Mind and Body... and Immunity

I want to take this opportunity to talk about an exciting young and flourishing field: neuroimmunology.

Neuroimmunology is a biochemical science that studies the interaction between the brain and immune functioning. I won't go into the scientific mumbo jumbo, but basically our thoughts influence our biochemistry, and vice versa, which also interacts with the immune system. So our thoughts actually do affect our health.

I learned about neuroimmunology while researching for my paper. I decided to write about how the field of psychology is opening up to non-western perspectives and is changing significantly by incorporating buddhist techniques into therapies. Mindfulness, which has been practiced by Buddhists for over 2,000 years, has been added to many different therapeutic interventions. It describes the ability to detach oneself from his thoughts and to observe and accept them without becoming distressed. Mindfulness changes the neurochemistry of the brain in a way that enhances immune functioning.

Mindfulness training has proven effective for treating physical and psychological illnesses. It can improve the immune functioning of cancer patients and people with HIV while also improving their mental wellbeing.

Mind Body Intelligence is a holistic approach to treating mental and physical conditions that combines mindfulness meditation, yoga, and psychotherapy. The mindfulness meditation component teaches the patient breathing techniques, detachment from and acceptance of thoughts, and Buddhist principles. MBI treats the whole person, so it is appropriate for various disorders, including mood disorders, personality disorders, substance dependence, and eating disorders. In the medical realm, it is used to alleviate the suffering of patients with chronic pain those who have a terminal illness, as well as improving their immune functioning. It also treats cardiac and pulmonary diseases and diabetes. People who undergo MBI acquire lifelong skills to deal with stress effectively, reduce anxiety, and manage pain.

As I said, this is part of my research for a paper I am writing. Here is a portion of what I have written so far that incorporates this source and also discusses mindfulness training in more detail:

Recently, literature supporting the effectiveness of mindfulness training in various settings has proliferated, evidencing the ascendance of eastern ideals in western psychology. Mindfulness training teaches the patient to observe his thoughts and accept them, no matter how unpleasant or severe (Kumar, Feldman, Hayes). Continued practice empowers the individual to detach himself from his thoughts and become less emotionally reactive to distressing thoughts or events. The mindfulness technique is effective in clinical and nonclinical settings. Within the clinical realm, it has been used to treat various disorders, including Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, eating disorders, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and substance abuse. Mindfulness has been incorporated into various types of therapies. One example is Exposure-based therapy for depression. The first phase of mindfulness training teaches the patient to focus his attention on present thoughts and respond to distress adaptively, which means observing and accepting thoughts instead of avoiding them or ruminating. In the next phase, the uses the skills learned in the first phase to respond to material that previously induced depression without becoming distressed. This is followed by exposure-based cognitive therapy. An open trial of the therapy resulted in significant increases in mindfulness, along with a reduction in avoidance and rumination behavior and absorption in distressing thoughts. It also effectively treated depression. Another intervention that incorporates mindfulness is Mind Body Intelligence Program (MBI) (Adelman). MBI is based on the assumption that the mind and body interact, so mental health is brought about by treating the entire person. It integrates aspects of Family and Systems Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, and CBT, along with Buddhist practices. Patients learn mindfulness meditation, which teaches breathing techniques, the ability to settle rambling thoughts and be aware of one’s body and movements, and Buddhist principles of fulfillment, compassion, and tolerance. It has been shown to improve quality of life and self-esteem, reduce pain, and enhance sleep quality.

Fascinating stuff, huh?
Stay tuned to learn more about that amazingness that is mindfulness.