Emerging Paradigms in Mind–Body Medicine

Abstract

The emerging paradigms in medicine can be seen through mind-body interactions. Observations in many meditative traditions suggest a series of objective indicators of health beyond absence of disease. Several of the physical signs have been confirmed by research or are consistent with modern science. Further correlation with long term health outcome is needed. Integration of meditation with conventional therapy has enriched psychotherapy with parallels drawn between the Nine Step Qigong and Freudian developmental psychology. A unified theory of the chakra system and the meridian system widely used in traditional mind-body interventions and acupuncture is presented in terms of modern science based on the morphogenetic singularity theory. Acupuncture points originate from the organizing centers in morphogenesis. Meridians and chakras are related to the underdifferentiated, interconnected cellular network that regulates growth and physiology. This theory explains the distribution and nonspecific activation of organizing centers and acupuncture points; the high electric conductance of the meridian system; the polarity effect of electroacupuncture; the side-effect profile of acupuncture; and the ontogeny, phylogeny, and physiologic function of the meridian system and chakra system. It also successfully predicted several findings in conventional biomedical science. These advances have implications in many disciplines of medicine.

Effect of a Single Musical Cakra Activation Manoeuvre on Body Temperature: An Exploratory Study

“…Some researchers have correlated cakra with germ cell system. [14] Efforts have also been made to correlate cakra energy system and meridian system (basis for acupuncture) and to propose a unified basis of cakra system and meridian system. [14]…”

Evaluating the use of gas discharge visualization to measure massage therapy outcomes

“…The GDV device is an EPC measurement that produces a computerized biophysical measure screening of one’s psychophysiologic state and functional activity [27–29]. Theoretically, this complex imaging process is based on the concept of a meridian system, commonly used to explain and predict outcomes associated with traditional mind–body interventions [36]. The meridian system describes the pathways of energy or signal flow that corresponds to the high electrical conductance points on the body surface [36].…”

“…Theoretically, this complex imaging process is based on the concept of a meridian system, commonly used to explain and predict outcomes associated with traditional mind–body interventions [36]. The meridian system describes the pathways of energy or signal flow that corresponds to the high electrical conductance points on the body surface [36]. The meridian system theory has developed over many years, and explains observations in complementary and alternative modalities such as qigong, yoga, and acupuncture, as well as predicts results of conventional therapies [36].…”

Integrating Complementary Medicine Into Cardiovascular Medicine

“…Relaxation. Relaxation therapy in 192 men having two or more risk factors for CAD was associated with better outcomes compared to a control group (344). "Type A" persons tending to have a higher incidence of hypertension and death from CVD may benefit from a relaxation response (345)(346)(347)(348).…”