From the author of #1 bestseller The Relaxation Response comes a practical guide to how behavioral medicine can counteract the harmful effects of stress and help you regain control of your health. “In The Mind/Body Effect, Herbert Benson, MD, redefines medical care as a process in which the mind and body are tended as components of a single vital organism, and calls upon individual patients to share with physicians the responsibility for their own medical well-being. Writing with brilliant clarity, he exposes hypes and commercialism within a society obsessed with health and terrified of pain. The Mind/Body Effect may be the most important medical book for laymen since Dr. Benson’s The Relaxation Response.”—Noah Gordon, publisher, Journal of Human Stress “In their avid pursuit of better health, millions of Americans are making themselves less healthy. Ironically, their doctors often make things worse instead of better. In this fascinating book, Dr. Benson tells us—patients and doctors alike —how to break the vicious cycle.”—David W. Ewing, executive editor, Harvard Business Review “The next great advance in the health of the American people will come not from hospitals or laboratories but from what they learn to do for themselves. The Mind/Body Effect represents a major step in that direction.”—C. Norman Shealy, MD, PhD, codirector, The Pain and Health Rehabilitation Center

"In Relaxation Revolution, Dr. Herbert Benson and William Proctor present the latest scientific endings, revealing that we have the ability to self-heal diseases, prevent life-threatening conditions, and supplement established drug and surgical procedures with mind body techniques. In a special "treatment" section, Benson and Proctor describe how these mind body techniques can be applied - and are being applied - to treat a wide variety of conditions..."--Publisher.

From the author of #1 bestseller The Relaxation Response comes a practical guide to how behavioral medicine can counteract the harmful effects of stress and help you regain control of your health. “In The Mind/Body Effect, Herbert Benson, MD, redefines medical care as a process in which the mind and body are tended as components of a single vital organism, and calls upon individual patients to share with physicians the responsibility for their own medical well-being. Writing with brilliant clarity, he exposes hypes and commercialism within a society obsessed with health and terrified of pain. The Mind/Body Effect may be the most important medical book for laymen since Dr. Benson’s The Relaxation Response.”—Noah Gordon, publisher, Journal of Human Stress “In their avid pursuit of better health, millions of Americans are making themselves less healthy. Ironically, their doctors often make things worse instead of better. In this fascinating book, Dr. Benson tells us—patients and doctors alike —how to break the vicious cycle.”—David W. Ewing, executive editor, Harvard Business Review “The next great advance in the health of the American people will come not from hospitals or laboratories but from what they learn to do for themselves. The Mind/Body Effect represents a major step in that direction.”—C. Norman Shealy, MD, PhD, codirector, The Pain and Health Rehabilitation Center

"This exciting new book details the latest scientific proof that attitudes and emotions do indeed affect physical health and can play a major role in the treatment and prevention of disease. Drawing on landmark studies conducted by distinguished researchers, this book presents a solid foundation of evidence that negative emotions such as worry, anxiety, depression, hostility, and anger can increase susceptibility to disease - and that positive emotions such as optimism, humor, and a fighting spirit can protect health and increase longevity." "Unique features: presents scientific data with clarity and simplicity that shows the undeniable connection between the mind and body; demonstrates the body's physical responses to perception of ourselves and our circumstances; covers how social support, friendship, and strong, stable relationships protect our health; discusses how different personalities are either prone to, or able to resist, disease; and explains the scientifically proven changes in heart rate, hormones, and body chemistry that accompany various attitudes and emotions." "An important work for anyone involved in health or behavioral sciences, this book explores findings in the dramatic new field of psychoneuroimmunology, and demonstrates through the most recent technical advances how attitudes and emotions affect immunity."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Originally published by Viking Penguin, 2014.

This book should be of value to all mental health professionals, researchers, and students interested in traumatic stress, as well as legal professionals dealing with PTSD-related issues.

‘This book will teach you that healing by thought alone is not only possible, but it is a reality.’ - Dr Joe Dispenza, New York Times bestselling author of Becoming Supernatural There is no longer any doubt that the way we think affects our bodies: countless scientific studies have shown this to be true. For former pharmaceutical scientist Dr David Hamilton, the testing of new drugs highlighted how profoundly the mind and body are connected. Time and time again, the control group of patients in drug trials improved at similar rates to those who actually received the medicines. Astounded, Dr Hamilton decided to change the direction of his work to explore the relationship between the mind and the body. This bestselling acclaimed book was first published 10 years ago. In it, Dr Hamilton explores the effect of visualization, belief and positive thinking on the body, and shows how using our imagination and mental processes can stimulate our own defences and healing systems to combat disease, pain and illness. In this new edition, Dr Hamilton has added four new chapters to discuss the latest cutting-edge information and extraordinary new techniques. These include using imagery to stimulate the immune system - a method that can benefit cancer patients undergoing conventional treatment - effectively using the mind to speed up rehabilitation from stroke, and powerful visualization strategies to help facilitate recovery from injury and illness.