Body-Mind Medicine: exploring the connection

“The greatest mistake in the treatment of disease is that there are physicians for the body and physicians for the soul, although the two cannot be separated.” Plato

Evidence is mounting in support of the Body-Mind approach in which emotional, mental, social and spiritual factors directly affect health.

Body-Mind medicine refers to the interaction between the mind and the body to facilitate healing.

When under physical or emotional stress, the body boosts production of the hormone cortisol to encourage a “fight or flight” response. If the hormone remains in the bloodstream for a long period, it wears down the immune system which can result in illness. Body-Mind techniques aim to reduce stress and promote relaxation so that your immune system can prevent illness. Is this preventative approach the future of mainstream health-care? Why not try for yourself?

Body-Mind techniques differ widely, but can involve Psychosomatic Therapy, yoga, qigong, meditation, exercise, hypnosis or kinesiology. These techniques can be used separately or in conjunction with modern medical treatments depending on the particular health issue.

Body-mind medicine is the future for medicine because it enables both physical and psychological medicine to work more effectively.