Dr. Allan Horowitz, published newspaper article, Richmond Hill Liberal, Copyright June 27, 1990

Last week I discussed some of the theories which abound these days regarding the so-called mind-body connection. It is thought by many that there is a strong connection between the thought processes of the brain and organic functioning of the body itself.

Curing or slowing the progression of various diseases, living longer and having less health troubles are the three major benefits of allowing your own mind to help your body, many experts claim.

I will always use vague terms like “many experts claim” or “it is thought by many” because my mind is not yet made up on how to approach these claims. I do not have any doubt that thinking positively, laughing, loving, being loved and enjoying life does add something to the quality of life and I do suspect it also adds health.

But for now, I will leave the claims to the researchers and scientists and doctors like Dr. Bernie Siegel, who has written two excellent books on the subject of the mind-body relationship as far as self-healing is concerned.

RESEARCH FINDINGS

            His latest book, Peace, Love and Healing, is a collection of research findings, personal anecdotes and stories from Dr. Siegel and the many others from around the world who are sure that this relationship exists and that we can all benefit from learning more about it.

Dr. Siegel and others like him believe that there are various ways (as of now, most are not understood, yet they talk about neurotransmitters and T-cell production and so on) to increase the body’s own immune system operations.

The immune system is what is responsible for defending us against invaders into our body. Bacteria is sometimes “caught and destroyed” before it can cause an infection. This is a successful demonstration of the immune system.

Cancers are cells which have gone haywire and are destroying the surrounding healthy cells. When cancer proliferates, it means the immune system didn’t do a good enough job. Sometimes, cancer does go into remission. Sometimes doctors don’t know why.

Multiple sclerosis is a disease where parts of the nervous system are destroyed (one theory is that the body’s own immune system attacks and destroys its own healthy nerve coverings) and whatever areas those parts controlled are then affected. MS is characterized by three types of patients: those who get progressively worse and end up severely disabled, those who have their bad times, but these are mixed with some periods where the patient remains fairly healthy and those who have one or two attacks of neurological symptoms and then go many years without another or may never have another problem.

Doctors don’t know why this happens with some people and not others.

Why do some AIDS patients survive longer than others? No one knows for sure, but those who do survive for longer periods of time and those who have “beaten” cancer and those MS patients who don’t have any more attacks, will likely all have the same answer when asked how they beat the odds. They will likely say that it was their “will to live” that helped them. Who can argue with that?

FAVORED ANECDOTE

One of my favorite anecdotes from Dr. Siegel’s book is found on the very first page. He relates the story of a 78-year-old landscaper who was thinking of retirement. He developed abdominal pain which a biopsy revealed was a malignant cancer in the stomach.

Dr. Siegel wanted to operate immediately to prevent the cancer from spreading. This patient (John) told Dr. Siegel that the surgery would have to wait until after the spring because he had commitments to plant and garden for his clients. As John put it “if I survive, it’s a gift. If I don’t, I will have left a beautiful world.”

He finished his work, had the surgery and the pathologist’s report indicated that he has a very invasive, destructive cancer which had spread to many lymph nodes. When the doctor recommended x-ray and chemotherapy to deal with what was left, he refused again, saying that he had gardening to do.

He returned to the office four years later because he developed a hernia from lifting boulders. John just had his 83rd birthday and is still going strong.

MIGHT HELP

What I want to illustrate by giving you this anecdote is not that you should be irresponsible and not listen to your doctor, but that you should have a positive attitude like John and love your life and your work. It might just help.

I recommend Dr. Siegel’s books to everyone who wants a happier and maybe even a healthier life.