Good health could come down to mind over matter

What are we to make of the New York newspaper editor with an incurable, painful condition, making a full recovery after some months of belly laughing from viewing comedy movies? What about Pennsylvania hospital records that show post-surgery patients having shorter hospital stays, fewer complications and fewer pain-relief drugs if they are in a room with a view of garden and trees, compared to a view of a brick wall? How about Australian veterinarian Dr Ian Gawler, who recovered from terminal, “one-month-to-live” metastatic bone cancer using intensive meditation practice? These examples at least raise the possibility that a person’s attitude, or how they think and feel, may be an important factor in recovery from illness.
For over 50 years there has been an emerging field of medical work now labelled as ‘Mind – Body Medicine’. It includes most of the treatment interventions that are undertaken largely by the patient’s efforts, rather than being done by a doctor for the patient. We can also talk about Lifestyle Medicine and Self – Help Healthcare.

Mind-Body Medicine includes any psychological interventions that can change a patient’s attitude and expectations; for example, things that can shift one from gloominess and depression to hope and optimism. It also includes lifestyle interventions like exercise and nutrition since these can only be driven by the determination of the patient.

Is there any science underpinning Mind-Body Medicine’s methods? Research shows most kinds of white blood cells, the immune system cells that fight disease, have receptors for neurotransmitters all over them. In fact the brain and the immune system are constantly talking to each other with the signalling being bi-directional. Various kinds of emotional stress and depressed mental states have been shown to be linked to low numbers and low activity of many of the immune system cell types. Our minds, it seems, can make our bodies succumb to or fight disease.

Biological research on laughter and humour has shown interesting health effects. ‘Mirthful laughter’ has been shown to produce significant reductions in the levels of circulating stress hormones.

Dr Patch Adams is notorious for his advocacy of fun, creativity, humour and clowning in health care. In his 1993 book Gesundheit he writes: “Humour is an antidote to all ills. I believe that fun is as important as love… Philosophically speaking, I’m surprised that anyone is ever serious”

Dr Adams leaped to widespread, international fame when his life and work were portrayed in the 1998 film Patch Adams, in which the late Robin Williams played the doctor. Not only are sick people in need of Mind-Body Medicine, Patch believes the entire medical industry is bedevilled with a psycho-spiritual malaise:

“The practice of medicine is hurting at many levels. Patient discontent is so great that many are resorting to lawsuits. Many healthcare professionals are so dissatisfied that they are quitting or even killing themselves. Few if any happy hospitals exist. Most people hate going to hospital and have traumatic experiences when they do. Yet it doesn’t have to be this way… Let us call on humour to lend a hand and make medicine fun.”

What do you think, could your thoughts make an illness worse, or better, or go away altogether?

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This is an extract from an article written by David McRae for the book How to Stay Healthy, Active & Sharp in Retirement. You can find out more about this book on the website www.retirementbooks.com.au.