low hydrogen ion concentration. Indicated by high pH readings of urine and saliva. Symptoms similar to acidosis. For persons on a high-protein diet, alkalosis is an advanced degree of acidosis. Ammonia and bicarbonate can be responsible for the condition termed alkalosis.  
alternative medicine (health)

 

n. a group of health care and treatment practices, including traditional Chinese medicine, chiropractic, folk medicine, and naturopathy, that minimize or avoid the use of surgery and the drugs produced by pharmaceutical companies.―Random House Health & Medicine Dictionary
anabolism    Conversion of nutrients into living tissue.  
anaerobic        The process of forming adenosine triphos­phate  
glycolysis   (ATP) from glucose when little or no oxygen is available.  
ash  Residue of digested food that has been metabolized by the body. May be either acid or alkaline in reaction depending upon the original food of which it is a product.  
atom    Smallest part of an element capable of entering into a chemical reaction. Neutral electrical charge.
ATP Adenosine triphosphate. A high energy compound made from food by the body, found in all cells of the body, particularly muscle cells. Produces high energy when substance is split.  
autointoxication Poisoning by substances produced by the body. Can be normal substances existing in excess amounts.
B    

 

bile Continuous secretion of liver, stored in gall bladder. Liver bile is straw colored; gall bladder bile is yellow, brown, or green. Bile performs emulsifying action for diges­tion of fats and oils. Composed of water, bile salts, bilirubin, cholesterol, fatty acids, lecithin, sodium, potassium, calcium, chlorine, and bicarbonate. Normal bile is always alkaline in nature and yellow in color.  
bile salts Alkali salts performing emulsifying or detergent function and as aid in absorption of fatty acids. Absence of bile salts reduces absorption of fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.  
bilirubin Bile pigment produced from biliverdin in the breakdown of hemoglobin in red blood cells.  Normal finding in blood; abnormal finding in urine.  
biliverdin   A greenish pigment in bile resulting from red blood cell destruction. Biliverdin is re­duced to bilirubin.  
buffer  A substance that maintains the original hydrogen-ion concentration of a solution when either an acid or base is added.  
buffer systems    Bicarbonate, phosphate, and protein buffer systems adjust pH of intracellular and extracellular fluids to pK of environment.  
C  

candidiasis
 

Yeast infection of mucous membrane, skin, or nails.  
catabolism Breakdown of complex compounds. Oppo­site of anabolism.  
cholesterol   A monohydric alcohol occurring in a variety of substances, i.e., egg yolk, fats, nerve tis­sue of the brain and spinal cord, and the liver. Can be synthesized in the liver and is a precursor of various steroid hormones. Highly fat soluble; only slightly water soluble. A normal constituent of bile that is found in most gall stones.  
contractive foods Predominantly acid-ash producing foods. Have a restrictive influence on the body that is characterized by a nervous, intense, high-strung, or violent personality.  
contralateral  Affecting opposite sides of the body; simultaneously integrated; crossed.      
cooking bonds    Alteration in bonding structure of ions caused by heat.  
covalent bonds   Loose chemical link of electrons shared be­tween two atoms. Atoms easily separated, bond easily broken. The type of bond pre­dominant in all living systems.  
D  

detoxify 

Removal of toxic nature of substance.  
digestive residue Waste material from food. Those portions of food that are not metabolized for use by the body. Passes through the small and large intestine and is eliminated through the bowel.  
disassociation   Separation of ions of an electrovalent substance during solution process.  
E  

electrode

The degree of ability of an ion to accept or release potential electrons to become an atom.
 
electron  Negatively charged particle of atom.  
electrovalent  Strong bond between atoms where each accepts from or bonds donates to the other. An ionic link that is not easily broken. The pre-dominant bond of mineral kingdom.  
enzymes       Complex proteins capable of producing chemical change in other substances with­out being altered themselves. Efficiency of enzyme activity can be affected by reac­tion of medium in which they function.  
expansive foods  Predominantly stimulatory substances with little nutritional value and an acidifying ef­fect on the body. Overindulgence may produce a sense of euphoria and loss of ability to concentrate.  
extracellular  Outside the cell.  

G  

glucose
    

A form of simple sugar. The end product in metabolism of complex carbohydrates The principal source of energy for the body.  
glucosuria    Sugar in the urine.  
glycogen    Glucose stored for future use. Animal starch.  
glycogenesis   The process of converting excess glucose to glycogen during passage of glucose through the liver.  
glycolysis    A process that converts glucose into ATP within the cells. Breaking down of glucose into smaller compounds yielding energy the body can use.  
glyconeogenesis  Process taking place in the liver that forms      glycogen from noncarbohydrate sources under   conditions such as low carbohydrate consumption or  starvation. Syn.: gluconeo­genesis  
H  
Holistic
 

 

    or

(hō lis'tik) adj. 1 of or relating to holism 2 of, concerned with, or dealing with wholes or integrated systems rather than with their parts [holistic health care] ho∙lis'ti∙cal∙ly  adv. ―Webster's New World College Dictionary
Whole (hōl) adj. 1 a) in sound health; not diseased or injured b) healed 2 not broken, damaged, defective, etc.; intact [a whole yolk]  3 containing all the elements or parts; entire; complete [a whole set, whole blood]  4 not divided up; in a single unit  7 in all aspects of one's being, including the physical, mental, social, etc. [the whole man] ―Webster's New World College Dictionary
Homeostasis Equilibrium or balance of internal environ­ment of the body.  
Hydroxyl   Commonly referred to as a base or alkali. A radical that can accept one ion of hydrogen and form water.  
I

indican

Potassium salt found in urine and sweat, formed by conversion of tryptophan to in­dole through bacterial action in the intes­tine then further modified to indican in the liver.  
inorganic  Indicates chemical substances other than living  entities found in nature.  
inorganic acids  Component parts held together by strong electrovalent bonds. Highly ionized; up to 95% of hydrogen ions active at a time. Highly corrosive. Eliminated through ex­cretory system after having been buffered.  
intracellular Within the cell.  
ion    Atom or atoms with imbalance of electrons and protons.  
ionic bond  Strong, electrovalent bond. Restricts separa­tion of components of substances such as sodium chloride, thereby impeding use of elements by the body.  
ionization     The disassociation of acid, base, or salt compounds into their constituent ions. The formation of ions from polar solute mole­cules by the action of a solvent.  
ionization  potential  The degree of ability of an atom to gain or lose   electrons to become an ion.  

J  

jaundice
  
 
A yellowish tint to the skin often caused by excessive bilirubin in the extracellular fluids.
 
·  dietary jaundice   Non-pathological yellowing of the skin brought about by the consumption of large quantities     of carrot juice.  
· hemolyti jaundice Yellowing of skin and eyes resulting from excessive  red blood cell destruction occurring at a rate greater  than the liver can adequately handle.  
· obstructive jaundice   Yellowing of skin and eyes caused by partial or total blockage of bile ducts, or by damage to liver cells.  
jejunum  A part of the small intestine, about 8 feet in length,  connecting the duodenum and  ilium. Important in  re-absorption process of bile salts and absorption of  nutrients during digestion.  
junk food diet  Contemporary diet of many Americans. Consists of high percentage of highly refined carbohydrates, fats, and additives. Processed foods, convenience foods, and fast­ food restaurant fare are dominant features.  

K  

ketones     

An organic chemical substance that is an end product of fat metabolism. Found in urine under starvation, diabetic, or rapid cleansing conditions.  
ketonuria     Acetone bodies in the urine.  
ketosis    Accumulation of large quantities of ketone bodies, including acetoacetic acid, in blood and interstitial fluids. Can be due to starvation or rigid diets devoid of carbohydrates that cause body to metabolize stored fat. Also evident in diabetes mellitus.  
L  


lysis

Destruction of blood cells by an enzyme.  

M  

metabolism 

Physical and chemical changes within the body  transforming nutrients, foods and other substances into usable form.  
molecule   The smallest quantity of a chemical sub­stance that can exist independently and maintain its characteristics. Positive and negative charges evenly balanced.  

N  
naturopathy

for a more in depth definition click here

for the basis or principles & practices click here

  

A distinct system of primary health care - an art, science, philosophy and practice of diagnosis, treatment and prevention of illness.
bulletthe healing power of nature
bulletidentify & treat the causes
bulletfirst do no harm
bulletdoctor as teacher
bullettreat the whole person
bulletprevention

―American Association of Naturopathic Physicians 

nitrates Salts of nitric acid. May be found in urine after eating bacon or other similarly proces­sed foods.
nitrites     Salts of nitrous acid. When found in urine, may indicate a bladder infection with re­ducing bacteria present.  

O  

organic   

Indicates chemical compounds containing carbon. Living substances. Covalently bonded.  
organic acids  Substances, resulting from the digestion of fruits and vegetables, having component parts held together by loose, covalent bonds. Easily metabolized. Can be elimi­nated through lungs.  
oxidation potential   The relative value of the ease with which an element's electrons move.  

P  

parietal cells 

Large cells of peptic glands that, in the stomach, produce hydrochloric acid that is covalent in nature.  
pathology  Abnormal physical conditions produced by disease.  
pH     Potential of Hydrogen. Indicates level of acidity or alkalinity of solution. Measured on a scale of 0- 14 with 7.0 being neutral. The lower the number, the more acid the solution; the higher the number, the more alkaline the solution.  
pK 

 The ionization constant of a solution.

- of bicarbonate buffer 6. l

- of phosphate buffer 6.8

- of protein buffer 7.4  

 

proton   Positively charged particle of atom.  

R  


reticuloendothelial
cells

Cells of the reticuloendothelial system (RES) that ingest and destroy substances such as bacteria, cell debris, and dust particles.  
reverse osmosiswater (RO water)

Water purified by filtration of most minerals and  impurities through membrane that allows only molecules to pass. More vital than distilled water   that has been boiled.  

 
S  

Standard
American  
Diet (SAD)   


Conventional American diet consisting of the four basic food groups: dairy products, meats, fruits and vegetables, and cereals and grains. Considered by many to be basis of well-balanced meals. Affords ex­cessive amounts of protein.
 

 

T

toxic
    

Resembling poison. Causes stress to the body.  

U  

urobilin

Brown pigment formed by oxidation of urobilinogen in urine or stools.  
urobilinogen  Colorless derivative of bilirubin formed by action of intestinal bacteria. Highly solu­ble, reabsorbed through intestinal wall into blood to be excreted into urine by kidneys.  


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The following is from: The Medical Advisor, The Complete Guide to Alternative & Conventional Treatments, by the Editors of Time-Life Books, Alexandria, Virginia. Copyright Ó 1996 Time Life Inc.

Abbreviations:

cal   calorie 
gal  gallon    
in         inch  
F  Fahrenheit  
IU    international units, measurement used for fat-soluble vitamin  
mcg microgram  
mg    milligram  
oz  ounce  
pt   pint  
qt quart  
spp. Various species, often used with botanical names of herbs to indicate that more than one species of a plant may be used medicinally  
tbsp     tablespoon  
tsp  teaspoon  
c in homeopathic dosages, indicating a dilution ratio of 1 part to 99 parts  
x        in homeopathic dosages, indicating a dilution ratio of 1 part to 9 parts      

Key to Professional Titles  

CA  Certified Acupuncturist     
DC   Doctor of Chiropractic  
DDS        Doctor of Dental Surgery  
DHANP    Diplomat of Homeopathic Academy of Naturopathic Physicians  
Dipl Ac NCCA    

Diplomat of Acupuncture, National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncturist  

DO     Doctor of Osteopathy  
DSc  Doctor of Science  
EdD  Doctor of Education  
FAAAI   

Fellow of the American Academy of Allergy and Immunology  

FAAN    Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology  
FAAO  

Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology  

FAAO 

Fellow of the American Academy of Osteopathy  

FAAOS    Fellow of the American Academy of Osteopathy