Acupuncture	An occupational discipline in the traditional Chinese methods that comprises the insertion of needles along specific pathways or meridians. The placement varies with the disease being treated.
Being with	The perception of being emotionally accompanied by another.
CAM practitioner	An individual who delivers a range of healthcare services and therapies that are beyond the scope of conventional medical treatment. Unlike conventional healthcare professionals, the training requirements for those who practice CAM often vary considerably. There are various means by which these practitioners obtain their skills, such as certification programs, apprenticeships, workshops, or self-study.
Comfort	Patient care intended to prevent or relieve suffering in conditions that ensure optimal quality of living (MeSH).
Complementary and alternative medicine	A broad set of healthcare practices that are not part of the conventional health system practices.
Dependent	A child or other individual who relies on a parent, relative, or other person for support in the domain of care to carry out a set of activities necessary for the maintenance of life, health, and well-being, compensating for a self-care deficit.
Herbal medicine	The study of medicines derived from botanical sources (MeSH definition).
Integrative medicine	The combination of conventional and unconventional medicine that addresses the biological, psychological, social, and spiritual aspects of health and illness.
Mandala	A Sanskrit term that translates to circle, sphere, integrity, or completion. These geometrical figures are traditionally used as an aid for meditation by drawing the eye to the centre of the sphere.
Massage	The systematic and methodical manipulation of body tissue, best performed with the hands, for the purpose of affecting the nervous and muscular systems and the general circulation (MeSH definition).
Meditation	A state of consciousness that trains the mind to eliminate external stimuli and focus on an isolated entity, eliciting stress relief and relaxation.
Mindfulness	The practice of being aware of one’s body, mind, and feelings in the present moment, intended to create a feeling of calm (Cambridge Dictionary).
Randomised control trial	An experimental study in which subjects are randomly assigned to two distinct groups, experimental (receiving the intervention that is being tested) and control (receiving an alternative treatment).
Reiki	Energy-healing or biofield therapy that consists of placing the hands of the healer upon the client, with the intention of generating spiritual energetic healing.
Sham	Something that is not what it seems to be and is intended to deceive, or someone who pretends to be something they are not (Cambridge Dictionary).
Tai chi	Mind–body meditative exercise that involves dynamic dance-like postures, relaxation, and breathing control.
Tonglen practice	The Tibetan term “Tonglen” translates to “sending and taking”. It is an ancient type of meditation that centres on breathing techniques and compassion.
Traditional Chinese medicine	An ancient medical model characterised by an emphasis on the maintenance of mind–body homeostasis and the intricate interplay between the human body and its surrounding environment. Rooted in a personalised and holistic framework, TCM addresses pathological states by employing a wide range of psychological and physical strategies that may include natural therapeutic agents customised to individual symptomatology.
Traditional medicine	The sum of the knowledge, skills, and practices based on the theories, beliefs, and experiences indigenous to different cultures, which may not be explained by modern medicine, used in the maintenance of health and the prevention, diagnosis, improvement, or treatment of physical and mental illness (modified from World Health Organization).
Vipassana	A type of meditation that focuses on mental training with the purpose of improving proprioceptive and somatic awareness, impacting one’s attentional style.
Well-being	The state of healthiness and happiness covering the physical and mental conditions of an individual.
Yoga	A Hindu philosophical practice that works by uniting the mind, the body, and the spirit through conscious breathing and body postures.