What is balance?

Balance is a term frequently used by health professionals working in a wide variety of clinical specialities. There is no universally accepted definition of human balance, or related terms. This article identifies mechanical definitions of balance and introduces clinical definitions of balance and postural control. Postural control is defined as the act of maintaining, achieving or restoring a state of balance during any posture or activity. Postural control strategies may be either predictive or reactive, and may involve either a fixed-support or a change-in-support response. Clinical tests of balance assess different components of balance ability. Health professionals should select clinical assessments based on a sound knowledge and understanding of the classification of balance and postural control strategies.     

What is research?

J Vasc Nurs 2001;19:63-4.     

What is homeopathy?

Homeopathy is a curative method whose practice began approximately 200 years ago in Germany. Samuel Hahnemann discovered it and spread its practice rapidly through Europe and the rest of the world. Homeopathy is different in almost all aspects from what may be called "official" medicine, known as allopathy by homeopathic practitioners. The basic principle used in homeopathy consists in applying what is called similia smilibus curantur likes cure likes, or a "similarity law"; that is, all substance are capable of producing in a healthy human a series of ills or symptoms. This same substance used in homeopathic doses, or "infinitesimal doses" in homeopathic parlance, has the capability to cure.     

What is aromatherapy?

Aroma therapy is a natural technique based on the use of essential oils extracted from fresh plants for a therapeutic purpose. The substances used in aroma therapy are not fragrances or aromatic mixtures used in the perfume industry but pure essential oils, volatile substances extracted from diverse parts of plants which have curative property. Therefore, not everything which emits a pleasant smell is necessary an essential oil. Frequently used as a synonym for essential oil is the term essence which means a natural aromatic substance which a plant secretes from its reproductive organs; on the other hand, an essential oil is an extract obtained by distilling an essence.     

What is qi?

At a conference of practitioners and scholars of Chinese Medicineheld in Australia recently, it was reported that China has,in recent decades, spent an inordinate amount of resources onexperiments to determine the existence and nature of Qi. Thenub of the report was that China is easing up on this research.The veracity of the claim that these experiments are slowingdown for lack of concrete breakthroughs is not confirmed inthis article. The quest to define Qi continues, with there beingno breakthroughs that we know of.