We have been using the term ‘energy medicine’ for some time now. In the Pacific Northwest we were using the term ‘biofield therapy’. I think what we do is more of a therapy than a medicine. It has been confusing a lot of people, and it came up at my 50th high school class reunion. 

I looked up “medicine” in the dictionary: “1 a substance or preparation used in treating disease; 2 the science and art of dealing with the maintenance of health and the prevention, alleviation, or cure of disease; 3 a substance, such as a drug or potion, used to treat something other than disease; 4 an object held by Native Americans to give control over natural or magical forces.”

Most people think of number 1 or 3 when talking about medicine, but I have encountered people who refer to number 4, and don’t like the mysticism it implies.

So, I looked up therapy: “therapeutic treatment as remedial treatment of a bodily disorder.”

I like the definition of therapist best: “a person trained in methods of treatment and rehabilitation other than the use of drugs or surgery.” This sounds more like what I do.

When I wrote The Encyclopedia of Energy Medicine I think I did a disservice by not calling it “The Encyclopedia of Biofield Therapy”. I discussed with other practitioners which term to use at length. I wish I had looked up the terminology in the dictionary, before I created the title. When I do the revised edition, I will probably change the name. 

I once went to a memorial service and afterwards people were doing the usual standing around and talking. They were mostly professional people. Someone asked me what I did and I said “I’m a biofield therapist. I work with the human energy field.” 

“Oh, isn’t that interesting”, people would say. “That’s an up and coming field.” 

The truth is, they didn’t have a clue in the closet what I was talking about, but it sounded good. And non-threating or woo-woo.

It’s that conversation that comes to mind when I am working with terminology.

Please let me know your thoughts.