Mind/Boby Medicine
Mind/body medicine involves the relationship the mind has in influencing the body. An individual’s attitudinal make-up has been found to have a significant influence over the body. Virtually every chronic illness can be influenced by the individual’s mood, attitude, and belief system. For example, fear and cynicism combined with a sense of hopelessness can have a specific negative effect on health. On the other hand courage, good humor, a sense of being in control, and a strong sense of hope tend to have a significantly beneficial effect.
Studies at Yale and Rutgers Universities by Ellen Idler, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology at Rutgers, and Stanislav Kasl, Ph.D., Professor of Epidemiology at Yale revealed that the self-image towards health and well being is a significant predictor of future health conditions.
Great advances in the study of the immune system took place during the 1970’s, which helped clarify the relationship between mind and body. These advances gave rise to a new and rapidly expanding field of psychoneuroimmunology (PNI). Subsequently, mind/body programs were established at Harvard University, UMASS, Stanford University, University of Miami, and the University of California at San Francisco.
Researchers have found that naturally occurring substances known as peptides or neuropeptides, which are messenger molecules composed of amino acids, can cause alterations of mood, pain, and pleasure. The first of these substances to be identified were endorphins, which are the brain’s natural opiate-like substances, which produce pleasurable responses when released. Contrary to popular belief, endorphins are not found solely in the brain, but also in the immune system, endocrine system, and throughout the body. Emotions previously thought to be purely psychological are now linked to specific chemical processes taking place throughout the body, not just in the brain. In addition, researchers have discovered that the immune system, like the central nervous system, has memory and the capacity to learn. Intelligence is thus located in literally every cell of the body, and the traditional separation of mind and body no longer applies. John Basmajin, M.D., Professor Emeritus, has demonstrated that people can learn to consciously control their own individual neurons and muscle cells.
The mind/body alternative medicine technique stresses the affect conscious thoughts and perceptions have on the body. Mind/body medicine is built around several important principles, which help to explain its’ theory, method, and function. Mind/body medicine encourages the patient to take full responsibility for his/her own healing. The patient is encouraged to be very proactive and an active partner in all aspects and stages of treatment, rather than being a passive recipient of medical intervention. By becoming proactive in self-healing, one shifts from feelings of helplessness and hopelessness to a sense of expectation and control over their future well-being.
According to mind/body medicine, the body has its own innate healing capabilities. The body has a natural tendency to move toward health and balance. The “placebo effect”, in which a neutral substance is found to effectively treat ailments, demonstrates the body’s capacity to heal itself. It is thought, that the reason the placebo effect is activated is due primarily to the belief on the part of the patient that they expect to overcome the ailment with the help of the placebo. So, it is really the belief system that is activating the healing processes.
Mind/body medicine takes into account the attitude of health care providers. A health care provider who constantly encourages and communicates hope and positive expectations of improvement in the patient’s medical condition, will synergistically help activate the patient’s inner self-expectations with the consequent activation of the patient’s internal healing powers. Conversely, if the medical practitioner communicates in a negative manner, he/she has no chance of activating the patient’s self-healing powers. Mind/body medicine is based upon and holistic approach towards understanding the human condition as being comprised of many factors: genetics, family and socioeconomic background, diet, exercise, social support, attitudes, spiritual practices, and risk-taking behaviors among others. A change in any single factor can influence positively or negatively one more other factors, and can initiate a positive mind/body response or a negative mind/body response. For example, a patient who is successful in losing a significant amount of excess weight, will normally will have better interpersonal successes, which in turn can lead to many other positive feelings. Positive feelings, regardless of what causes them, can help the mind develop a habit of having positive feelings constantly being present.
The energy field concept of mind/body medicine plays an important role. The mind/body belief is that each of us has various fields of energy that can be measured with instrumentation such as an EKG (electrocardiograph), as well as EEG (electroencephalograph), and electroacupuncture biofeedback testing. These energy fields are affected by changes in physical or psychological health, and can be influenced by the energy fields of others. Not only can the energy fields of others influence our own, but the attitudes of other individuals can also affect our energy fields. Individuals who demonstrate a positive attitude will influence our attitudes with the consequent improvement in the energy level of our energy fields. Conversely, negative individuals, those who seemed to have a cloud around them, who seemed to carrying negative energy around them, by the way they act, speak and behave will have a significant negative effect on the energy fields of others.
Mind/body medicine relating to a conscious positive expectative attitude can relieve the following:
NEUROLOGICAL
Brain injuries Tension headaches Tiredness Muscle paralysis caused by cerebrovascular accidents
BOWEL
Colitis or other bowel inflammations
Stomach ulcers
Stomach acidity
Irritable bowel syndrome
MUSCULO - SKELETAL
Neck and low back pains
Hypertension
Temporomandibular joint syndrome
Involuntary muscle spasms
Muscle paralysis caused by cerebrovascular accidents
Dyskinesia
Muscle tension
OTHERS
Different forms of cancer
Lower blood pressure
Reduce malfunctions of the heart
What strategy does mind/body medicine employ?
Mind-body medicine makes use of many alternative medicine techniques and strategies including: neuro-linguistic programming, qigong, massage, bodywork, hypnosis, exercise, meditation, biofeedback, hypnotherapy, guided imagery, yoga, herbal medicine, acupuncture, breathwork, and progressive relaxation techniques.
Biofeedback is an excellent technique can for helping individuals to recognize the potential health benefits that can be derived from having a positive, hopeful and expectative attitude towards their future medical well being.
