Synonyms and antonyms of Medical and health treatments in British Thesaurus

acupressure (noun)

a medical treatment from China that involves pressing on different parts of the body with the hands

acupuncture (noun)

a medical treatment from China that involves putting special needles into particular parts of the body

aftercare (noun)

care and treatment for someone who has been in hospital

Alexander Technique ()

a method of teaching people how to sit, stand, and move their body correctly

alternative medicine (noun)

medical treatment using methods that are different from the usual Western scientific methods, for example homeopathy and acupuncture

anaesthesia (noun)

an anaesthetic that is given to someone before they have a medical operation, or the use of anaesthetics

analgesia (noun)

medical treatment to control pain

aromatherapy (noun)

a health treatment in which oils with a nice smell are rubbed into your skin to make you feel relaxed. Someone who is trained to do aromatherapy is called an aromatherapist.

artificial insemination (noun)

a medical treatment in which a man’s sperm (=cells from his sex organs) are put into a woman’s womb (=the part of her body where a baby can grow) so that she can become pregnant

art therapy (noun)

a type of treatment for people with a mental illness in which they express their feelings by painting, drawing, or making sculptures

aspiration (noun)

medical the process of removing liquid from inside someone’s body, usually with a needle or syringe

assisted reproduction (noun)

the medical processes that doctors use to help couples who cannot have a baby naturally, including processes such as IVF

Ayurvedic medicine (noun)

a traditional system of medicine from India that gives people advice on food and the way they live

blood doping (noun)

the practice of increasing the number of red blood cells in an athlete's bloodstream in order to improve their performance by allowing the body to transport more oxygen to the muscles

bloodletting (noun)

a medical treatment used in the past in which blood was taken from people who were ill

blood transfusion (noun)

a medical treatment in which blood from another person is put into someone’s body, for example if they have lost a lot of blood from an injury

bush medicine (noun)

Australian the traditional ways of treating illnesses used by aboriginal people in Australia

care pathway (noun)

an approach for health professionals to use when managing the care of patients with particular health conditions, which sets out the different steps to be taken at different stages

chemo (noun)

informal chemotherapy

chemotherapy (noun)

the treatment of diseases, especially cancer, by drugs that are usually put directly into a patient’s vein

Chinese medicine (noun)

a traditional system of medicine from China that uses herbs, minerals, and animal products in addition to acupuncture, massage, and exercise

chiropractic (noun)

medical treatment given by a chiropractor

colonic irrigation (noun)

a treatment in which someone’s colon is washed, which some people believe is good for health

complementary medicine (noun)

medical treatment using methods that are not used by most doctors and are intended to treat the causes of a disease rather than the symptoms. In western societies, acupuncture and hypnosis are types of complementary medicine.

course (noun)

a medical treatment that someone is given over a period of time

CPR (noun)

medical cardiopulmonary resuscitation: a medical treatment in which you breathe air into someone’s mouth and press their chest repeatedly in order to make them start breathing again and make their heart start working again

critical care (noun)

the highest level of care in a hospital for patients who are extremely ill and could die at any time

detox (noun)

informal treatment in a special hospital to help someone to stop taking drugs or drinking alcohol

detoxification (noun)

detox

dialysis (noun)

a medical treatment that removes waste substances from the blood of someone whose kidneys are not working properly

ECT (noun)

electroconvulsive therapy: a medical treatment for serious mental illness in which electricity is passed through your brain

electroconvulsive therapy (noun)

ECT

enema (noun)

a medical treatment in which liquid is forced into a person’s intestines through their anus to make them go to the toilet to empty their bowels

epidural (noun)

a medical treatment in which an anaesthetic (=drug that stops you feeling pain) is put into the lower back, especially of a woman who is giving birth to a baby

first aid (noun)

basic medical treatment given as soon as someone is injured or becomes ill

gene therapy (noun)

a medical treatment in which genes are put into cells in the body in order to cure some types of illness

healing (noun)

a method in which someone is believed to be able to treat illnesses using special powers

herbalism (noun)

the study or practice of using herbs as medicines

herbal medicine (noun)

the treatment of illness with medicines made from plants

homeopathy (noun)

a way of treating illness by giving small amounts of natural substances that in large amounts would cause the illness. It is a form of complementary medicine. A person who treats people using homeopathy is called a homeopath.

homoeopathy ()

another spelling of homeopathy

hormone replacement therapy (noun)

medical treatment in which hormones are given to a woman to reduce the effects of the menopause (=when she stops being able to have children)

HRT (noun)

hormone replacement therapy: a medical treatment designed to reduce the effects of a woman’s menopause

hydrotherapy (noun)

a medical treatment that uses water, for example helping muscles to become stronger by doing exercises in a swimming pool

hypnotherapy (noun)

the use of hypnosis to treat physical or emotional problems

immunosuppression (noun)

the process of preventing the body’s immune system from working, for example so that it does not refuse to accept a new organ after a transplant operation

incision (noun)

a cut made into the body with a knife, usually during a medical operation

induction (noun)

medical the process of causing physical changes in the body of a person or animal

intensive care (noun)

the special medical care provided in this department

internal medicine (noun)

medical treatment of organs inside your body using methods that do not involve surgery (=cutting open the body)

irradiation (noun)

medical the use of radiation to help to treat injury or disease, for example x-rays, gamma rays or neutrons

the kiss of life (noun)

mouth-to-mouth resuscitation

life support (noun)

measures intended to keep someone alive when they are very ill

lumbar puncture (noun)

a medical treatment or test in which a needle is used to inject medicine into or take liquid from your spine

manipulation (noun)

medical the use of your hands to move or press part of someone’s body as part of a medical treatment

massage (noun)

the action of pressing, squeezing, and rubbing someone’s body in order to reduce pain in their muscles or to make them relax

meridian (noun)

an imaginary line that connects points of energy in your body, used by doctors who treat people using acupuncture

mouth-to-mouth resuscitation (noun)

a way of making someone breathe again after they have stopped, by blowing air into their mouth to fill their lungs. It is often simply called mouth-to-mouth.

muti (noun)

South African traditional medicine, especially medicine made from plants or animal parts

naturopath (noun)

someone who treats people’s illnesses using naturopathy

naturopathy (noun)

a system of medical treatment that treats illnesses by natural methods such as exercise and controlling the food you eat. Naturopathy is a form of complementary medicine.

occupational therapy (noun)

a method of helping people who have been injured or very ill to become well again by giving them special activities to do or providing them with special equipment

osteopathy (noun)

a treatment for medical conditions such as back pain or muscle injury that involves pressure and movement of your muscles and bones

OT (abbreviation)

occupational therapy

pedicure (noun)

a treatment for your feet and toenails that makes them look and feel good

physical therapy (noun)

American physiotherapy

physio (noun)

Britishinformal physiotherapy

physiotherapy (noun)

the treatment of injuries using special physical exercises

podiatry (noun)

the care of feet and the treatment of foot diseases

precision medicine (noun)

an approach to medical treatment that combines advanced research and techniques with detailed information about the individual patient’s condition, in order to improve outcomes

pressure point (noun)

a place where someone presses your body to treat a particular medical problem using a treatment called acupressure

preventive medicine (noun)

medical examinations, treatments, advice etc intended to prevent illness or discover it before it becomes serious

primary care (noun)

medical treatment and advice that you get in your local community from a doctor or nurse, rather than treatment from a specialist

private medicine (noun)

medical treatment that people pay for directly, not the treatment that is provided free by the government

prophylaxis (noun)

the use of medical treatment for preventing disease or infection

quackery (noun)

informal bad medical treatment from doctors who are not very good at their job, or from people who cheat other people by pretending to be doctors

quackery (noun)

informalBritishinformalshowing disapproval medical treatment

radiography (noun)

the process of taking X-ray photographs of someone’s body as part of a medical treatment. Someone who does this as their job is called a radiographer.

radiology (noun)

a medical treatment in which radiation is used for treating an illness, or the study of this type of treatment. Someone who is trained in radiology is a radiologist.

radiotherapy (noun)

a medical treatment for cancer using radiation. Someone who is trained in radiotherapy is called a radiotherapist.

rebirthing (noun)

a type of health treatment in which people control the way that they breathe in order to make themselves relax and feel better

reflexology (noun)

a type of massage in which a person’s hands or feet are rubbed and pressed in order to make other parts of their body more healthy or to help them to relax

regenerative medicine (noun)

treatment that involves repairing or replacing organs and other body parts by using advanced materials and methods such as cloning

regime (noun)

a regimen

regimen (noun)

a programme of medical treatment, exercise, or special food for improving your health or appearance

reiki (noun)

a medical treatment from Japan in which someone puts their hands on you so that energy can pass through them to you and so make a part of your body healthy

relief (noun)

the reduction of pain or the effects of an illness

respite care (noun)

the temporary care of someone who is ill, old, or has a physical or mental problem, either at home or in a special hospital, in order to allow the person who usually looks after them to have a rest

rubdown (noun)

mainly American a treatment in which you rub someone’s body to help them to relax

sedation (noun)

the use of drugs to make someone calmer, or to make them sleep

shiatsu (noun)

a type of medical treatment from Japan in which physical and emotional problems are treated by massage (=pressing and rubbing the body)

shock therapy (noun)

a medical treatment for mental illness in which doctors put electricity into someone’s brain

shot (noun)

an injection of a drug (=when it is put into your body using a needle) given as a medical treatment

speech therapy (noun)

exercises in talking that are designed to help someone who cannot say words correctly

spinal tap (noun)

a lumbar puncture

surgery (noun)

medical treatment in which a doctor cuts open someone’s body

therapy (noun)

a form of treatment for an illness or medical condition

therapy (noun)

a form of treatment for someone with mental illness or emotional problems that involves talking to them or asking them to do things

traction (noun)

medical the use of special equipment to hold someone’s body in a particular position

traditional medicine (noun)

medical treatment using methods that are different from the usual Western scientific methods, for example Chinese medicine or herbal medicine

transfusion (noun)

a medical treatment in which blood from one person is put into another person’s body

treatment (noun)

a particular method or type of medical care

western medicine (noun)

the type of medical treatment that is the most popular in North America and Western European countries, based on the use of drugs and surgery to treat symptoms (=signs of illness). In such countries, other types of medical treatment are called alternative medicine or complementary medicine.