Science has found evidence for what many people know intuitively; that Mind and Body are entwined, yet often medical practice lags behind in responding to and applying this knowledge. 

 

Candace Pert described how  cascades of neuro-peptides are triggered by emotions. Newer research shows the brain rather than being fixed in its capacity as previously thought, is actually "plastic" ie capable of being affected interactively.  The Brain That Changes Itself describes this new paradigm in neuro science; how we can affect the brain's performance and even for those who are committed, rebuild whole functions that have been damaged.

 

Shifts in understanding the body/mind have gone even further, to see that it is not only the mind that is more interactive than previously thought. Conditions that have manifested as physical may have emotional stories underlying them. Belief too is powerful, as investigation into the placebo and nocebo affect has demonstrated.  Dr Bruce Lipton's Biology of Belief,  Dr Sarno's life-long work with back pain and suppressed emotion and the work of Dr Brian Broom, a NZ immunologist and psychotherapist - whose work I have documented, all demonstrate how powerful the mindbody connection is and how conditions

resistant to biomedicine may be turned around. 

 

So we are moving from the Newtonian mechanistic model of understanding the body/mind to one that acknowledges the strong relational and interactive aspects and possibilities as well as the body's mechanisms. We can pro-actively respond to unwanted conditions and situations, which is exciting as it means many invitations can be offered; to ourselves and each other to positively affect our bodies and our lives. With the increased response-ability comes also more responsability for ourselves and each other.  

 

If you have a chronic condition which resists bio medical treatment, exploring your emotional story in therapy may reveal an underlying story or trauma holding a strong emotional charge. Through discovery and expression in a safe environment, you can invite healing to be triggered. Amazing as it is to those bought up within the biomedical paradigm, therapy has been shown to be enough to

modify or even at times, clear a condition. This is not a substitute for medical attention but best engaged with in a complementary way.