Glossary of Integrative Therapies & Lucy's Love Bus Terms

Disclaimer: This information is for informational or educational purposes only, and does not substitute professional medical advice or consultations with healthcare professionals. 

Acupressure: The use of fingers, palms, elbows, or special devices (other than needles) to apply pressure to certain places on your body (called acupoints) to help your muscles relax and improve your blood flow. It can also help with many common side effects of chemotherapy, such as pain and headaches. Click here to learn more.

Acupuncture: The insertion of needles into the body to stimulate sensory nerves in the skin and muscles, intended to treat chronic pain, headaches, neck/back pain, fatigue, and other physical conditions. Click here to learn more. 

Aerial Yoga (Therapeutic): Silk fabrics are hung from above to aid participants in being fully supported by the silks. Hanging fully or suspending individual body parts is believed to create traction and open your body more gently and intuitively than when you’re on the floor. The silks and ropes can also be helpful for balance, and the versatility and support of the fabric allows people to access new movements by reducing the load on wrists and knees, which can limit mobility in a floor-based practice. No experience necessary to join aerial yoga programs at Lucy’s Love Bus! Click here to learn more. 

Aromatherapy: The practice of using extracts from plants called essential oils, by either breathing them through your nose or putting them on your skin. Essential oils are made from flower, herb, and tree parts, like bark, roots, peels, and petals. The oils may activate certain areas of your brain, like your limbic system, which plays a role in your emotions. They could also have an impact on your hypothalamus, which may respond to the oil by creating feel-good brain chemicals like serotonin.When you put essential oils on your skin, they may cause a response in your skin and other parts of your body, like relieving aching in joints. Click here to learn more.

Child life: Programs that address the psychosocial concerns that accompany hospitalization and other health care experiences. Child life specialists focus on the optimal development and well-being of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults while promoting coping skills and minimizing the adverse effects of hospitalization, health care encounters, and/or other potentially stressful experiences through evidence-based, developmentally and psychologically appropriate interventions including therapeutic play, preparation for procedures, and education to reduce fear, anxiety, and pain. Click here to learn more. 

Community acupuncture: Individualized acupuncture (or acupressure) offered in a group setting. For community acupuncture programs offered through Lucy’s Love Bus, participants are spread out around the Sajni Center on yoga mats or couches, and start with a consultation. After resting in a comfortable position, needles are placed for an average of 30-40 minutes, with frequent check-ins from the acupuncturist. Alternatively, one rests in a comfortable position, then receives acupressure without needles for approximately 5-10 minutes, then rests while the acupuncturist checks on other participants; the acupuncturist returns to perform a few more minutes of acupressure, with the cycle repeating for the length of the program.

Craniosacral therapy: A gentle hands-on technique that uses a light touch to examine membranes and movement of the fluids in and around the central nervous system. Relieving tension in the central nervous system promotes a feeling of well-being by eliminating pain and boosting health and immunity. Click here to learn more.

Hippotherapy: When the movement of the horse is used as a treatment tool by physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech language pathologists to address impairments, functional limitations, and disabilities in patients. These professionals use evidence-based practice and clinical reasoning in the purposeful manipulation of equine movement as a therapy tool to engage sensory, neuromotor and cognitive systems to promote functional outcomes. Click here to learn more.

Independent Healthcare Advocate (ICA): A trained support guide for help researching treatment options, or issues related to housing, health insurance, and education. An ICA can help a patient and their family better understand medical conditions and treatment options; effectively communicate with doctors and hospitals; analyze and consolidate financial liabilities related to health care; and navigate healthcare and school systems based on the rights owed to each patient/family. Click here to learn more.

Late effects: The complications caused due to cancer treatment that can last for years after treatment has ended, including: Growth, development, and hormone problems; secondary cancers; learning and memory problems; heart, lung, and dental problems; anxiety, depression, and fear of cancer returning. Two-thirds of all survivors will experience one or more late effects from their disease and/or treatment. Click here to learn more. 

Naturopathy: A system that uses natural remedies to help the body heal itself. It embraces many therapies, including herbs, massage, acupuncture, exercise, and nutritional counseling. The goal of naturopathic medicine is to treat the whole person: mind, body, and spirit. Click here to learn more. 

Practitioner: (At Lucy’s Love Bus) One of the vetted and highly qualified integrative therapists or other complementary service providers in our network, with whom we partner to pay for their services to/with children with cancer and their family members. 

Reflexology: A type of massage that involves applying different amounts of pressure to the feet, hands, and ears. A reflexologist’s touch may help to calm the central nervous system, promoting relaxation and other benefits just like any form of massage. Click here to learn more.

Reiki: A healing technique based on the principle that the trained practitioner can channel energy into the patient, with or without touch, to activate the natural healing processes of the patient's body and restore physical and emotional well-being. Reiki practitioners believe that improving the flow of energy around the body can enable relaxation, relieve pain, speed healing, and reduce other symptoms of illness. Click here to learn more.

Restorative yoga: A restful practice focused on slowing down and opening your body through passive stretching. Sessions are guided and the slow, gentle stretching is highly adaptable for people of all abilities. Click here to learn more. 

Sound healing: The use of specific instruments, music, tones, and other sonic vibrations to balance and heal the body, mind, and spirit. It involves using specialized sound frequencies to create a therapeutic atmosphere to promote deep rest, nervous system rebalancing, and emotional release. Click here to learn more.

Therapeutic horseback riding: Services that are specifically focused on adapting groundwork and riding experiences to be accessible to individuals and groups with diverse needs. Provided by specially trained and certified equine professionals, therapeutic/adaptive horsemanship helps participants attain individualized horsemanship skills and experience many naturally healthful benefits of horseback riding and other horsemanship activities which can help improve their endurance, dexterity, and self-confidence. Click here to learn more. 

Tong Ren: A form of non-contact distance healing, during which the practitioner utilizes a silicon doll as a conduit for the client, and a magnetic hammer. By tapping energy points along the body of the doll, the practitioner is able to shift blocked energy through the client’s body, creating the optimal energetic state for healing. Click here to learn more.