The Psychobiology of Mind-Body Healing
The subject of mind-body connection was explored by many philosophers throughout the centuries. Rene’ Descartes was a French philosopher in the 17th century who declared that the mind and body are distinct. It was from his rational line of thought that the conventional Western medicine originated. Since then, new evidence and findings have been discovered, which contradicted Descartes’ belief and supported a mind-body connection. Ernest Lawrence Rossi investigated the topic and wrote a book about The Psychobiology of Mind-Body Healing.
In his book, Rossi exhibits that the “messenger molecules” are the common denominator that makes communication possible between mind, emotions, behavior, and the expression of genes in health and illness. They communicate between all cells of the mind and body. The activity of every single nerve in our body and brain is altered by the messenger molecules; they can program our memory, emotions, learning, and behavior patterns and change them as well. Fundamentally, all systems of the body (i.e. autonomic systems, endocrine system and immune system) communicate with one another through the same messenger molecules.
These findings validate what the Russian scientist Ivan Petrovich Pavlov (the experiments on dogs) and Sigmund Freud (the work on the subject of Hysteria) had discovered: there is a direct connection between the mind and body. Our thoughts, emotions, sensations, and images influence the mechanism of the body’s systems. The key to our own well-being and health is within us; the mind-body connection is a valid process that can be seen, measured, and accessed through psychotherapy. It is possible to cure body illness with the mind by accessing state-dependent memory, learning and behavior systems. Therefore, Rossi concludes that Descartes’ philosophy was erroneous, and that there is a connection between the body and the mind.
In his book, Rossi exhibits that the “messenger molecules” are the common denominator that makes communication possible between mind, emotions, behavior, and the expression of genes in health and illness. They communicate between all cells of the mind and body. The activity of every single nerve in our body and brain is altered by the messenger molecules; they can program our memory, emotions, learning, and behavior patterns and change them as well. Fundamentally, all systems of the body (i.e. autonomic systems, endocrine system and immune system) communicate with one another through the same messenger molecules.
These findings validate what the Russian scientist Ivan Petrovich Pavlov (the experiments on dogs) and Sigmund Freud (the work on the subject of Hysteria) had discovered: there is a direct connection between the mind and body. Our thoughts, emotions, sensations, and images influence the mechanism of the body’s systems. The key to our own well-being and health is within us; the mind-body connection is a valid process that can be seen, measured, and accessed through psychotherapy. It is possible to cure body illness with the mind by accessing state-dependent memory, learning and behavior systems. Therefore, Rossi concludes that Descartes’ philosophy was erroneous, and that there is a connection between the body and the mind.