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Alternative Medicine:
"Alternative Medicine" is a term used to describe those established and well recognized health care services which, though in existence for hundreds or even thousands of years, are not commonly found within the typical medical care settings.  These are services which, typically, do not utilize pharmaceutical intervention nor surgery.  Alternative Medicine methods target balancing of body functions, through: lifestyle changes, natural therapeutics, nutrition, exercise, neutriceuticlas (natural and herbal medicines) cleansing and detoxification, spinal and full body biomechanics, rehabillitation and various energy therapies.  Western or typical medical services, tend to focus on symptom management, principally utilizing pharmaceuticals, and surgical intervention.  While such medical services can and do serve to assist many people with serious and dibillitating, as well as tramatic health events, it is the tennent of Alternative Medicine that many people can improve themselves with natural interventions, common sense, lifestyle choices and accepting responsibility for the direciton of their health.  Alternative Medicine methods (though there are many) may include: Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Laser Therapy, Massage Therapy, Naturopathy, Herbology, Homeopathy, Nutrition, Detoxification, Science Based Nutritiion, Energetic Therpies (Biofeedback, Guided Imagery, Meditiaiton, Reiki Therapy. 
Chiropractic:
A world wide primary health care profession, which has been in existance over 100 years.  The chiropractic physicians primary professional responsibility, and authority, are typically focused on the diagnosis and management of health disorders related to the spine and immediate articulations.   Chiropractic practice also encompasses issues of health education, diet, exercise and emphysises natural healing methods.  Chiropractic is a fully licensed health profession in all 50 states and numerous foreign countries.

Advanced Practic of Chiropractic Medicine(APCM):
This term is used to identify those chiropractic physicians who have participated in specialized training to advance their skills in the field of primary patient care.  APCM chiropractic physicians are trained to work co-operatively with other health care specialists, such as the "primary medical physician" (PCP).  This co-operative "integrative" approach is designed to improve interprofessional co-operation and quality of patient care.

Physician:
A term used to describe one who "heals" or who is engaged in the healing sciences as a licensed primary health care professional such as: Chiropractic physician (DC), Medical physician (MD), Osteopathic physician (DO), Naturopathic physician (ND). 

Diagnosis:
A comprehensive process of health history gathering and evaluation/examination of the patients presenting complaints, and arriving at a working conclusion as to the nature of the disorder.  Chiropractic physicians will typically determin if the condition is related to a spinal disorder, but may also diagnose other health conditions.

Practice Objective:
The professional practice objective of chiropractic is to correct nerve interference in a safe, effective manner. Nerve interference usually occurs when a vertebra or other musculo-skeletal structures, mechanically compress or aggrivate sensitive nerve tissue, thereby causing various pain and associated health complaints.  This practic objective is applicable to any patient who exhibits nerve interference regardless of the presence or absence of symptoms or disease.

Adjustment:
The specific application of controlled and gentle forces used to facilitate the body’s correction of nerve interference.  Is typically done manually (by hand), but may be applied using various instrumentations

Manipulation:
The forceful passive movement of a joint beyond its active limit of motion. It does not imply the use of precision, specificity or the correction of nerve interference.  Therefore, it is not synonymous with chiropractic adjustment, but may be employed by the chiropractic physician to improve joint and biomechanical function.

Paraspinal EMG Scanning:
A painless, non-invasive procedure to measure and record the electrical signals given off by the muscles that attach to the spinal column. Electrodes are placed on the skin and their readings are shown in the form of a graph. Since one of the symptoms of nerve interference is abnormal muscle activity, the EMG is becoming a popular method for charting muscle spasms and spinal imbalance.

Thermography:
This procedure measures the temperature on the skin surface to locate inflammation of muscles and soft tissues. A special camera takes pictures, which reflect the different temperatures by displaying a range of colors on film. Thermography has been used to pinpoint spinal nerve and muscle stress.

Vertebral Subluxation:
Also referred to as nerve interference, is represented by a misalignment or abnormal mechanical activity of one or more of the 24 vertebrae in the spinal column, which causes alteration of nerve function and interference to the transmission of neurologic energy, resulting in a lessening of the body’s ability to express its maximum health potential.

Physio-therapy:
A term used to describe a variety of treatment procedures which are aimed at positively influencing the healing, conditioning and strengthening process.  Various treatment procedures may include, exercise, changes in lifestyle activities, treatment methods such as: heat, cold, gentle electrical stimulation, ultrasound, lasers, tractions, and tissue massage.