How to save the world? A global journey into making our lives better…

Further to my recent post on the power of the brain, I recently finished reading Guided Imagery for Self-healing by Martin L. Rossman, and I found it to be one of the most powerful and enlightening books I’ve ever read.

Have you heard of the placebo effect? It is commonly observed that for instance an injection of water in a hospital setting can relieve pain in some patients as effectively as morphine. The initial interpretation is that it makes clear if the pain is “real” or not, but the latest medical research show that it may not be so simple. In fact, it has been shown that the power of faith and expectation can double the effect of a drug, produce the opposite drug effect to the one desired and even have outcomes on what is normally relevant to surgery.

Hence a very logical question: if our mind can be tricked into healing, couldn’t we use its power to accelerate healing or relieve pain?

Guided Imagery for Self-healing shows how, according to the latest research, the mind and the immune system are connected (this is an emerging field of medecine called psychoneuroimmunology), but this connection do not always distinguished what is “imagined” and what is real.

Besides, some of the body’s mechanisms take their origin in our perception of the world around us and transpose into real positive or negative consequences. Take stress for instance. When initially stressed, the body produce adrenaline and cortisol, and is gets ready to engage in a fight. If this state is maintained for too long, the body resources start to deplete. After a while, damage may result as the capacity of glands are exhausted, which in turn has an effect on the the immune system. Long term effects include illnesses such as ulcers, depression, diabetes, insomnia, trouble with the digestive system or even cardiovascular problems, along with mental illnesses.

There are numerous reports of cancers being cured with imagery as well.

This books gives clear guidance on how to start learning using this power. The key is to enter into a deep relaxation and use the power of the imagination to create “images” (including sound, smell…), which apparently is one of the major languages of the brain. This in turn gives control over feelings and emotion and can be used to get profound insight on what is happening inside your own body, trigger immune response, understand unconscious mechanisms, relieve pain, headache or allergies, free from stress, enhance your overall energy level…

A number of scripts are given in the book which you can then record on MP3 (I used audacity as a free recording tool). Alternatively some audio track
are available as well for purchase.

Now what are the advantages of this technique and how can it help save the world?
Well, studies show 50 to 75% of all problems that patients bring to their primary care units are emotional, social or familial in origin, though expressed through real pain or illnesses. In Britain alone, the cost of stress is estimated to reach £100 billions a year.
It is estimated that for each dollar invested in guided imagery technique saves hospitals, clinics and insurance companies $3, so this technique could considerably reduce the global healthcare bill.

On top of that, the advantage for the patient of using guided imagery instead or together with more invasive techniques are very substantial: it decreases side effects, speed up healing and recovery, improve the well-being feeling and overall mental health, and in some instances allow to get rid of drug or surgery altogether.

Just one last word of warning: no alternative health technique should be used as the sole substitute for conventional medicine. If you are feeling unwell, you should go and see your doctor. For serious illnesses, you should probably mention to your doctor if you plan to use imagery as an add-on to conventional treatment.

Have you tried Guided Imagery? I would love to hear from you and the results you got. Please post your comments below