Dr. Herbert Benson says that relaxation heals at the genetic level.
Did you hear Dr. Herbert Benson on WVXU 91.7 Cincinnati this week? It was a great interview on the Diane Rehm Show. They talked about his new book The Relaxation Revolution.
Scientists are now proving the mind-body connection and have established that the relaxation response can change the body at the genetic level. Dr. Benson went on to say that 60%-90% of the issues that we see the doctor for can be helped through mind-body techniques like Guided Imagery, Visualization, Tai Chi, Yoga, and various forms of meditation and other techniques that reduce stress.
Any issue that is caused or made worse by stress can be helped by invoking the relaxation response. Some of these issues are high blood pressure, anxiety disorders, PTSD, diabetes, chronic pain, migraine headaches and so many more. Dr. Benson explained that once you invoke the relaxation response then the brain can re-connect the pathways that create wellness in the body. It actually re-awakens the brain’s memory of wellness.
Research is being done by scientists all over the globe in mind-body medicine. Dr. Bernie Siegel, Dr. Norman Shealy (founder of the American Holistic Medical Association), Dr. Andrew Weil, Candace Pert PhD and many others have also written extensively about the connection between our mind and healing.
With the run away health care costs constantly in the news we need to wake up and access our innate abilities to heal ourselves. There are numerous places in Cincinnati where classes on Yoga and Tai Chi are offered. There are also hypnotherapists in the area who can assist in helping you develop your own Guided Imagery or Visualization routines.
If companies want to decrease health care costs they can start by offering programs to assist employees to decrease stress levels. They can also take a look at the causes of stress in the work environment. Research is also proving that performance and efficiency improve when people are less stressed and more relaxed in the work place. This alone should be a motivating factor for employers.
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