Dr. Christina Rudd Dr. Christina Winsey-Rudd's unique Neuro-Integrative Technique -- a body-mind-spirit approach to coaching -- helps clients live deliberate, fulfilling lives. As former holistic chiropractic physician, and former co-host of "Focus on Holistic Health", she provides information about alternative health care topics for example herbs, energy medicine and bodywork therapies. Body-Mind Connection Question: Can you help me understand more about the whole "body-mind" connection idea? I was in a conversation with one of my dear friends and she told me her mother had had cancer, but that she then had a miraculous "healing" by utilizing her mind to heal her body. I have always been fascinated by things like hypnosis and the power of the mind over matter. How does this really work? Answer: The thoughts you think and the things that stimulate your senses have a measurable affect on health. Western science has now proven this is so. In his series "Magical Mind, Magical Body" Dr. Deepak Chopra, famous author, endocrinologist and former chief of staff of New England Memorial Hospital, tells us that just the split second of seeing or hearing a terrible thing decreases the effectiveness of the immune system. Luckily, he says, the reverse is also true. Think how refreshed and alive you feel when you witness a beautiful sunset at the beach, or on a mountaintop. Seeing these peaceful and beautiful things in life, that put you into a contented or happy emotion, instantaneously enhances immune function and physiology for greater health. This connection of mind and body is called "psychoneuroimmunology and explains why some patients, seemingly beyond hope, have miraculously turned around to thrive. When coaching clients one of the first things we do is remove negative thought patterns and self-talk. We concentrate heavily on increasing the amount of time spent in states of happiness and joyful emotions. Not only will this go a long way to improving health, but staying happier a greater percentage of the time enhances ability to perform, achieve, have better relationships and a better quality of life. To learn more I recommend you start with two classics: "Quantum Healing: Exploring the Frontiers of Mind/Body Medicine," by Deepak Chopra, M.D., and "Minding the Body, Mending the Mind," by Joan Borysenko, Ph.D. This information is not intended to be a substitute for visiting your doctor.