Mind And Body: What's The Connection?

IT ALL CONNECTS: Ohio State's Janice Kiekolt-Glaser believes that the more mind-body medicine is used in general medicine, the better. Research into the effects of molecular pathways on brain and body functions is reviving old questions Backed by solid research in molecular biology and fueled by consumer interest, the role of the mind in bodily health is entering the arena of serious scientific consideration. Evidence of communication between the central nervous system (CNS) and the immune sy

Written bySteve Bunk

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IT ALL CONNECTS: Ohio State's Janice Kiekolt-Glaser believes that the more mind-body medicine is used in general medicine, the better.

Research into the effects of molecular pathways on brain and body functions is reviving old questions

Backed by solid research in molecular biology and fueled by consumer interest, the role of the mind in bodily health is entering the arena of serious scientific consideration. Evidence of communication between the central nervous system (CNS) and the immune system at the molecular level is gaining acceptance in the research community, as work with animal models continues to explore how these pathways function. A next step is to determine if an individual's state of mind or emotions alter this network to affect human health. Meanwhile, managed-care organizations and hospitals across the United States already are responding to patient demand by offering many types of "mind-body" medical treatment.

This field focuses on "the interactions ...

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