The Mind/Body Connection:

By:  Colleen Jo Gagliardi, ND

It’s amazing to think that when we get a cold, a cut, or even a broken bone, that our body can heal itself.  In today’s world, we can frequently forget that health is the body’s natural state of being, and that our bodies continually strive to maintain a state of health and well being for us.  In cases where illness is present however, and the body is struggling to heal, one goal should be to find out what is preventing the body to heal itself.

Occasionally, one obstacle to healing may be that the body is not receiving all that it needs physiologically to heal, such as sufficient nutrients to support the healing process.   Sometimes, our bodies just need more time and rest to heal.  But in the instance where a physiological cause cannot be identified (especially with a chronic disease condition), it may be helpful to look at the mind-body connection to see if it might play a role in the disease process. 

More and more today, we are learning about the intimate and intricate role that the mind, the body, the emotions and the spirit play in maintaining good health.  

For example, how many times have you heard these expressions; “I was just broken-hearted over it”, “I saw red”,  “I just couldn’t stomach it any longer”.   These statements, along with their accompanying emotions, can act as templates for our bodies which then can become very literal translators of our emotional health.  If statements such as “I just can’t stomach it anymore” (whether “it” may be a boring job, a sour relationship, or economic hardship), are stated frequently, how long will it be before your body begins forming an ulcer or irritable bowel syndrome to illustrate that statement?  The mind/body connection reminds us that the body literally can reflect tangibly, the results of thinking patterns and emotions. 

Sometimes, the connection between mind and body dysfunction are clear.  Consider someone bothered by a chronic backache, and who seems to be  “carrying the weight of the world” on their shoulders…who wouldn’t have a backache by carrying that weight!  At other times, the mind/body connection may not be as clear.  One method of trying to identify whether there is a mind/body connection associated with an illness or physical dysfunction is to perform the following exercise on yourself:  If your body hurts or needs attention, simply place your hand over that part of your body.  In your mind, direct your attention to that location, and just ask “what it is that this part of my body is trying to tell me”.  Then, let your mind drift.  The body-mind connection will seek to answer your question.  The answer may come in a flashback of a moment in time (did someone say or do something hurtful to you to cause you harm, or conversely did you cause someone harm?).  Another way that your body might communicate with you is by image—perhaps a beach scene with palm trees and sand comes to mind (is your body reminding you that it is time for a vacation for good health?).  It may also be that a connection between current health issues, and past medical issues may come to light for further consideration. 

This mind/body connection can also be used to our advantage.  What if we were able to re-educate our mind to expect and anticipate perfect health.  Wouldn’t it make sense that the body would try to illustrate that as well?  Perhaps conditioning the mind to look for and work towards the positive in life might also improve our health overall, as well.   What if we repeated the old-time saying; “I’m healthy, happy, wealthy and wise”, several times a day-with feeling!  It might create a different pattern for your body to follow-one that encourages health.  Another exercise might be to say the following out loud, “I am a wonderful person”.  Next, look at yourself in a mirror while you say it with a big smile… “I AM A WONDERFUL PERSON”.  Makes you smile even wider doesn’t it?  Maybe the presence of laughter, smiles and hugs in life can help a great deal towards creating that healing healthy pattern for the body to follow as well.  If it’s true that “we are what we eat”, perhaps we should amend that statement to include the words, “and what we think”.  One quote to ponder with this was made by Norman Vincent Peale; “change your thoughts and you change your world”.  Food for thought.