Mind Body Medicine Pni

Mind-Body Medicine

Mind-body medicine is an approach to healing that uses the power of thoughts and emotions to positively influence physical health.

"According to a recent government survey, nearly half of all Americans used mind-body interventions in 2002. The respondents embraced practices ranging from deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation to meditation, hypnosis and guided imagery." Herbert Benson, MD, Julie Corliss, and Geoffrey Cowley, Newsweek, September 27, 2004.

As Hippocrates once wrote, "The natural healing force within each one of us is the greatest force in getting well." This is the essence of mind-body medicine. These techniques strive to create awareness of the connection between our conscious and unconscious mind, as well as our emotions, outlook and physical state. They are often used in combination with body-based therapies and address a much-overlooked aspect of healing and prevention.

Mind/body medicine integrates modern scientific medicine, psychology, nutrition, exercise physiology and belief to enhance the natural healing capacities of the body and mind. Although mind/body medicine is also commonly referred to as complementary or integrative medicine, it should never be described as alternative medicine. Mind/body interventions are scientifically proven, and have the same foundation in traditional medicine as surgery and pharmaceuticals. Studies show that between 60% and 90% of all physician visits are for stress-related complaints.

Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is the study of the interaction between psychological processes and the nervous and immune systems of the human body. PNI takes an interdisciplinary approach, incorporating psychology, neuroscience, immunology, physiology, pharmacology, molecular biology, psychiatry, behavioral medicine, infectious diseases, endocrinology, and rheumatology. Psychoneurolinguistic PNL is the term I created within my practive via my observtions on the relationship of words and physiological reaction and it is the study of the impact language and words have on the physical and immune system.

The main interests of PNI and PNL are the interactions between the nervous and immune systems and the relationships between mental processes and health. PNI studies, among other things, the physiological functioning of the neuroimmune system in health and disease; disorders of the neuroimmune system (autoimmune diseases; hypersensitivities; immune deficiency); and the physical, chemical and physiological characteristics of the components of the neuroimmune system in vitro, in situ, and in vivo......

What is the history of mind-body medicine?

Most ancient healing practices, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic medicine, emphasize the important links between the mind and the body. Western medical views were shaped by systems of thought that emphasized the opposite -- the mind and body are separate. As science developed and with Louis Pasteur's discovery of germs, the notion of a connection between mind and body was thought to be superstition.

In 1964, psychiatrist George Solomon saw that rheumatoid arthritis worsened when people were depressed. This led him to investigate the impact of emotions on inflammation and immune function in general. Thus began the new field of psychoneuroimmunology ("psycho" for psychology; "neuro" for neurology, or nervous system; and "immunology" for immunity).

In the 1960s and early 1970s, a physician named Herbert Benson, who coined the term "relaxation response," studied the effects of meditation on blood pressure. Further understanding of the mind-body link came in 1975, when psychologist Robert Ader showed that mental and emotional cues affect immunity.

Today, there is renewed interest in age-old traditions such as yoga and meditation. No longer viewed with suspicion, mind-body programs are now established at prestigious medical schools in the United States and around the world.

What are mind-body techniques?

The key to any mind-body technique is to "train" the mind to focus on the body without distraction. It is in this state of "focused concentration" that an individual may be able to change their health. The following are some of the most commonly practiced techniques:

Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT): Developed by Gary Craig from the tenets of acupuncture, EFT uses sequential tapping of the energy meridians rather than needles to unlock energy blockage and treat physical and emotional imbalance. EFT is surprisingly effective, regardless of one’s belief system. Once the technique is learned, EFT can be used by anyone, just about anywhere, both to counter pain, cravings, negative emotions, and complex problems, as well as to reinforce positive behavior. Those with entrenched problems enjoy a higher success rate under the guidance of a trained practitioner.

Guided imagery: Harnessing the imagination to create a “construct of reality” can give us powerful yet gentle insight into our unconscious mind. Using highly personalized themes, guided imagery invokes not just visualizations but taps into sounds, smells, and tactile experiences as well, to which the body responds as though they were the real thing. Studies show that a biophysical response to positive imagery can effectively override the hardwiring of engrained thought patterns and habits to help create better health and attain otherwise unreachable goals.

Hypnosis/self-hypnosis: During hypnosis (taken from the Greek term hypnos, meaning "sleep") a person's body relaxes while their thoughts become more focused and attentive. It is in this state of deep concentration that people are highly responsive to a hypnotherapist's suggestions. Today, many mental health professionals use hypnosis to treat people with addictions, pain, anxiety disorders, and phobias. A technique that renders an altered state of consciousness in the patient, hypnotherapy can be administered either through the help of a practitioner or on one’s own accord. Hypnotherapy can be used for behavior modification (e.g., smoking cessation), to treat trauma and phobia, or to relieve chronic or symptomatic pain such as that of childbirth.

Meditation/visualization: These techniques work by having the patient focus on one image or thought for a duration of time while practicing deep breathing. Meditation — a pillar of Ayurvedic medicine — is used to quiet the mind, often in tandem with physical exercise (yoga or other). Visualization works similarly, training the patient to gain control over pain or reduce anxiety by triggering deep relaxation.

The Relaxation Response: Pioneered by Herb Benson, MD, a Harvard internist, the Relaxation Response involves attaining a state of deep relaxation whereby a person can counteract the ill effects of pain, anxiety and stress. Employing a variety of mind/body exercises to achieve a meditative state, the Relaxation Response has been used for years to help people successfully overcome all sorts of physiologically and psychologically-based problems, including high blood pressure, addiction — even some stress-related infertility issues. Eliciting the Relaxation Response is a component of the high rate of success Dr. Alice Domar has achieved with patients in her Mind/Body Program for Infertility.

Spiritual/psychic-healing: Many researchers have been studying how spiritual beliefs, attitudes, and practices influence health. In a recent study on people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), for example, people who had faith in God, compassion toward others, a sense of inner peace, and were religious had a better chance of surviving for a long time with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) than those who did not have such faith or practices. Research suggests that qualities like faith, hope, and forgiveness and the use of social support and prayer have a noticeable effect on health and healing. Using powers that are beyond our understanding — let alone medical knowledge — is an ancient practice. Prayer, touch, and other religious rituals have been successfully used throughout time to cure physical and mental illness. Practitioners work by channeling beliefs and creating a special link between the patient and a superior consciousness, thereby effecting change. Many studies documenting the efficacy of prayer in healing have been published in peer-reviewed journals over the years. In particular, the lifelong work of Dr. Larry Dossey has served to broaden our understanding of the links between spirituality and healing. By presenting solid scientific evidence Dr. Dossey has helped to legitimize prayer’s healing effects within conventional medical circles.

Does mind-body medicine work?

While phrases such as "mind over matter" have been around for years, only recently have scientists found solid evidence that mind-body techniques actually do combat disease and promote health. In 1989, for example, a landmark clinical study by David Spiegel, M.D. at Stanford University School of Medicine dramatically demonstrated the power of the mind to heal. Of 86 women with late-stage breast cancer, half received standard medical care while the other half received the standard care plus weekly support sessions in which the women were able to share both their grief and their triumphs. Spiegel discovered that the women who participated in the social support group lived twice as long as the women who did not. A similar clinical study in 1999 showed that in breast cancer patients, helplessness and hopelessness are linked to lesser chances of survival.

Other clinical studies also document the effect of meditation on mood and symptoms in people with different types of conditions (such as high blood pressure, irritable bowel syndrome, and cancer) as well as improve quality of life.

Why does mind-body medicine work?

Researchers have found that stress hormones are associated with particular unhealthy emotions. These hormones affect systems and organs throughout the body. For example, stress related to hostility and anxiety can result in disruptions in heart and immune function. Similarly, depression and distress may diminish the body's natural capacity to heal. In contrast, emotional expression that encourages openness and active coping with problems helps stabilize the immune system.

Certain emotions have been linked to disease. For example, hostile attitudes may increase your risk for coronary heart disease, obesity (particularly having excess fat around the waist), insulin resistance (which can lead to diabetes), and abnormal cholesterol (specifically, high triglycerides and low levels of high density lipoprotein or HDL -- the good kind of cholesterol).

Generally, research shows that being stressed and having negative emotions is unhealthy. One study found that unconsciously being defensive or stifling feelings resulted in serious medical consequences, such as high blood pressure. High blood pressure is also associated with feelings of hopelessness. How a person processes emotions also affects how long they may survive a chronic illness.

The goal of mind-body techniques is to activate the relaxation response and reduce the stress response. When you are relaxed, the levels of hormones related to stress are reduced and your immune system is more efficient. High levels of stress hormones circulating in the body may actually prove to increase one's susceptibility to infection as well. Mind-body techniques are part of complementary medicines.

Mind-body techniques are helpful for many conditions because they promote relaxation, improve coping skills, reduce tension and pain, and lessen the need for medication. For example, many mind-body techniques are used (along with medication) to treat acute pain. Symptoms of anxiety and depression also respond well to mind-body techniques.

Because they improve coping skills and give a feeling of control over symptoms, mind-body techniques may help treat many different diseases, including:

High blood pressure
Asthma
Allergies
Coronary heart disease
Obesity
Cancer, such as pain and nausea/vomiting related to chemotherapy
Insomnia
Anxiety
Diabetes
Stomach and intestinal disorders [including indigestion (dyspepsia), irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, diarrhea, ulcerative colitis, heartburn, and Crohn's disease]
Fibromyalgia
Menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, depression, and irritability

In an analysis of mind-body studies, researchers found that cognitive behavioral therapy is the most long-lasting treatment for tinnitus (ringing in the ears), but relaxation techniques, hypnosis, and biofeedback were all also effective treatments. Some researchers believe that chronic fatigue syndrome, which affects the immune system, is best understood and treated with mind-body medicine.