Mind, Medicine and Meditation

a presentation by

BK Bala Kishore, MTech, CBA (UK)

www.rajayogacenter.orgAjman: + 971 6 742 9127 Dubai: +971 4 3352604

Wherever attention goes energy flows, wherever energy flows life grows

Agenda

• Placebo effect

• Cancer patients and their Mind

• Psycho-Neuro-Immunology

• Biology of Belief

• Power / Magic of Water

• Meditation, Relaxation, Visualization

Placebo Effect

• Placebo effect: One’s ‘belief’ about the drug influences the recovery more than the actual drug itself

• Visit to Family Doctor • Expectation or anticipation of recovery influences

the actual recovery – Sham Surgery• Expensive drug more effective• A mother’s fight with illness and her son’s

wedding• Standard tool in drug approval used by FDA

• Nocebo effect – side effects of drugs

Factors that enhance Placebo Response

• Belief of patient in doctor’s competency• Physical proximity• Empathic attention (concern, and acceptance)• Good listening skills

– Don’t Just Do Something. Sit There.– Listening is not ‘inaction’

• Gaze attunement• Appropriate touch• Communication style (language and intonation)• Welcoming physical appearance

Cancer Patients and their Mind

• Bernie S Siegel’s ECaP – Exceptional Cancer Patients – characteristics

• People catch disease not the other way around

• Difference between disease and illness• Target organ – throat, spine cancer• Spontaneous Remission through lifestyle

changes – giving up business, relationship• Love, Medicine & Miracles

Psycho-Neuro-Immunology

• Biomedical Science that explores the relationship between emotions, nervous system, and immune system

• Concerned with elucidating the links between our states of mind and our states of health

• Stress Pathway : Perception of Threat -> Hypothalamus -> Nervous system -> Adrenal Gland -> Corticosteroids

• Effects : Increased Blood Pressure, Heart Rate, Respiratory Rate, Blood Flow to skeletal muscles, Perspiration

Psycho-Neuro-Immunology (cont…)

Biology of Belief

• Bruce Lipton

• Cell – The Work Horse of Life

• Biochemical processes

• Genes – Controllers of Biological processes

Biology of Belief (cont…)• Cell membranes play an important role

– Act as the brain of a cell– Cell activity result of protein chains taking

different shapes (driven by electric charges)– Antennae on the cells enable them to sense

different conditions in the environment

Biology of Belief (cont…)

• Biological behavior dynamically linked to the environment (instead of genetic determinism)

• Video (belief.flv)

Psycho Biology of Emotions

Power / Magic of Water

• Essential for life• Cannot live without water for more than 8 -10

days• Can survive without food for 6 to 8 weeks!• Circulates through blood and lymphatic system• Carries oxygen and nutrients to cells• Balances dissolved salt and water inside and

outside of cells• Removes waste and toxins• …

Recent Discoveries

• Prof.Dr.David Schweitzer, UK

• Dr.Masaru Emoto, Japan

• Water contains structure

• Observable while freezing

Crystal forming process

shimanto_river

Music

• Music affects structure too…

Beethoven

Heavy Metal

Japanese folk dance music

Thoughts

• Our thoughts affect the structure of water!

Fujiwara before and after prayer

Happiness

Love for Humanity

Even Labeling has an impact

Love

Hate

Namaste

Peace

Om

Remote Prayer

Tap water before and after

Food for thought

• Awareness, thoughts affect biological processes…and hence health

• Thoughts and feelings affect water– Watch the water you drink– Biological purity is not the only thing that

counts

• Music has impact!• Even naming has impact!!

Tips for health

• Change your awareness• Change your thoughts• Let them be Peaceful and Harmonious• Send message of love to your body cells• Watch your food and drink

– Label water with wonderful thoughts and drink– Cook food with wonderful thoughts and eat

• Love and appreciation helps!• Meditate

Benefits of Meditation• Physical Benefits

– Decreased Cholesterol, Decreased Work load on Heart – Reduces Heart Attack risk

– Decreased High Blood Pressure

– Improved air flow to lungs – Helps Asthma patients

– Younger Biological Age – Prolongs Life expectancy

– Reduction in Free radicals – Reduces Tissue damage

– Lowered Cortisol and Lactate – two stress causing chemicals

Benefits of Meditation (cont…)• Psychological Benefits

– Increased brain wave coherence – Greater Creativity, Higher IQ

– Increased Happiness and Emotional Stability

– Increased feelings of vitality and rejuvenation

– Decreased Irritability and moodiness

– Decreased Anxiety

– Decreased the chances becoming Depressed

Benefits of Meditation (cont…)• Spiritual Benefits

– Increased Empathy

– Improved Personal and Professional relationships

– Increased Power to Face situations

– Increased Power to Tolerate

– Increased Power to Accommodate and Accept

– Increased Power to Discriminate Right from Wrong

• Meditation is ‘Self’ introspection in a relaxed state – ability to talk to oneself with love

• Meditation is conscious generation of Positive, Powerful, Uplifting and Elevated thoughts

• Meditation is ‘dwelling’ upon the nature of the Divine

• Meditation is practice of soul-consciousness

• Meditation is understanding one’s own spiritual identity

In summary…

• I am both ‘in’-‘charge’ and ‘response’-‘able’ for my health

• Health like Destiny is a matter of CHOICE and not a matter of CHANCE

• Remember, even incurable diseases are ‘in’curable

• Meditation helps

Relaxation Experience…

Q &A