New Mind/Body Book - with PROOF

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 8:32 am

Hi All,

Received my copy of the "Relaxation Revolution" by Herbert Benson, MD, a researcher at Harvard and Mass. Gen'l. He is a true scientific pioneer in the mind/body healing arena. Of course, I have not read it in detail but but I can address a few highlights.

Dr. Benson's "Relaxation Response" was initially published about 30 yrs. ago. His response involved taking 10-15 min./day to sit quietly and repetitively focus on something, like a color, number, prayer, word, breathing, relaxing muscles, etc. (essentially what we call "meditation"). He found that doing this fought stress, that it was the opposite of the flight ot fight response. He still recommends this but has added a recommendation for an additional 8-10 min. daily spent using visualization/positive expectation.

OK, here's his latest research which shows that doing this response over time can actually alter the expression of genes, your genetic activity. It's the ultimate mind/body connection. Listen to this!!!! A group of 19 long-term "meditators" (average of 9 years of meditation) was matched (using age, ht., wt., gender, marital status) with a control group of 19 who had never meditated. Then, (and this blows my mind), they drew blood and analyzed all 54,000 genes in every study participant in order to assess "global gene expression differences". Apparently there is a scanner using sophisticated software that can isolate each of the 54,000 genes and also identify which genes were active or "expressed".

Dramatic differences were found between the 2 groups : 2209 genes in the experienced practitioners were being expressed differently - and get this! The genes acting differently were those that have been associated with STRESS-RELATED medical problems, including unhealthful regulation of immune responses, various forms of inflammation, premature aging, including thinning of the brain's cortex, and other conditions involving oxidative stress (think heart disease, cancer).

It gets even more fascinating! Next, they instucted the control group in relaxation techniques and had them do them daily for 8 weeks. They retested their genes after only 8 weeks and found that 1561 of them had changed expression. More importantly, the control group now had 433 gene expressions similar to the longterm meditators. The chance of these 2 findings happening by chance are one in 10 billion - virtually impossible.
To emphasize again, the genes that were switched on and off were those found to be related to stress-related health problems as noted above.

Better stop for now (and go relax, tee hee). I find this book to be fascinating. I am even more a believer now in the mind/body connection.
Finally, we have hope that simple, non-medical/drug interventions may help with MC.

Love,

Polly

Post by **tex** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 11:31 am

Polly,

That's quite interesting, to say the least. Of course, the initial differences in the two groups doesn't surprise me, because people who choose to meditate, surely have genetic influences that tend to funnel them toward this method of "mind control". The fact that Dr. Benson was able to elicit some of the same genetic changes in the control group, though, especially in such a short time interval, removes any doubt that the concept of "altering genes by meditation" is a valid response.

The pharmaceutical manufacturers who hold the patents on the most popular anti-anxiety drugs and antidepressants, are not going to be very happy if this idea should begin to catch on.

Love,
Tex

Celie · Post by **Celie** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 1:03 pm

Wow! That is interesting. Guess I need to add more meditation time.

Celie

harma · Post by **harma** » Sun Dec 12, 2010 7:18 am

That is very interesting Polly. I am familiar what meditating does to the mind, but I had no idea that is influences the expression of my genes too. I think I keep on meditating. Thanks for sharing this great information with us.

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 6:33 am

Tex,

Loved your comment about the pharmaceutical industry, and it's so true. The book discusses many common problems, like depression and anxiety, and shows the research to date that relaxation is effective in treating them. Imagine! A method we can use to conquer stress that costs absolutely nothing and has NO side effects. HAH!

Love,

Polly

tcorbett · Post by **tcorbett** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 7:23 am

Polly,

This is absolutely fascinating. My husband is part of a business that has products that help with epigenetics and neutrogenomics (sp???). Anyway, this product can change the genes that are turned on/off etc. One of the things they mention that has an effect on our genes and our mind/spiritual/stress etc. So, this is all totally in line with what he has been teaching. I don't think I explained it well - but the basic is - YES, we can have an effect on our genes - that is totally amazing! I need to get this book! Anyone have suggestions for good relaxation techniques? I have a stretching dvd that does some relaxation I believe - I will have to try it out! Boy, do I need relaxation and stress reduction!

Thanks again for sharing this wonderful break-thru!

Theresa in ME

MBombardier · Post by **MBombardier** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 10:53 am

I am going to get this book! I am very excited to read it. As I mentioned on another thread, I lost the genetic lottery as far as fatal diseases are concerned. I am going to wait until amazon.com has it in stock on Dec. 16th. Isn't it funny how there are already used copies available on amazon, and they are selling for more than the new?

Thanks for posting about this, Polly!!

Ginny · Post by **Ginny** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 12:06 pm

Polly thanks for responding so quickly. I will be ordering one myself. I've gotten away from meditation and need to get back to it. My DH has been doing it for years from anywheres between 15 minutes to an hour a day. He never needs any drugs to calm him down prior to major dental work or surgery; no happy juice for him! He use to have high BP and now it is right on target if not a little lower. Proof right in front of my own eyes! Ginny

Joefnh · Post by **Joefnh** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 12:42 pm

Polly this is an excellent topic. It seems so fundamental that the mind that controls every process in the body that the state of the mind (relaxed stressed...) would have a profound effect on the body. You would think that this would be in the main stream of medicine and research and the first line of disease treatment and prevention.

--Joe

Post by **tex** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 1:22 pm

Joe wrote:You would think that this would be in the main stream of medicine and research and the first line of disease treatment and prevention.

Joe,

You're forgetting that the traditional goal of medicine has been shifted away from "curing disease", to "treating patients", for the purpose of transferring as much of the world's money as possible, into the bank accounts of the drug companies.

Tex

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 4:04 pm

Polly,
thanks for sharing i will definately be seeking this book for my christmas stocking.....

As i mentioned in the post to Kari, my acupuncturist said that one of my current blocking points to attaining wellness was my brain, as we discussed this, we realised I was constantly thinking about ingredients and meals and should i try something new.
via our discussions and the book i was reading I have taken the approach of having extra supplies at home (at least 3- 4 weeks worth) so i could see that I was fine, i have enough stuff i dont have to think about it. It doesnt matter if there is no stock of that product in the store when i get there, I dont have to progress from where i am now and try new ingredients, what i am doing at the moment is giving me the nutrients i need, reasonable digestion process without the need for meds,
I am able to work, spend the weekends away from home and it is fine.
I spent quite time talking to my brain and body that they can relax and trust where things are at.

gowest · Post by **gowest** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 8:48 pm

Polly, thanks for posting this review of an important topic!

Gabes, I know what you mean about constantly thinking about what you're going to eat, what you can do to get better, etc. Sometimes I think it may be better to just stop thinking about it and go live life -- maybe we'd improve a little in the meantime without realizing it! :o)

Ashley

MBombardier · Post by **MBombardier** » Wed Dec 22, 2010 12:26 am

I bought this book and have read through the first chapter. I started on the relaxation yesterday, and was pleased this morning (after doing the relaxation) when I took my blood pressure that it was 20 points lower on both systolic and diastolic than I expected. That was very encouraging, as was the list of ailments that the mind body approach can address.

I really appreciate how Dr. Benson is careful to say that the genes cannot be changed, but their expression can, and how he talks about how the mind body approach can lower health care costs. Thanks again for recommending this book, Polly.

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 8:35 am

Hi Marliss,

You are most welcome. And aren't you a "quick study"?! You had amazing results on your first try!

I think the most important (and most difficult) task is to incorporate this practice every day. It is a lifestyle change and involves finding those 20-25 minutes just for ourselves with absolutely no distractions. Sometimes this means getting up before everyone else. Here's what I've been doing lately, since it is often impossible to find quiet, alone time at home: when I'm in the car running around by myself, I'll pull into a parking space and grab my quiet time!

Keep up the good work. Now, here's the biggest challenge........try to carry that wonderful relaxed feeling with you throughout the day. HAH! Not easy.

Love,

Polly

MBombardier · Post by **MBombardier** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 12:23 pm

You have nailed it on the head, Polly! It's like there is a little voice in my head saying, "Oh, you don't have time to do that!" This morning, for example, I lay awake until 1:30am, got up at 4:15am to take my daughter to the airport, and didn't fall back to sleep until 5:30am, so I arose later than usual.

I am continuing with the book, and I really appreciate Dr. Benson's emphasis on there being no "right way" to achieve the relaxation response for everyone. I am finding there is not a "right way" for me even every day. In a strange way, this is helping me with my perfectionism.