The Mind-Body Connection According to Medical Doctors

Recently I read two books, Quantum Healing:Exploring the Frontiers of Mind/Body Medicine by Deepak Chopra, MD and Healing Back Pain:The Mind-Body Connection, by John E. Sarno, MD. I am encouraged reading what medical doctors have to say about the power of the mind. 

In Quantum Healing, Dr. Chopra is interested in spontaneous cures of cancer. Dr. Sarno focused on back pain, as his book title implies, specifically TMS or Tension Myositis Syndrome. The underlying premise in both books is that our thoughts – the mind – have the power to both cause disease and heal the body. This is not a new concept to most of us, and certainly not to me, as I grew up with this way of thinking. What is new is hearing medical doctors profess the power of the mind in the healing of the body and reading their studies on how some health problems are not necessarily caused by the physical.

Dr. Chopra’s writing was at times a bit technical for me (definitely not a light read, and well worth the time), and I appreciated its usefulness, especially for readers with formal medical training. His case studies were what really captivated my attention. Many of his patients were skeptical at the beginning, and after successful (and swift!) treatment, they were healed. Dr. Chopra usually sees people at his clinic outside Boston, where they leave their stress behind, enjoy a healthy diet for their particular body type, meditate, receive massage treatments prescribed by Ayurveda...all working to eliminate their bodies of toxins. It is in this environment that their bodies are able to heal. These are people with serious diseases such as cancer, severe anemia, and the like.

Reading Quantum Healing was a powerful reminder of the importance of keeping our thoughts in check. Then after reading Healing Back Pain, I was able to apply what I learned to a condition of my own. As Dr. Sarno recaps: 

It begins with certain emotional states that set in motion activity within the central nervous system, specifically the autonomic system, resulting in local vasoconstriction and mild oxygen deprivation of certain muscles, nerves, tendons, and ligament. This oxygen lack is responsible for the pain that is the primary manifestation of TMS and the possibility of sensory abnormalities (numbness, pins & needles) and motor deficits such as weakness or tendon reflex changes.

About eight months prior to reading these books, I developed severe left shoulder pain. I told everyone (including myself) I injured my shoulder while exercising and that it was also a re-injury from an incident 20 years prior. It was bad - I could not use my left arm. I opened my car door by reaching over with my right arm. I couldn’t carry groceries or even lift my arm to point. While reading Dr. Sarno’s book, it became clear to me that the pain was a result of my emotions, rather than a structural issue that was still healing. I had never sprained or broken anything, so whatever may have happened ought to have healed on its own after a matter of weeks. 

I thought back to the time period when it started hurting and realized it coincided with a family member moving into our home. I had agreed to the move and knew it had to happen, and I resented it. A lot more responsibilities fell my way as a result of her moving in, and I was already maxed out with my kids, household upkeep, and my career. I didn’t say anything about my resentment because the move had to happen, so I figured there was no point in complaining or even raising the issue. Apparently I stuffed the emotions so far that they manifested as “shouldering extra burden.” It made perfect sense. Within three days of making this realization, my shoulder pain dissipated and I resumed all of my usual activities, including exercising.

I highly recommend both books if you want to learn more about the power of your own thoughts and how you can benefit from the healing properties of the mind.