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How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body Paperback – October 9, 2018

by David R. Hamilton PHD (Author)

4.5 557 ratings

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An authoritative and accessible book by a qualified scientist, showing incredible proof of the mind-body connection.

There is no longer any doubt that the way we think affects our bodies: countless scientific studies have shown this to be true. For former pharmaceutical scientist Dr David Hamilton, the testing of new drugs highlighted how profoundly the mind and body are connected. Time and time again, the control group of patients in drug trials improved at similar rates to those who actually received the medicines. Astounded, Dr Hamilton decided to change the direction of his work to explore the relationship between the mind and the body.

This bestselling acclaimed book was first published 10 years ago. In it, Dr Hamilton explores the effect of visualization, belief and positive thinking on the body, and shows how using our imagination and mental processes can stimulate our own defences and healing systems to combat disease, pain and illness.

In this new edition, Dr Hamilton has added four new chapters to discuss the latest cutting-edge information and extraordinary new techniques. These include using imagery to stimulate the immune system - a method that can benefit cancer patients undergoing conventional treatment - effectively using the mind to speed up rehabilitation from stroke, and powerful visualization strategies to help facilitate recovery from injury and illness.

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From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

Review

‘Dr David Hamilton is one of the leading pioneers in the field of the mind–body connection. How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body is filled with enough research and evidence to prove to you how powerful you really are. This book will teach you that healing by thought alone is not only possible, but it is a reality. I loved reading it!’
Dr Joe Dispenza, NY Times bestselling author of You Are The Placebo

‘As a scientist who has embraced new consciousness, David has made a bridge that will be helpful to many people who are seeking to understand the connection between our body, our mind and our spiritual self.’
Louise Hay

‘David Hamilton has the unique gift of combining the mind–body connection and science in a simple but powerful way. Everyone must read his work!’
Suzy Walker, psychologies

‘David Hamilton is an expert on how our thoughts and minds can physically change our bodies.’
Daily Express

‘...very convincing...’
Red magazine

‘The ease at which Dr David Hamilton is able to explain how visualizations and the power of the mind can be harnessed to assist the body to heal is extraordinary. It is truly a gift, and this updated version of How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body is an absolute must-read for everyone’s bookshelves. As a university lecturer and clinical psychologist, I am constantly reminded of the relationship between mind and body and David’s research and evidence provided in this book hits the scientific mark!’
Dr Peta Stapleton, associate professor, Bond University, Australia, clinical psychologist and author

About the Author

David Hamilton is a former scientist from within the pharmaceutical industry. Now a bestselling author, he travels throughout the world, offering talks and workshops to help people understand the power of the mind on the body.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Introduction

There’s no question that the mind impacts the body. A feeling of embarrassment flushes the cheeks, a thought of biting on a lemon causes salivation. There are even physically obvious changes in a male’s anatomy when he mentally indulges in a sexual fantasy.

All these things occur because thoughts, feelings, ideas, imagination, beliefs or expectations in a person’s mind produce a series of chemical and biological changes that result in a physical effect.

Paying more for a simple painkiller can produce a greater painkilling effect than a less expensive version, even though they might be the exact same drug, simply packaged and priced differently. Sometimes, even, an expensively packaged placebo is as good as a cheaper, mass-market version of an actual drug.

In the USA, a placebo injection for pain is more effective than a placebo tablet, yet in Europe, a placebo tablet is more effective than an injection, even though they’re both placebos. Some studies on anti-ulcer medication found that in Western Europe, the placebo was almost as good as the actual drug is in South America.

The same placebo can produce opposite effects, depending on what a person believes it’s for. Believing an inhaler can relax airways can relax airways, yet believing it contains allergens can constrict them, even if it’s a placebo in both cases. Believing a tablet to be a stimulant can cause muscle tension and an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, yet believing it to be a relaxant can relax the muscles and reduce heart rate and blood pressure. Some people even get drunk on alcohol placebos. And some of the power of Viagra may be down to the fact that its name sounds like Niagara, which is a powerful ‘force of nature’.

There are many ways that the mind impacts the body. Feeling stressed produces stress hormones, increases blood pressure and constricts arteries. Yet the feelings associated with love, kindness or compassion produce a hormone that reduces blood pressure and dilates arteries – an entirely opposite effect.

Placing our attention on the breath, as in meditation, can create physical changes in the structure of the brain, almost as if we’ve taken our brain to the gym. Some studies even find that meditation impacts around 2,000 of our genes.

Visualizing something also creates physical changes in the brain, in accordance with what a person is visualizing. In some ways, the brain can’t tell the difference between what’s real and what a person imagines. Studies on sports performers, and even on patients recovering from a stroke, show that imagining moving their muscles causes significant improvements in their muscles.

Studies on the immune system even show that visualizing the action of the immune system can enhance immune function. In some research, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy who visualized the workings of their immune system fared much better than patients who did not do the visualizations. People have applied visualization strategies to all manner of different ailments, injuries and medical conditions, many of which you’ll read about in this book.

How This Book Works

The first part of the book shares the scientific evidence for the mind–body connection, from the impact of attitude on ageing, the immune system and the heart, to how the placebo effect works and several examples of it, to the effects of meditation and how visualization works to bring about changes in the brain and body; it also shares research on the use of visualization to assist sportspeople, stroke sufferers and those undergoing cancer treatment.

The second half of the book teaches you how to visualize, explains the key strategies and shares numerous real examples of visualization strategies successfully used by people around the world. It also includes an A–Z of medical conditions, with one or more suggested visualization for each.

Throughout the book, I’ve used the terms ‘visualization’ and ‘imagery’ mostly interchangeably, to refer to the same phenomenon of having a clear internal mental representation of something. In the book, I share more of what this means and how to create such a representation.

This is the 10-year anniversary edition of How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body. When I first wrote the book, in 2008, I had no idea of the number of people who would read it or use it as a guide to assist them through their recovery from injury, illness or disease, nor that one day I’d write an introduction to a 10-year anniversary edition. I’m very pleased to have been able to help people, even in this small way.

Research has progressed much in these past 10 years. This new edition contains four new chapters that summarize a great deal of the research on the use of visualization in a number of scenarios: to enhance sports performance, whether for the absolute beginner or the elite performer; in the rehabilitation of people who have had a stroke; and in how visualization can impact the immune system and how this has benefited people with cancer who were undergoing chemotherapy, radiotherapy and/or surgery.

The new material also summarizes published scientific studies on the use of visualization for asthma, total knee replacement, arthritis, interstitial cystitis, wound healing, and other conditions, as well as explaining how visualization actually works to bring about changes in the body. The scientific references for all studies cited can be found in the References section at the back of the book, should you wish to look into specific areas yourself in more depth.

This new edition also includes new stories from people who used visualization to help them recover from cancer, ME/CFS, cardiovascular disease, post-polio syndrome, lupus, hay fever, underactive thyroid, psoriasis, to reduce inflammation, to remove warts and verrucas, even to beat travel sickness.

This book is by no means the answer to all questions regarding the impact of the mind on the body and its use in aiding healing, nor is it the last word on the subject. It’s more of a simplified practical guide that shares the science on how the mind–body connection works in order that this understanding can help readers have more belief in their own use of their mind, together with some simple instructions on how to use the mind to aid a healing process.

It’s my wish that this book will offer hope and practical guidance to people who need it. I also hope that by bringing the broad subject of mind–body research together in the clear and concise way that I’ve presented it, this book will also lead to more active scientific research.

Let me also say that although the title of the book says ‘… heal the body’, I am of course not suggesting that the mind is the sole agency in a person’s recovery from injury, illness and disease; instead, I’m saying that it plays a contributory role that sometimes might be significant.

We use our mind all the time to make us feel good or even to make us feel stressed, without realizing that the direction we point it in can have an effect. Thinking of people and things that annoy us, for example, might slow healing by suppressing the immune system, while thinking in such a way that makes us feel good or relaxed might enhance the immune system.

In this book, I’ve suggested that we use our mind in addition to whatever medical advice or interventions we might be undergoing, not instead of them – just as we don’t exercise instead of eating, or meditate instead of sleeping. One thing complements the other. It doesn’t substitute it. Thus, we should use our mind as support for natural healing processes, as well as support for drug and other medical interventions.

Perhaps a more appropriate title for the book would be ‘… help the body’. However, I don’t wish to downplay the powerful role that the mind can play in healing, because sometimes, how a person uses their mind might be extremely important.

I hope you enjoy reading the book and that whether you’re a patient, an interested reader, a therapist, a health professional or an academic, you find something of value within its pages.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hay House UK; Anniversary edition (October 9, 2018)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1788171497
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1788171496
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.62 x 8.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #211,519 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,302 in Mental & Spiritual Healing
- #1,470 in Meditation (Books)
- #5,044 in Personal Transformation Self-Help

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4.5 557 ratings

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Good Book! Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2019

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I've always believed our minds can heal our bodies, and I loved reading the science behind it. Hamilton shared studies, stories, and medical information to show us the power of our minds. Then he goes on to give us tools to put it into practice: visualization and affirmations. The information is priceless to those suffering from illness and for caregivers.

4 people found this helpful

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M Lilja

Helpful book for dealing with cancer

Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2019

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I somehow came across this book shortly after my diagnosis with Stage IIIc breast cancer. I never liked the idea of visualizing "attacking" my cancer like a war analogy, because the cancer was a part of my body. I used the ideas in this book to visualize the cancer melting away as I filled my breast/chest area with light. A few weeks into the chemo, my oncologist examined me and said, "it almost feels like the tumor is melting away!" And I said, "that's my visualization, exactly!" I'm happy to report my treatment (chemo, surgery, radiation) was successful. I just picked up this book again to recommend it to a friend, and ended up using the visualizations there to 1) fall asleep; and 2) help me lose weight. I highly recommend this wonderful book!

57 people found this helpful

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EL

Might work, have to try

Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2019

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Well, it’s worth a try. Straight ahead talk on mental techniques for any kind of ailment, illness or life threatening disease. The author is not lettered scientist, apparently, which might raise a concern that he’s not qualified to be writing on this topic, but having read so many health enhancement books by doctors and scientists, one finds these most advanced certificates interfere often with the writing. In short, experts talk too much. This author is concise and poignant, I read the entire book over one breakfast.

Well, I’d say give it a go, do the visualizations, nothing to lose. Note he never suggests forgoing conventional medical treatment, only that the mind plays a strongly influential role in how the body responds to physical (and obviously also psychological) problems so you’ld be well advise to make use of it.

11 people found this helpful

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Mary A. Mcmanus

A Powerful Prescription for Healing

Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2018

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I discovered the work of David Hamilton, Ph.D. after watching the Heal Documentary movie. As I got to know his background and his work, I knew it was just what I needed at this juncture of my healing journey, healing the effects of paralytic polio and childhood trauma. When David put out the call for stories of healing using visualization, I responded to his query. The editors chose my story to be included in the book. David brings his knowledge from the time he worked in the pharmaceutical industry and weaves in the latest research about the mind/body connection to empower everyone to be at the top of their game. How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body is for everybody; whether someone wants to improve their sports performance or harness the power of the mind to heal from disease, illness or injury. David's compassion, warmth and wit make this an easy read. He takes complex scientific concepts and makes them easy to understand. Although I have used visualization for many years, I discovered new information and was particularly inspired by the case studies he presents with people explaining in their own words how they harnessed the power of their mind through visualization to heal from a range of diseases, illnesses and injury. David talks about the importance of using the best that all modalities have to offer and how harnessing the power of the mind through visualization can enhance so called traditional treatments. He talks about the power of love and kindness and the effect that they have on our health and well being. Conversely, he talks about the adverse affects of stress and how visualization can be a powerful antidote to the effects of stress in our lives. I am deeply honored and grateful that my healing story is included in this tenth anniversary of David's book. I purchased many copies to give as gifts to loved ones who I know will benefit from David's wisdom and the collection of wisdom from research and patients that make up How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body.

54 people found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

Excellent work by David Hamilton

Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2020

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This is a great introductory book for anyone who wants to explore the mind/ body connection. There is an added bonus of the a-z of visualisations at the end of the book.

One person found this helpful

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Book fans

Loving this book

Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2019

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Haven't quite finished yet, but so glad I got it - I've been working on mindset for decades, but this still had new stuff I didn't know - I love all the referenced trials, especially about the placebos - fascinating. Been putting bits of it into practice as I go and it's already making a difference. Highly recommend this book

5 people found this helpful

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JP

Excellent.

Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2019

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Excellent book. Informative. Love the research backing it. Offering it to clients as a resource to heal.

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Denny

How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body:

Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2020

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An easy, understandable and helpful read

One person found this helpful

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Alfonso Martínez González

El poder del pensamiento positivo

Reviewed in Mexico on May 28, 2023

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Los científicos pueden calcular con mucha precisión el riesgo que una persona tiene de contraer una enfermedad cardiaca examinando su dieta y su estilo de vida.

La clase de comida que ingiere, las bebidas que toma, que tanto ejercicio hace, si fuma o toma alcohol en exceso.

La gente con una dieta poco sana que no hace ejercicio y que fuma o toma grandes cantidades de alcohol son los generalmente tienen mayor riesgo.

Pero los científicos pueden calcular también con mayor exactitud el riesgo de lesiones cardiacas tomando en cuenta la tendencia que esa persona tiene hacia las actitudes positivas o negativas o qué tan hostil es hacia otras personas.

La buena noticia es que así como puedes cambiar tu dieta y tu estilo de vida también puedes cambiar tu actitud.

Mejorar y mantener buena salud dependen principalmente de ti.

Del libro:
“Como tú mente puede sanar tu cuerpo”
Autor: David R. Hamilton PhD.

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Hamid

Amazingly amazing

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 19, 2023

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I'm new to David's works but been interested in mind body connection for a long time. This book strengthened my faith in my mind and body's healing powers, the power of kindness, love, meditation..... Be yourself, be kind.

3 people found this helpful

Mayra Takenaga

Well researched

Reviewed in Canada on December 22, 2020

Verified Purchase

I really, truly enjoyed this book. I believe the human mind is capable of doing so much more than we train it to do. I became Dr. Hamilton’s fan and am looking forward to reading more of his books.

Susanna B

Very interesting

Reviewed in Italy on July 10, 2020

Verified Purchase

Interesting book, especially if you're dealing with a chronic illness.

Ida

Easy to read

Reviewed in Germany on March 1, 2020

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Well written and very interesting.

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