Fountain Health Glossary

Abstinence

Choosing not to use a substance such as alcohol or drugs.

Clinically, abstinence is often a treatment goal in recovery programs.

ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support)

Clinical training for responding to serious cardiovascular emergencies.

Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) is training for healthcare professionals focused on recognizing and managing serious cardiovascular emergencies, building on basic life support skills.

Addiction

A condition where the brain's reward system drives compulsive use of a substance or behavior, despite harm.

Clinically understood as changes in dopamine pathways and self-control circuits.

Alcohol Use Disorder

A medical diagnosis for problematic drinking that affects health, relationships, or daily function.

Clinically assessed on a spectrum from mild to severe.

AMPA Receptor

A glutamate receptor involved in fast excitatory neurotransmission in the brain.

AMPA receptors are ionotropic glutamate receptors that play a major role in fast excitatory neurotransmission in the central nervous system.

Anhedonia

Loss of interest or pleasure in things once enjoyed. Often linked to depression and tracked as an outcome in ketamine therapy.

Antidepressant

A medication that alters brain chemistry to relieve depression.

Clinically includes SSRIs, SNRIs, and others.

Anxiety

A state of worry or tension that disrupts focus and sleep.

Clinically tied to overactive stress pathways.

BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor)

A neurotrophic factor involved in neuron survival and plasticity related to learning and memory.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) supports neuron survival and is involved in synaptic plasticity processes that relate to learning and memory.

Bioavailability

How much of a medication or nutrient actually reaches the bloodstream and tissues after being taken.

Clinically, IV therapies have 100% bioavailability.

Biomarkers

Measurable signals of health, like blood sugar or hormone levels. Faountain Health uses biomarker tracking to guide treatment.

Body Composition

The balance of muscle, fat, and water in the body.

Clinicians track it as a deeper measure of health than weight alone.

Bupropion

A prescription medication sometimes used for depression and smoking cessation.

Clinically acts on dopamine and norepinephrine.

Caloric Deficit

Burning more calories than you consume, often leading to weight loss.

Metabolically, it triggers fat oxidation.

Cellular Aging

The gradual wear-and-tear of cells over time.

Scientifically, it involves telomere shortening, DNA damage, and mitochondrial decline.

Cholesterol Panel

A blood test measuring "good" (HDL) and "bad" (LDL) cholesterol, plus triglycerides.

Clinicians use it to assess cardiovascular risk.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

A structured form of talk therapy that helps people reframe negative thoughts and behaviors.

Clinically, CBT is one of the most researched treatments for anxiety and depression.

Cognitive Function

Everyday mental skills like memory, focus, and problem-solving.

Neurologically, it's shaped by brain circuitry and neurotransmitter activity.

Compounded Medications

Custom prescriptions made by a pharmacy to fit individual needs. In clinical practice, they're tailored for dose, delivery method, or combined ingredients.

Controlled Substance (Schedule III)

A legal classification for certain medications with regulated prescribing and handling requirements.

A controlled substance is a medication or substance regulated under U.S. law. Schedule III substances have accepted medical use and are subject to specific regulatory controls. The FDA label for SPRAVATO notes it is a CIII (Schedule III) controlled substance.

Cortisol

Often called the "stress hormone," it helps regulate energy and metabolism. Chronically high levels are linked to sleep problems, anxiety, and weight gain.

CRP (C-Reactive Protein)

A lab marker of inflammation. Elevated CRP suggests systemic stress or increased cardiovascular risk.

Depression

A prolonged low mood that interferes with life.

Clinically linked to brain chemistry and neurocircuitry.

Detoxification

Your body's natural process of clearing toxins, mostly through the liver and kidneys.

Medically, it's supported during recovery and with IV therapies.

DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone)

A hormone that supports mood, energy, and sexual health. Levels decline with age and can be measured in labs.

Dissociation

A feeling of disconnection from thoughts, feelings, surroundings, or sense of self.

Dissociation describes a sense of disconnection between thoughts, feelings, surroundings, or identity. It can occur on a spectrum and may be reported during certain medical or mental health conditions and experiences.

Dissociative Drugs

A class of drugs that can alter perception and create feelings of disconnection.

Dissociative drugs are substances that can produce changes in perception and feelings of detachment from self or surroundings. Ketamine is commonly categorized as a dissociative anesthetic.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter that fuels motivation, reward, and pleasure.

Clinically disrupted in depression and addiction.

Drug Interactions

When one medication changes the effect of another.

Clinically important in designing safe treatment regimens.

Eligibility Questionnaire

A patient intake form that screens for safety before beginning treatments like IV ketamine or GLP-1 therapy.

Endorphins

Natural chemicals your body releases during exercise, laughter, or pleasure that boost mood and reduce pain.

Clinically, they act as the body's own opioids.

Epigenetics

How lifestyle and environment can switch genes "on" or "off" without changing DNA itself.

Clinically, epigenetic changes influence aging, metabolism, and mental health.

Esketamine (SPRAVATO)

An FDA-approved esketamine nasal spray with specific labeled indications and safety requirements.

Esketamine nasal spray (SPRAVATO) is an FDA-approved prescription product with labeled indications that include treatment-resistant depression and specific safety information and monitoring requirements.

Estrogen

A key reproductive hormone that also affects mood, metabolism, and bone health. Levels shift across the lifespan.

Fat Oxidation

Your body's ability to burn fat for energy.

Clinically tracked through metabolic testing.

Follow-Up Care

Check-ins after treatment to monitor progress and adjust plans. Essential for safe and effective outcomes.

Functional Medicine

A whole-body approach that looks for root causes, not just symptoms.

Clinically, it integrates labs, lifestyle, and systems-based biology.

GAD-7

A validated questionnaire used to screen for and measure anxiety severity.

The GAD-7 is a 7-item screening tool commonly used to assess generalized anxiety symptoms and measure severity over time.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

A diagnosis for persistent, excessive worry that feels difficult to control.

Clinically defined by symptoms lasting at least six months.

Ghrelin

Known as the "hunger hormone," ghrelin signals your brain to eat.

Clinically elevated levels are tied to weight gain and poor satiety.

GLP-1 Agonist

A class of medications, including semaglutide, that regulate appetite and blood sugar.

Glutamate

A major excitatory neurotransmitter involved in learning, memory, and mood pathways.

Glutamate is a key excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain involved in signaling that supports learning and memory. Ketamine is often described as influencing glutamate signaling through pathways that include NMDA receptors.

Growth Hormone (HGH)

A hormone that supports growth, metabolism, and repair.

Clinically, levels decline with age and can be supported with peptides.

HbA1c

A blood test showing average blood sugar levels over three months. Used to diagnose diabetes and track metabolic health.

Holotropic Breathwork

A therapeutic breathing practice that can bring up altered states of awareness for healing.

Clinically used as an adjunct in trauma and integration work.

Hormonal Imbalance

When hormones like cortisol, estrogen, or testosterone are too high or too low. Symptoms may include fatigue, mood swings, and weight shifts.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

Restoring hormones like estrogen or testosterone when levels drop with age.

Clinically delivered as pills, patches, injections, or creams.

Informed Consent

Making sure patients understand risks, benefits, and alternatives before starting treatment. A legal and ethical requirement.

Inpatient

Treatment that requires staying overnight in a hospital or facility.

Clinically used for acute stabilization.

Insulin Resistance

When the body's cells don't respond well to insulin, raising blood sugar levels. A key driver of type 2 diabetes.

Integration

The process of making sense of and applying insights after a therapeutic experience such as ketamine therapy.

Clinically supported with talk therapy.

Intention Setting

A preparatory practice used to clarify goals and reduce uncertainty before a session.

Intention setting is a preparatory practice used in many therapeutic contexts to clarify goals and focus before a session. It can help reduce uncertainty and support engagement with care.

Intravenous (IV) Therapy

Delivering nutrients or medications directly into the bloodstream.

Clinically ensures 100% absorption.

Ketamine (IV Therapy)

An anesthetic that, at low doses, can rapidly relieve depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

Clinically, it works by enhancing neuroplasticity.

Ketamine Infusion

Administration of ketamine through an IV in a clinical setting.

A ketamine infusion refers to administering ketamine through an intravenous (IV) line. Because ketamine can affect measures like blood pressure and pulse, clinical administration typically includes monitoring during treatment.

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)

A care model that combines ketamine sessions with psychotherapy support and integration.

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) is a model that combines ketamine administration with psychotherapy support. Integration typically refers to processing and applying insights from the experience within ongoing care.

Leptin

A hormone made by fat cells that signals fullness to your brain.

Clinically, leptin resistance contributes to obesity and metabolic issues.

Libido

Sex drive or sexual desire. Influenced by hormones, stress, and mental health.

Lipid Profile

A blood test measuring cholesterol and triglycerides.

Clinically used to predict cardiovascular risk.

Longevity Medicine

A field of care focused on extending not just lifespan but healthspan --- the years you feel well.

Clinically, it uses biomarkers, IV therapies, and lifestyle interventions to slow aging.

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

The clinical term for depression lasting at least two weeks with low mood, loss of interest, and changes in sleep or appetite. Often treated with medications, therapy, or IV ketamine.

Mental Focus

The ability to concentrate and sustain attention.

Clinically linked to neurotransmitter activity and brain circuits.

Metabolic Health

How efficiently your body manages blood sugar, cholesterol, and energy balance. A strong predictor of long-term wellness.

Methylene Blue

A compound used at low doses to support brain energy and clarity.

Clinically studied for its neuroprotective effects.

Mind-Body Connection

The way your thoughts, emotions, and physical health influence each other.

Clinically supported by research on stress, immunity, and recovery.

Mitochondria

Tiny "power plants" inside cells that produce energy.

Clinically, mitochondrial dysfunction is tied to fatigue, aging, and neurodegeneration.

Mood Stabilizer

A class of medications that help balance mood swings in conditions like bipolar disorder.

NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide)

A coenzyme that fuels energy production in cells. Levels drop with age; IV therapy replenishes them.

Neurogenesis

The growth of new brain cells, especially in areas tied to memory and mood.

Clinically, ketamine and lifestyle changes like exercise can stimulate neurogenesis.

Neuromodulators

Medications or substances that alter brain signaling.

Clinically includes antidepressants, ketamine, and other agents affecting serotonin or dopamine.

Neuroplasticity

The brain's ability to form new pathways.

Clinically enhanced by ketamine.

Neuroprotection

Strategies to protect brain cells from damage.

Clinically includes NAD+, methylene blue, and antioxidants.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that allow brain cells to communicate --- like serotonin, dopamine, and GABA.

Clinically, imbalances are linked to mood and anxiety disorders.

NMDA Receptor

A glutamate receptor involved in synaptic signaling, learning, and memory.

The NMDA receptor is a type of glutamate receptor involved in excitatory signaling and processes such as learning and memory. Ketamine is commonly described as affecting glutamate activity via NMDA receptor pathways.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

A condition where repetitive thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions) interfere with life.

Clinically, treatment often combines medication and CBT.

Out-of-Network Benefits

Insurance benefits that may reimburse part of care received from providers outside a plan’s network.

Out-of-network benefits are insurance plan provisions that may reimburse a portion of eligible services provided by clinicians or facilities outside the plan’s preferred network, often after the patient submits a claim.

Outpatient

Treatment provided without an overnight stay. Fountain Health's IV therapies are outpatient by design.

Oxidative Damage / Oxidative Stress

Cellular damage caused by free radicals.

Clinically tied to aging, heart disease, inflammation, and neurodegeneration.

Oxytocin

Known as the "bonding hormone," it supports connection and intimacy.

Clinically, oxytocin also influences stress regulation.

Patient Portal

A secure online system where patients can view labs, fill forms, and access resources.

Peptides

Small proteins that act as messengers in the body.

Clinically used for healing, hormone regulation, and metabolism.

Pharmacokinetics

How the body absorbs, distributes, metabolizes, and eliminates a drug. Important in dosing and safety.

PHQ-9

A validated questionnaire used to screen for and measure depression severity.

The PHQ-9 is a multipurpose instrument commonly used to screen, diagnose, monitor, and measure the severity of depression symptoms over time.

Placebo Effect

Improvements in symptoms that come from belief in a treatment, not the treatment itself.

Clinically important in understanding how mindset shapes outcomes.

Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy

Using substances like ketamine or psilocybin in combination with therapy to support healing. Faountain Health provides a medicalized version with IV ketamine, not recreational psychedelics.

Psychotherapy (Talk Therapy)

A structured conversation with a therapist aimed at improving mood, behaviors, or coping.

Clinically ranges from CBT to psychodynamic approaches.

PT-141 (Bremelanotide)

A peptide that can boost sexual desire.

Clinically delivered as an injection.

PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)

A condition that can follow trauma, with symptoms like flashbacks, hyperarousal, and avoidance.

Clinically treated with therapy and medications, sometimes ketamine.

Relapse

A return to substance use after a period of improvement.

Clinically considered part of the recovery process and managed with support systems.

Resilience

The ability to adapt and recover from stress, trauma, or illness.

Clinically linked to healthier nervous system regulation and improved long-term outcomes.

Risk vs. Benefit

Weighing the potential gains of a treatment against possible downsides. A key part of medical decision-making.

Satiety

The feeling of fullness after eating. Regulated by hormones like GLP-1.

Semaglutide

A GLP-1 agonist medication used for weight loss and blood sugar regulation.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter tied to mood, sleep, and appetite.

Clinically targeted by SSRIs and modulated indirectly by ketamine.

Set and Setting

A concept describing how mindset and environment can shape a therapeutic experience.

Set and setting describes how mindset (set) and the physical and social environment (setting) can influence a person’s subjective experience during an altered state or therapeutic session.

Sexual Wellness

A holistic view of sexual health, including hormones, libido, and intimacy.

Side Effects

Unintended effects from treatment.

Clinicians weigh side effects when creating protocols.

Sleep Hygiene

Daily habits that support good sleep.

Clinically recommended for mood and metabolic health.

Stress

The body's response to external demands. Chronic stress disrupts hormones, sleep, and immune function.

Superbill

An itemized receipt used to submit out-of-network claims for possible reimbursement.

A superbill is a detailed, itemized document that patients can use to submit an insurance claim for out-of-network services, depending on their plan’s benefits and rules.

Synapsin

A compounded nasal spray with NAD+ and B12 that supports focus and recovery.

Synaptogenesis

The formation of synapses between neurons.

Synaptogenesis is the process by which synapses form between neurons in the nervous system.

Talk Therapy

A structured conversation with a therapist aimed at improving mood, behaviors, or coping mechanisms.

It encompasses various professional approaches, such as CBT or psychodynamic therapy, and is often used to support the integration of insights from other therapeutic experiences.

Tapering

Gradually lowering a medication dose to reduce withdrawal risk.

Clinically used when discontinuing antidepressants, benzodiazepines, or other long-term treatments.

Telehealth

Medical care delivered via phone or video.

Clinically enables access to services without in-person visits.

Telomeres

Protective caps on chromosomes that shorten with age.

Clinically used as markers of aging.

Testosterone

A hormone that influences energy, mood, and muscle health.

Clinically optimized with hormone replacement.

Tolerance

When the body adapts to a medication or substance, requiring more to achieve the same effect.

Clinically common with alcohol, opioids, and benzodiazepines.

Trauma

A deeply distressing experience that leaves lasting psychological impact.

Clinically addressed with therapy, ketamine, and integration.

Treatment Sessions

Scheduled appointments for therapies like IV ketamine or nutrient drips.

Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD)

Depression that persists despite adequate trials of antidepressant treatment.

TRD generally refers to major depression that does not improve after adequate trials of antidepressant treatment, often defined as non response to at least two adequate medication trials.

TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone)

A lab test showing thyroid activity. Helps assess energy, metabolism, and mood regulation.

Vital Signs Monitoring

Clinical monitoring of measures such as blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen levels.

Vital signs monitoring refers to tracking clinical measures such as blood pressure, pulse, and oxygen saturation to support safety during medical care, including monitored infusion settings.

Withdrawal

Symptoms that arise when reducing or stopping alcohol, drugs, or certain medications.

Clinically managed through careful tapering and medical support.