Mind and body medicine,acupuncture and aromatherapy

Psychosomatic (Mind-body) Medicine, Acupuncture and Aromatherapy

"The natural healing force within each one of us is the greatest force in getting well- Hippocrates

The goal of mind/body techniques is to activate the relaxation response and reduce the stress response. While relaxed, the levels of hormones related to stress are reduced and the immune system is more responsive and active. Psychosomatic medicine aim to educate the mind to focus on the body without distraction. A "focused concentration" can lead to alterations in physical health Psychosomatic medicine is therapeutic approach to healing that uses the resources of the mind to alter physical health.. The ancients emphasize the important links between the mind and the body. While orthodox medical views were shaped by systems of thought that emphasized that the mind and body are separate. As science evolved with Louis Pasteur's discovery of the germs theory of disease, the notion of a connection between mind and body was thought to be superstitious and obsolete

In 1964, psychiatrist George Solomon observed that rheumatoid arthritis worsened when people harbored negative emotions. This observation led him to study the influence of mental states on inflammation and immune system. This opened a new frontier in orthodox medicine called 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," observed the influence of meditative states on blood pressure. In 1975, psychologist Robert Ader shoed that mental and emotional states influences the immune system

Biofeedback is a procedure in which individuals are trained to alter their biochemistry by learning to regulate physiological processes that occur involuntarily, such as heart beat or blood pressure. These activities can be quantified with electrodes and shown on monitors that both the patient and the practitioner can access. The monitor provides feedback to the patient about the physiological processes taking place. This patient can then be educated to use the information to gain control over these "involuntary" impulses. Biofeedback is used for many conditions
Cognitive behavioral therapy is used to help individuals observe and alter detrimental thought patterns.

Individuals with phobias might knowingly expose themselves, under the supervision of the therapist, to what they are scared of. Brain scans prove that with time this procedure can alter how the brain functions.

Relaxation techniques

Autogenic training utilizes visual imagery and body awareness to move an individual into a deep state of relaxation. The person imagines a peaceful scene from the past and then focuses on different physical sensations in the scenes and moving from the feet to the head. For example, the individual on focus on warmth and heaviness in the legs or easy, natural heart beat
Progressive muscle relaxation involves slowly tensing and then releasing each muscle group individually, starting with the muscles in the toes and finishing with those in the head.
The two most widely practiced forms of meditation in North America are Transcendental Meditation (students repeat a mantra [a single word or phrase],) and mindfulness meditation (students focus their attention on their moment-by-moment thoughts and sensations).

The word hypnosis is originally taken from the Greek term Hypnos, meaning "sleep") in a hypnosis session, a person's body relaxes while their thoughts become more focused, intuitive and attentive. It is in this state of deep concentration that individuals are highly receptive to a hypnotherapist's suggestions. Today, many mental health professionals use hypnosis to treat people with many organic illnesses.

Resources
Biofeedback: The Association for Applied Psychology and Biofeedback (www.aapb.org) is the national membership association for professionals using biofeedback and is a good resource for finding qualified biofeedback practitioners in your area. To receive a directory of trained biofeedback specialists in your area, write to the AAPB at 10200 W. 44th Avenue, Suite 304, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033-2840 or call them at 800-477-8892.
Relaxation: To learn more about relaxation techniques and to locate healthcare facilities that include them as part of their practice, contact the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University Of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, Mass. at 508-856-2656. You can also visit them on the Web at www.umassmed.edu/cfm/mbsr to find a list of the healthcare facilities in 38 states that offer information on and training in relaxation techniques.
Hypnosis: To receive a directory of professionals practicing hypnotherapy near you, contact either the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (visit them on the Web at www.asch.net or call 312-645-9810) or the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis (on the Web at http://www.sceh.us/index.htm.
End notes
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