Alternative Health Care: Mind-body Medicine

Mind-body medicine deals with the connection oftraditional cardiac care and rehab processes points in
mind, brain, body and human behavior and the intensethe direction of self knowledge, thus self care.
ways that mental, emotional,spiritual and even socialMind-body techniques have been utilized for many
and behavioral characteristics directly influences aareas of pain treatment. Clinical trials have shown that
person's health. This mind-body medicine approachthe techniques of mind-body medicine can be quite
says that it bases its definition as an approach on theeffective in relieving arthritis, resulting in lowering of
premise of the person gaining their own knowledgepain for up to four years, and as an added benefit
and own self care.affording the patient with a lot less visits to their
Mind-body medicine believes in a mediation-type plandoctor, essentially lowering health care costs.
that seeks to promote health in a therapy ofWhen mind-body medicine techniques are utilized for
relaxation, hypnosis, meditation, yoga, tai chi, supportgeneral and chronic pain, back pain and headaches
in groups, along with visual imagery and spirituality. Allthere is evidence of an effect but, note that the
or one of these therapies are utilized as theresults do vary with the type of mind-body medicine
practitioners believe in the idea that sickness/illness isinvolved along with the varying aspects of the
a chance to grow personally and transformpopulation of patients, hence environment and
themselves with the assistance of health carepersonal belief systems in force in these patients.
professionals as guides.There is growing evidence too, that a person's own
The area of mind-body medicine is the major area ofemotional behaviors, both negative and positive can
the overall utilization of complimentary and alternativehave a lot to do with that person's sensitivity to
medicines that are used by the general public. Ininfection. Of course meditation has long been believed
2002, five relaxation techniques plus biofeedback,to have a positive influence on one's ability to
hypnosis and visual imagery were used by more than"control" the physiological activities ie.colds, infections
30 percent of the population of the U.S. above 21and overall health well being. The differences in
years of age. In addition, prayer is being utilized bydifferent people and their own wound-healing abilities
more than 50 percent of this population.have also been believed in for some time.
The entire notion that the mind is foremost in theObservations have lent credence to the idea that a
treatment of sickness/illness is a foundation to theperson's negative mood or their level of stress
approaches of healing in traditional Chinese medicinegreatly influences wound healing.
going back more than 2,000 years.The areas of mind-body medicine have great
Hippocrates always believed in the spiritual and moralpotential. Maybe mainly due to the low risks involved
ideas of healing and with it, the belief that a person'swith M-B medicine, be them emotional or physical.
attitude and environment, alongside natural remediesThese techniques are taught quite easily also. And of
were the "natural" approach.course as with any other field, discovery of other
Mind-body medicine has given much evidence in theaspects where the mind and body work in
last 20 years that a person's psychological makeupconjunction to afford a healthier life thus a happier
plays an ever-important role in the growth andlife, are clearly in the future.
natural progression of coronary artery illnesses. PlusBefore and even while this learning curve takes place,
the emergence of findings that the use of mind-bodythe evidence that mind-body interventions most
medicine can be of great help in the treatment ofdefinitely have a positive effect on the psychological
these coronary artery issues which enhancesworkings of a person hold great promise.