How Our Thoughts Directly Influence our Health

angelica

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Hh7b3Nxxc

http://www.brucelipton.com/article/mind-over-genes-the-new-biology

"It is now recognized that the environment, and more specifically, our perception (interpretation)of the environment, directly controls the activity of our genes. Environment controls gene activity through a process known as epigenetic control."

"This breakthrough in biology is fundamental in all healing for it recognizes that when we change our perception or beliefs we send totally different messages to our cells and reprogram their expression."

wolfbear

The mind can do amazing things.

OutOfBreath

Very interesting, and offers somewhat an explanation for such unexplainable events.

This is like the old days. Is Ahnimus still around somewhere?

Peace
Dan

prism

I'm not suggesting that being postive doesn't somewhat help in terms of healing but this is b.s., it really is quack science. positive thinking is not going to change the structure of cells or a person's DNA. if mere positive thinking cured cancer and other diseases then alot more people would be cancer and disease free and still be alive. with cancer does spontaneous remission occur? yes it does...but only very extremely rarely.

this is the kind of shit where people will look at a 5 year old that dies of leukemia and say "this child, her parents, her family, her community and caregivers were not being positive and their negativity is why the child died" so then the people that loved and cared for this child and wanted nothing more than to see the child get better along with grieving the loss of there child can blame themselves "for being too negative and not positive enough"

a number of years ago a child lived in a rural, religious community (in the southwest) that didn't believe in the use of modern medicine, they believed that everything could be cured holistically through pray and positive thinking. this child became diabetic, and his parents refused to give this kid insulin to keep him alive, thinking that with the prayers of his family and community he would be cured. so they let this child die an excruciating painful death rather than allowing him to receive the medical attention that he needed.
there's other instances of this where children die from a preventable illness because their parents believe that positive thinking, prayer and God will cure their child. and the parents are immune from prosecution because it's legal for parents to let their child die without medical attention because it's considered within the rights of the parents based on religious beliefs.

OutOfBreath

I dont think anyone suggests that we scrap medicine and think happy thoughts. The way I interpret this, is that the mind can indeed influence the body, and moreso than what is currently maintained in the medical community. Happy thoughts wont replace insulin or other crucial medication, but it may prevent stress and thus reduce the chance of "mind-caused" illnesses. And as is suggested, if we reduce stress, it leaves the body free to focus on the disease without also having to cope with stress.

The lay-out was a bit wishy washy in the link, I agree, but I also believe that there is some truth to it.

Peace
Dan

prism

OutOfBreath wrote:

I dont think anyone suggests that we scrap medicine and think happy thoughts. The way I interpret this, is that the mind can indeed influence the body, and moreso than what is currently maintained in the medical community. Happy thoughts wont replace insulin or other crucial medication, but it may prevent stress and thus reduce the chance of "mind-caused" illnesses. And as is suggested, if we reduce stress, it leaves the body free to focus on the disease without also having to cope with stress.

The lay-out was a bit wishy washy in the link, I agree, but I also believe that there is some truth to it.

Peace
Dan

well then you have to define what illnesses are "mind-caused?"
I happen to remember the OP say numerous times in the past that all illness and disease is "mind-caused." yes, even in children according to her

I don't think that anyone would ever suggest that being positive and reducing stress isn't a really good thing for people to do. however, reducing stress and thinking happy thoughts isn't going to change the structure of a person's cells or DNA, neither will prayers to Jesus or God change them.

OutOfBreath

prism wrote:

well then you have to define what illnesses are "mind-caused?"
I happen to remember the OP say numerous times in the past that all illness and disease is "mind-caused." yes, even in children according to her

I am aware some say that, and that's a bit extreme in my view as well.

I don't think that anyone would ever suggest that being positive and reducing stress isn't a really good thing for people to do. however, reducing stress and thinking happy thoughts isn't going to change the structure of a person's cells or DNA, neither will prayers to Jesus or God change them.

It is pretty undeniable that how a person thinks can have an effect on recovering from diseases. The whole placebo thing shows that, not to mention that some claim that recovery rate among people visting a doctor/whatever hasn't improved that much since modern medicine. So I dont think it's that far off to talk about that in this context. However, even if a certain mindset can be helpful in some cases, doesnt mean it alone is enough or that even that will save you. I am only supporting the notion that how the brain thinks and acts on the body can have a positive/detrimental effect on how the body works in regards to diseases, pain etc.

Peace
Dan

angelica

psychoneuroimmunology (PNI):

A Harvard study in the seventies discovered receptors on our immune cells for neuropeptides. Neuropeptides are chemicals produced by the brain that vary with our emotions. "The results of this study point to the simple fact that your immune system is listening to your mental talk. How you think is how you feel. ... You are the master of your immune system. There is no better cure for anything than a good attitude."

This article goes on to shows varying negative and positive states (such as pessimistic states, lonliness, or humour, laughter, sharing traumatic situations or support), and their effects phsyically in the body.

http://www.mnwelldir.org/docs/immune/psychon.htm



"Psychoneuroimmunology is the study of the interaction between psychological processes and the nervous and immune systems of the human body. ... The main interest of PNI is the interaction between the nervous and immune systems, and the relation between mind processes and health. ...

While the lay person can believe in a mind-body connection, the PNI researcher is looking for the exact mechanisms by which specific brainimmunity effects are achieved. Evidence for nervous system–immune system interactions exists at several biological levels. ...

The immune system and the brain talk to each other through signaling pathways. The brain and the immune system are the two major adaptive systems of the body. During an immune response the brain and the immune system "talk to each other" and this process is essential for maintaining homeostasis. (...Walter Cannon, a professor of physiology at Harvard University, looked at the need for mental and physical balance throughout the organism and coined the term, Homeostasis)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychoneuroimmunology

angelica

"One of the remarkable discoveries that is generating huge amounts of new information is what we call epigenetics. This is the study of a form of inheritance that can occur without fundamental changes in gene sequences. This has to do with the idea that there is a second layer of programming on top of our DNA. A code that can change over our lifetimes in response to environmental change. Diet, hormones, chemicals in the environment, stress and even thought, emotion and behavior, can all change the ways in which our genes are expressed". ...

http://richardgpettymd.blogs.com/my_weblog/2006/09/the_epigenetic_.html

angelica

"Among all the epigenetics research conducted so far, the most extensively studied disease is cancer, and the evidence linking epigenetic processes with cancer is becoming 'extremely compelling' ...

"Toshikazu Ushijima is of the same mind. The chief of the Carcinogenesis Division of Japan’s National Cancer Center Research Institute says epigenetic mechanisms are one of the five most important considerations in the cancer field, and they account for one-third to one-half of known genetic alterations."

http://www.ehponline.org/members/2006/114-3/focus.html

Abookamongstthemany

Nice thread, angelica. I read a lot about this over the summer.

angelica

Abookamongstthemany wrote:

Nice thread, angelica. I read a lot about this over the summer.

Thank-you!


WELCOME BACK!!!!! It's sooooo good to see you here!

prism

my only problem with this is the people that will use this to convince themselves that if they "keep thinking happy thoughts" that it will fix/cure whatever disease or illness they have, thus they avoid seeking medical treatment. when doing that often means making them much sicker or be deadly to them no matter how postive their thinking is

Abookamongstthemany

prism wrote:

my only problem with this is the people that will use this to convince themselves that if they "keep thinking happy thoughts" that it will fix/cure whatever disease or illness they have, thus they avoid seeking medical treatment. when doing that often means making them much sicker or be deadly to them no matter how postive their thinking is

The mind can be very powerful but the rub is you have to fully believe in it's potential. We've been conditioned to only believe healing can come from outside ourselves like we're helpless without doctors or medical technology. I think this kind of thinking is just as dangerous. If positive thinking works for someone, so be it...it's their choice. It has worked quite sucessfully for many just as medical advancements and treatments have failed plenty while also curing many others.


and thanks angelica, you're such a sweetie.

prism

Abookamongstthemany wrote:

The mind can be very powerful but the rub is you have to fully believe in it's potential. We've been conditioned to only believe healing can come from outside ourselves like we're helpless without doctors or medical technology. I think this kind of thinking is just as dangerous. If positive thinking works for someone, so be it...it's their choice. It has worked quite sucessfully for many just as medical advancements and treatments have failed plenty while also curing many others.


and thanks angelica, you're such a sweetie.

well the problem is when people rely solely on one or the other. when the best option would to be to keep postive thoughts as well seek medical attention in combination. like i said my problem with this are those that will use it to convince themselves into believing that positive thoughts alone is enough

Abookamongstthemany

prism wrote:

well the problem is when people rely solely on one or the other. when the best option would to be to keep postive thoughts as well seek medical attention in combination. like i said my problem with this are those that will use it to convince themselves into believing that positive thoughts alone is enough

Fair enough. I just don't see a problem with people making their own decisions on treatment based on what they feel will work best for them.

angelica

prism wrote:

well the problem is when people rely solely on one or the other. when the best option would to be to keep postive thoughts as well seek medical attention in combination. like i said my problem with this are those that will use it to convince themselves into believing that positive thoughts alone is enough

I've read self-help healing books for over ten years. Every single book and author that I read encouraged the reader to be positive and to always do what's in one's best interest, including following through on positive thinking with positive practical and productive actions, like seeking the medical treatments that are in one's best interests.

Like myself, many people who get into the alternatives to mainstream medicine do so because they realize mainstream medicine is limited. Unbelievable amounts of people continue to die from cancer each day, for example. For many who experience such systems, the realization that the help is often not there, or does not work when one needs it, prompts them to look elsewhere, and rightly so.

By doing so, and by uncovering the approach of preventative practices, such individuals realize how potent and powerful the mind/body itself naturally is in maintaining health, reversing illness, and prevention, when we stop polluting it and doing the common unnatural and unhealthy things to it.