Glossary: Integrative Medicine and Nutrition

Beta-Endorphins

Endorphins secreted by the pituitary gland that reduce pain.

Bioelectromagnetics

The study of how electromagnetic fields interact with and influence biological entities.

Biofeedback

A mechanism and a method for training a person to influence physiological responses that are not under voluntary control or that are ordinarily regulated but for which regulation has broken down due to trauma or disease.

Biofield

A field surrounding and interpenetrating the physical body.

Biphasic

Having two phases.

Body/Somatic Psychotherapy

The integration of bodywork with psychotherapy and recognition of the continuity and the deep connections that all psycho-corporal processes contribute, in equal fashion, to the organization of the whole person.

Brachial plexus

A network of nerves lying mostly in the armpit and supplying nerves tothe chest, shoulder, and arm.

Brassica

 A plant of a genus that includes cabbage, turnip, brussels sprout, and mustard

Bulimia Nervosa

A severe eating disorder in which individuals, almost always women, habitually vomit or abuse laxatives after binge eating or after eating even minimal amounts of foods that they consider fattening.

Butyrate

 Short-chain fatty acid made by the health-promoting bacteria in the gut.