by Dr. Sam Benjamin For years in medicine we have overlooked the obvious - that the mind and the body are intimately connected. Each enhances the potential of the other. Your grandmother may have said, "Don't let it get to you, because it could make you sick." She knew innately what numerous studies have since substantiated - that our immune system is affected by our thoughts and feelings. Continual stress predisposes us to colds, infections, headaches, even flare ups of autoimmune conditions.

The emerging field of mind-body medicine is helping us unleash the power of our mind to treat and prevent diseases. Harnessing this power could, in turn, minimize our dependence on costly drugs and reduce or eliminate side effect from these drugs. Learning ways to help our minds relax is as important to healing as taking medications.


For many medical ills - lower back pain, for example - the first line of defense should be the use of mind-body therapies. Medication, diagnostic testing, and invasive procedures are secondary.

Mind-body techniques - such as massage, meditation, prayer, guided visual imaging, yoga, exercise, hypnosis, biofeedback, mindfulness, dance, art, music, tai chi, and even martial arts like karate - provide a wide spectrum of ways that help us learn to relax, exclude other stimuli, and focus our minds.


If we use these mind-body therapies first, we can often relieve our suffering without addictive drugs and excessive costs. Many of these techniques are readily accessible in your community - and some are free or inexpensive. Others may require a financial commitment, but you're worth it!

Typically, we did not grow up learning these techniques, but that means we've failed as a medical system and a society to teach their inherent value. Sadly, many doctors pay only lip service to this aspect of health. One reason is that medical school training is particularly weak in this area.


It's really common sense, just like your grandmother knew. It takes the mind and the body, working together, to heal. Best of all, there are no dangerous side effects. You can learn a mind/body technique no matter your age, sex, financial state, or health status. It takes some time to train your mind but the benefits are worth the effort.