glossary of health and beauty terms

Cellulite - A non-scientific term used to describe a pebbly or uneven surface of the skin of the hips, thighs, or buttocks of women, caused by the sagging or breaking down of the quilt-like strands of collagen which attach the skin to underlying structures and is associated with increased deposits of fat in those areas.

Chakra - Refers to the seven energy centres in your body. Taken from the Sanskrit word meaning, "wheel"

Cleansing - To free and detoxify one's body from cumulative poisons.

Collagen - The main structure of the skin is a dense network of criss-crossing protein fibres embedded in a mass of film jelly. One of these two fibres is a collagen fibre that amounts to 75% of the weight of the dermis and is tough and resilient.

Colon Hydrotherapy - An intense water irrigation of the entire colon, intended to cleanse out trapped impurities, preventing the recycling of toxins into the blood stream.

Cranio-sacral Therapy - Gentle massage centring on the head.

Crystal Healing - Healing energy believed to be generated by quartz and other minerals. Crystals are known to have electromagnetic energy, as does the human body. When a natural quartz crystal is brought into contact with a person's etheric body, the electromagnetic attraction is capable of drawing imbalanced energy out of the human body.

Callus - An accumulation of hard, thickened skin caused by pressure and friction over a large area. Calluses often occur on the pads of the toes and the heels.
Ceramides - Primarily act in the upper most skin layer, affecting the intercellular spaces of the corneum layer where they form a protective barrier and reduce the natural water loss of the skin. Ceramides repair the corneam layer in cases of dry skin improve skin hydration and increase the feeling of softness.

Chamomile - Has clinically proven anti-inflammatory and repair properties. It is considered bactericidal, anti-itching, soothing, antiseptic, purifying, refreshing, hypoallergenic and has an ability to neutralise skin irritants

Chi - For thousands of years the cultures of the East have known about the existence of special energies that run throughout and around the body. In China they call this "Chi"

Corn - A small patch of thick hard skin. The pressure from a badly fitted shoe might prevent the proper exfoliation of the epidermis, which builds up in thickness and pushes down into the dermis below.