The Mind-Body Connection
Researchers at The Mind/Body Medical Institute in Boston, Massachusetts base their work on the inseparable connection between the mind and body - the complicated interactions that take place between thoughts, body, and the outside world. Mind/body medicine integrates modern scientific medicine, psychology, nursing, nutrition, exercise physiology and belief to enhance the natural healing capacities of body and mind. Studies show that between 60% and 90% of all physician visits are for stress-related complaints. Through more than thirty years of research and clinical practice, Herbert Benson, MD and his colleagues have proven the efficacy of mind/body medicine in the treatment of these complaints to the extent that they are caused by or made worse by stress. Mind/body medicine strategies have helped millions of men and women reduce the stress that can cause or exacerbate conditions such as: Joint pain, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Hypertension, Repetitive strain injury, Cardiac disorders, Chronic pain, Infertility, Migraine headaches, Diabetes, Perimenopause/menopause and Gastrointestinal disorders. Mind/body techniques are also helpful in reducing stress, promoting positive attitudes, decreasing symptoms and improving quality of life for persons with life-threatening illness, such as cancer and HIV/AIDS. In addition, mind/body approaches can prevent disease, such as cardiovascular disease by helping individuals change adverse lifestyle behaviors.
In survey after survey, Americans identify stress as their number one health concern today. More than 50% of adults in the U.S. report high stress on a daily basis. Untreated, stress can seriously affect performance, health, and well-being. The relaxation response is a physical state of deep rest that changes the physical and emotional responses to stress (e.g., decrease in heart rate, blood pressure, and muscle tension). If practiced regularly, it can have lasting effects when encountering stress throughout the day and can improve health. Elicitation of the relaxation response is at the heart of the M/BMI's research and clinical mind/body programs. To The Contrary traveled to the Mind/Body Medical Institute in Boston to speak with experts and patients there about how mind body techniques can help women with chronic health problems.
One issue with mind body medicine is that it is rarely included in medical school training. Many schools have required or optional classes where doctors learn to question patients about their belief systems, and learn to talk to patients about mind body connections. The George Washington Institute for Spirituality and Health is one organization that's spearheading and developing programs to teach doctors to look at the whole patient. They say that Spirituality is a key dimension for achieving optimal health and for coping with illness. It is a critical dimension of patient-centered care and is one of the significant ways to achieve compassionate care-giving. They are working to foster the benefits of spirituality and health through the development, research, implementation, evaluation, and promotion of educational and clinical initiatives that serve patients, families, and multi-disciplinary health professionals. Amongst the goals of the Institute are to have educational and research programs that address spirituality in medical education and clinical care. They are working to promote changes in healthcare institutions and in care providers so that medicine can be practiced with recognition of its roots in compassionate service to others.
LINKS AND RESOURCES
The Mind-Body Medical Institute
The Center for Mind-Body Medicine
The George Washington Institute for Spirituality and Health
