Chapter One

• Acupuncture


  A form of alternative medicine in which thin needles are inserted into the body. It is a key component of traditional Chinese medicine.
• Ayurveda


  A holistic Hindu science of health and medicine, which sees physical wellbeing as being intertwined with emotional and spiritual wellbeing as well as the universe as a whole. Treatments include yoga, meditation, diet and herbal medicines.
• Cognitive


  The mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience and the senses
• Contraception


  Any method or device that prevents conception and, therefore, a pregnancy
• Dynamic


  Continually changing
• Emotional health and wellbeing


  The ability to recognise, understand and effectively manage and express emotions as well as the ability to display resilience
• Emotional intelligence


  An individual's ability to recognise and respond to either their own or others' emotions
• Health


  A state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing; it is not merely the absence of disease or infirmity
• Health and wellbeing


  The state of a person's physical, social, emotional, mental and spiritual existence, characterised by an equilibrium in which the individual feels happy, healthy, capable and engaged
• Infirmity


  The quality or state of being weak or ill; often associated with old age
• Karma


  The spiritual principle of cause and effect whereby the intent and actions of an individual (cause) influence the future of that individual (effect)
• Mental health and wellbeing


  Relates to the state of a person's mind or brain and the ability to think and process information. Optimal mental health and wellbeing enables an individual to positively form opinions, make decisions and use logic, and is associated with low levels of stress and anxiety, positive self-esteem, as well as a sense of confidence and optimism.
• Nirvana


  A place of peace and happiness, where suffering is removed. In Buddhism, nirvana means the cycle of rebirth has ceased, whereas in Hinduism the soul has been absorbed into the higher power of Brahman.
• Physical health and wellbeing

  Relates to the functioning of the body and its systems; it includes the physical capacity to perform daily activities or tasks
• Self-disclosure


  The process of communication by which one person reveals information about himself or herself to another. This can be in the form of feelings, thoughts, fears, likes and dislikes.
• Self-esteem


  Reflects a person's overall subjective emotional evaluation of his or her own worth. It is a judgement of oneself as well as an attitude toward the self.
• Social health and wellbeing


  The ability to form meaningful and satisfying relationships with others and the ability to manage or adapt appropriately to different social situations
• Spiritual health and wellbeing


  Relates to ideas, beliefs, values and ethics that arise in the mind and conscience of human beings. It includes the concepts of hope, peace, a guiding sense of meaning or value, and reflection on a person's place in the world. Spiritual health and wellbeing can also relate to organised religion, a higher power and prayer, values, a sense of purpose in life, connection or belonging.
• Subjective wellbeing


  Refers to how people experience the quality of their lives and includes both how they feel about their lives and what they think about their own personal circumstances
• Supernatural phenomena


  Includes all that cannot be explained by science or the laws of nature, including things characteristic of or relating to gods, ghosts or other supernatural beings, or to things beyond nature
• Wellbeing


  A complex combination of all dimensions of health, characterised by an equilibrium in which the individual feels happy, healthy, capable and engaged