Using the Power of Your Mind to Heal

In recent years there has been a lot of speculation on the power of the mind on healing. Researchers have recognized that positive thoughts help people through illness and may help them heal faster.

One of the major ways that the mind helps healing is through visualization…

In many medical settings, when individuals are undergoing tough medical procedures or processes such as chemotherapy, patients are told to visualize the cancer cells dying as they suffer from the effects of chemotherapy, or visualize the growth of new, healthy cells each time they take chemo.

Can the mind really kill those cancer cells by visualizing it, or does the visualization just help the patient cope with the rigors of chemotherapy?

It is believed that the positive emotions fostered by such visualization actually bring about healing…

There are many books and articles that have been written on this, but more importantly, the medical community recognizes the importance of using the mind to heal the body as many medical center now offer ancillary services such as yoga, meditation, and mind-body programs to cancer patients and other seriously ill patients.

Doctors recognize more readily the importance of the mind in healing, and actively encourage a patient’s involvement in his or her treatment.

In one case, an oncologist in a major medical center diagnosed a particularly serious form of breast cancer in a middle-aged patient. In fact, according to the patient, the oncologist told her that it was the worst case of cancer he had seen in 20 years of practice.

Obviously, the patient was very upset…

After surgery, the oncologist insisted that the patient attend a mind-body program. He wanted her to start it before she started chemotherapy. He recognized that she needed the help of her mind to help her through the treatment, and to give her the best chance of long-term survival.

The patient attended the program and said it was one of the best things she had ever done. It not only got her through treatment, it got her through nine years of cancer-free survival. Considering the type of cancer this individual had, surviving nine years was almost a miracle.

Each year of her life she had something to look forward to. She exercised and enjoyed life. She died in her 10th survivor year when the cancer recurred in many parts of her body.

We all know those people who have negative attitudes about themselves and their health. They usually seem bitter and complaining, and are obviously not happy. On the other hand, we know those people who may have many medical problems, yet seem happy and accepting. It is not that they don’t suffer as much. It is that they have reached a state of mind of acceptance and a positive can-do attitude.

Therefore, studies aside, isn’t it worth it to train your mind on the positive in health situations, and to look forward to healing?

Let me know what do you think? Add your comment below…

Photo by Rain Rannu –flickr.com.