Mind-Body Medicine | University of Maryland Medical Center

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Mind-body medicine

Overview

What is mind-body medicine?

Mind-body medicine uses the power of thoughts and

emotions to influence physical health. As Hippocrates once

wrote, "The natural healing force within each one of us isthe greatest force in getting well." This is mind-body

medicine in a nutshell.

What is the history of mind-body medicine?

Most ancient healing practices, such as Traditional Chinese

Medicine and Ayurvedic medicine, emphasize the 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.

In 1964, psychiatrist George Solomon noticed that people

with rheumatoid arthritis got worse when they were

depressed. He began to investigate the impact emotions

had on inflammation and the immune system in general.

The new field was called psychoneuroimmunology


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("psycho" for psychology; "neuro" for neurology, or

nervous system; and "immunology" for immunity).

In the 1960s and early 1970s, a physician named HerbertBenson, who coined the term "relaxation response,"

studied how meditation could affect blood pressure. More

understanding of the mind-body link came in 1975, when

psychologist Robert Ader showed that mental and

emotional cues could affect the immune system.

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. In this state of

"focused concentration," a person may be able to improvetheir health. Some of the most commonly used techniques

include:

Biofeedback:With biofeedback, people are trained to

control certain bodily processes that normally occur

involuntarily, such as heart rate or blood pressure. These


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processes can be measured and displayed on a monitor that

the person watches. The monitor provides feedback about

the internal workings of your body. You can then use this

display to gain control over these "involuntary" activities --lowering your blood pressure, for example. Biofeedback is

effective for a number of conditions, but it is most often

used to treat tension headache, migraine headache, and

chronic pain.

Cognitive behavioral therapy: This technique is used

to help people recognize and change harmful thoughts. For

example, people with phobias might deliberately expose

themselves, under the direction and guidance of a

therapist, to what they are afraid of. Or people who aredepressed can learn to counter negative thoughts and

feelings with positive ones.

Relaxation techniques:There are 3 major types of

relaxation techniques:

Autogenic training: This technique uses both visual

imagery and body awareness to create a deep state of

relaxation. You imagine a peaceful place and then focus

on different physical sensations, moving from your feet

to your head. For example, you might focus on feeling


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that your arms and legs are heavy and warm; on your

breath; or on a calm heartbeat.

Progressive muscle relaxation: This technique involves

slowly tensing and then releasing each muscle group inyour body, starting with your toes and finishing with

your head.

Meditation: The 2 most popular forms of meditation in

the U.S. are transcendental meditation and mindfulness

meditation. In transcendental meditation, studentsrepeat a mantra (a single word or phrase). In

mindfulness meditation, students focus their attention

on their moment by moment thoughts and sensations.

Hypnosis: During hypnosis a person's body relaxes

while their thoughts become more focused andattentive. In this state of deep concentration, some

people are highly responsive to a hypnotherapist's

suggestions. Many mental health professionals use

hypnosis to treat people with addictions, pain, anxiety

disorders, and phobias.Spirituality: Researchers have been studying how

spiritual beliefs, attitudes, and practices affect health.

In a recent study on people with human

immunodeficiency virus (HIV), for example, those who

had faith in God, compassion toward others, a sense of


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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 thatqualities like faith, hope, and forgiveness, and using

prayer and social support, have a noticeable effect on

health and healing.

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 fight

disease and promote health. In 1989, for example, a clinical

study by David Spiegel, M.D. at Stanford University School

of Medicine 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

standard care plus weekly support sessions. In these

sessions, 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 associated with lesser chance of survival.


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Other clinical studies also show how meditation affects

mood and symptoms in people with different conditions

(such as high blood pressure, irritable bowel syndrome,

and cancer). It also improves quality of life.

How does mind-body medicine work?

When you are physically or emotionally stressed, your body

releases stress hormones that can affect all your systems

and organs. 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.

Certain emotions have been associated with disease. Forexample, hostile attitudes may increase your risk for

coronary heart disease, obesity (especially 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 goodkind of cholesterol).

There is no evidence that negative emotions actually cause

disease. But research shows that being stressed and having

negative emotions can be unhealthy. One study found thatunconsciously being defensive or stifling feelings may


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result in medical consequences, such as high blood

pressure. High blood pressure is also associated with

feelings of hopelessness. How a person deals with emotions

may also affect how long they survive with a chronic illness.

The goal of mind-body techniques is to get the body and

mind to relax and to reduce the levels of stress hormones in

the body, so that your immune system is better able to fight

off illness.

What is mind-body medicine good for?

Mind-body techniques can be helpful for many conditions

because they encourage relaxation, improve coping skills,

reduce tension and pain, and lessen the need formedication. For example, many mind-body techniques are

used along with medication to treat pain. Symptoms of

anxiety and depression also respond well to mind-body

techniques.

Mind-body techniques may help treat many different

diseases, including:

Cancer

High blood pressure

Asthma


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Coronary heart disease

Obesity

Pain and nausea/vomiting related to chemotherapy

InsomniaDiabetes

Stomach and intestinal problems (including

indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation,

diarrhea, ulcerative colitis, heartburn, and Crohn's

disease)Fibromyalgia

Menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, depression,

and irritability

Mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression

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). Relaxation

techniques, hypnosis, and biofeedback also helped. Some

researchers believe that chronic fatigue syndrome, which

affects the immune system, can be treated with mind-body

medicine.

Is there anything I should watch out for?

Mind-body medicine should not make you feel that your


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attitude is the cause of your illness.

Mind-body medicine is generally very safe and works well

when combined with usual medical care. Each mind-bodytechnique may have its own risks and side effects. Talk with

your health care provider about any concerns you may

have.

How can I find more information on mind-body

medicine?

Biofeedback: Specialists who provide biofeedback

training include psychiatrists and psychologists, nurses,

dentists, and physicians. The Association for Applied

Psychology and Biofeedback (www.aapb.org) is a goodresource for finding qualified biofeedback practitioners.

Relaxation: Many clinics and hospitals around the

country have included relaxation techniques in their health

care programs. Contact the Stress Reduction Clinic at theUniversity of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center in

Worcester, Massachusetts, (

www.umassmed.edu/cfm/mbsr) for a list of the health care

facilities in 38 states that offer information on and training

in relaxation techniques.
http://www.aapb.org/http://www.aapb.org/


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Hypnosis: Most hypnotherapists are licensed medical

doctors, registered nurses, social workers, or family

counselors who have received additional training in

hypnotherapy. For example, members of the AmericanSociety of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH) must hold a doctorate

in medicine, dentistry, podiatry, or psychology, or a

master's level degree in nursing, social work, psychology,

or marital/family therapy with at least 20 hours of ASCH-

approved training in hypnotherapy. For a directory ofhypnotherapists near you, contact:

The American Society of Clinical Hypnosis:

www.asch.net

The Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis:www.sceh.us

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Version Info

Last Reviewed on 10/02/2011

Steven D. Ehrlich, NMD, Solutions Acupuncture, a

private practice specializing in complementary and

alternative medicine, Phoenix, AZ. Review provided by

VeriMed Healthcare Network.


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Mind-Body Medicine | University of Maryland Medical Center