THE MIND-BODY CONNECTION: Healing at the psychological and spiritual levels
Rob Rutledge MD FRCPC
Mind-Body-Spirit Connection
MAIN POINTS
• • • • • Healing occurs in body-mind-spirit Take care of yourself Use what works for you Listen to your inner wisdom Peace with the process
Mind-Body-Spirit Connection
CAN YOUR BODY AFFECT YOUR MIND?
Mind-Body-Spirit Connection
STRESS AND EXERCISE
• Very effective stress-buster • Burns off sugars and fats • Strengthens heart, lung and bone • More energy, better sleep • Improves quality of life • 3 times a week for 30min
Mind-Body-Spirit Connection
EXERCISE RESEARCH –
Randomized trials
• • • • • • Prostate cancer patients on hormones 3 Workouts / week for 3 months Improved fatigue and quality of life Postmenopausal breast cancer women Met 3/week for 15 weeks Better lung capacity and quality of life
Mind-Body-Spirit Connection
Randomized Controlled Trial of Yoga for Symptom Management During Breast Cancer Treatment
A Moadel et al, AECM, Bronx NY presented at ASCO
• 60 women with breast cancer • Randomized to 12 weekly sessions of yogic stretching, breathing, and meditation versus standard care • Yoga improved social well being –
– Relationships, support, emotions
• Less fatigue, better functioning
Mind-Body-Spirit Connection
CAN YOUR MIND AFFECT YOUR BODY?
Mind-Body-Spirit Connection
NEUROPSYCHOIMMUNOLOGY
• Physical transaction • Neurons release chemicals and hormones which affect your body • Emotions are from chemicals affects how the brain works • Same area of brain active real vs imagined • Remembered wellness • Our thoughts affect our body
Mind-Body-Spirit Connection
THE PLACEBO EFFECT
• Sugar pill • Decreases pain 30% of time • Wisdom teeth extraction - 30% improved with mock ultrasound • Helps many conditions - arthritis, angina, skin conditions, etc.
Mind-Body-Spirit Connection
THE NOCEBO EFFECT
• Belief in negative effects can cause those effects • Voodoo spell • Placebo side effects - drowsiness, headache, nausea, constipation…. • Pseudopregnancy • Worsening of asthma
Mind-Body-Spirit Connection
MEDITATION
• Exercise in awareness and concentration • Deep relaxation • Brain waves change over time • Improves longevity, quality of life, pain, intelligence, anxiety
Mind-Body-Spirit Connection
The effect of mindfulness meditation and stress reduction on mood and symptoms of stress in cancer patients
Speca et al, Psychosom med 2000
• Randomized trial of 90 people with cancer • Seven weekly meditation group meeting • Overall reduction in total mood disturbance: 65% in meditation group vs. 31% in controls • Less depression, anxiety, anger, confusion, and more vigor • Less symptoms of stress
Mind-Body-Spirit Connection
Alterations in brain and immune function produced by meditation
Davidson et al. Psychosom Med July 2003
• • • •
Randomized trial n=41 healthy employees Weekly program mindfulness meditation EEG before, after and four months later Increased activity in left prefontal lobe that persists at least four months after practise • More able to produce antibodies in response to flu vaccine.
Mind-Body-Spirit Connection
OTHER SCIENTIFIC PROOF OF MIND AFFECTING BODY
• Imagery improves nausea, pain, weight gain • Enhances immunity in older people • Hypnosis helps with fish-skin disease, bleeding in hemophiliacs, blood sugar in diabetics, allergic reactions, warts.
Mind-Body-Spirit Connection
CAN THE MIND AFFECT CANCER SURVIVAL?
• The mind-body connection and the immune system • Animals: stress leads to cancer • Support groups improve longevity? • Degree of self-help improves survival duration
Mind-Body-Spirit Connection
Can lifestyle changes reverse prostate cancer
• • • • Dr. Dean Ornish, UCLA 87 men with early prostate cancer All men were on observation Experimental arm: stress management, lowfat vegan diet with antioxidants, moderate exercise, and psychosocial group support • PSA every 3 months for 1 year
Mind-Body-Spirit Connection
Can lifestyle changes reverse prostate cancer
• Experimental arm - PSA down 3% at 1 year and none needed treatment • Control - PSA up 7%, 7 needed Rx • Control group followed diet 75% as well as experimental group yet PSA increased • 2nd experiment : Blood from men inhibited prostate cancer cell growth in test tubes in 67% in experimental group vs 12%. • Greater adherence to program inhibited prostate cancer cells more Mind-Body-Spirit Connection
BEYOND THE MIND-BODY
Mind-Body-Spirit Connection
FAITH AND SPIRITUALITY
• Maximizes relaxation response bypass unhealthy worries • Cancer patients have better health associated with faith in 7 of 8 studies • Laying of hands • Letting go
Mind-Body-Spirit Connection
PRAYER AND MENTAL HEALING
• Effects on cellular and biological systems • Enzyme activity, bacteria, plants, small mammals • Human targets - eye movements, muscles, electrodermal, brain rhythms • At a distance, even when subject unaware • Prayer for heart patients may work
Mind-Body-Spirit Connection
ADVICE ON HOW TO LIVE
• Use what works for you • A peaceful process is crucial • Our motivation is critical
Mind-Body-Spirit Connection
HOW TO TAP INTO YOUR INNER WISDOM
• • • • • • Feeling, intuition or in body Watch your thoughts and moods Write down your dreams Write a journal Use art to express unconscious Watch for signs / circumstances
Mind-Body-Spirit Connection
WHO AM I ?
• Body • Mind • Spirit
Mind-Body-Spirit Connection
WHAT TO DO - BODY
• • • • • LISTEN to your body Eat well Exercise Get lots of sleep Love Yourself
Mind-Body-Spirit Connection
WHAT TO DO - MIND
• • • • • • • Find balance and hold the tension Learn - Read - Research Relaxation techniques -de-stress See a therapist Do what you love Love Yourself Serve others
Mind-Body-Spirit Connection
WHAT TO DO - SPIRIT
• • • • • • • Listen to your inner wisdom Pray - visualize Meditate / contemplate Seek spiritual counsel Let go Love Yourself Serve the greater good
Mind-Body-Spirit Connection
QUESTIONS???
Mind-Body-Spirit Connection
THE RELAXATION RESPONSE
• Breathe into your belly • Think of a time when you were safe and happy • Physiological response
Mind-Body-Spirit Connection