Daily, people take prescription medications to heal various injuries, aches, and pains. In many cases, the side effects from these prescription and over the counter medications often appear to be worse than the problems they are intended to treat. Is there a better way? In many cases there is a better way, and that is with proper use of your mind.

It is true. The biggest drug producer in the world is between your own ears. Specifically, one structure the hypothalamus responds to the needs of the body, and produces millions of peptides that in turn produce hormones that affect the structure, substance, and function of our bodies. Our bodies are recreated on a daily basis. For example, the face you see in the mirror will change within 6 months to an entirely NEW face. Not a single cell that you see will be the same. Other structures change more quickly than this and some others more slowly. But every part of your body is changing and being renewed on a daily basis.

What is it that stimulates the hypothalamus? It is our thoughts, and subsequently our feelings, and our actions. Everyone seems to understand intuitively that the mind rules the body. Ancient medicine has often sited this fact. Aryuveda, (the mother of all medical practice, believed to be between 5000 and 40,000 years old), has stated that man’s consciousness directly affects his wellbeing. Recently, modern Western medicine is starting to catch up, and recognize the role the mind plays in the healing process. For example, recent research has quantified how a typical immune system in a grieving relative is weakened dramatically after the death of a loved one. It appears that the “state of mind” created by mourning, and sadness, causes the body to be weakened.

Further, the “placebo effect” is also well documented. The placebo effect is when something that has no effect on the body, like a sugar pill, is given to a patient. That patient is told the placebo/sugar pill is helpful at healing their problem, and what results is the placebo has as good, or better, results than a particular medication designed to treat that illness.

So how do you heal without drugs? Use the power of your mind. Use your thoughts to picture yourself in a perfectly healthy body. Further, use the power of your feelings. Take your emotions and steer them toward a feeling of peace and calm, and allow your body to heal itself. Lastly, and most clear to the Western mind; perform some simple actions that are proved to promote healing, like deep breathing, good posture, and long enjoyable walks. Your body is re-creating itself every moment. Use the positive power of your thoughts, feelings, and actions, to eliminate unnecessary prescription and over the counter medications. Lastly, let your Doctor know what you are doing, and ask if he can help guide you in this worthwhile endeavor. Good luck to you!