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Using the Mind to Cure the Body
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Page: << Prev | 1 | 2 | 3 Of course, it may not be for everyone, especially people who have difficulty visualizing images in their heads, Baird acknowledged. In the future, she plans to do studies that measure people's "imaging ability."
On the other hand, guided-imagery experts say the technique has minimal side effects, if any. So why not try it?
Schmidt suspects science someday will reveal a concrete biological reason why guided imagery works. In fact, animal studies suggest that images in the brain can stimulate neurotransmitters that, in turn, block pain receptors, she said. But for patients garnering relief today, a neurochemical explanation may not be necessary.
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"I mean, who cares why it works, if it works," she said.
More information
To learn more about guided imagery, visit the University of California, San Diego (cancer.ucsd.edu ).
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Copyright © 2006 ScoutNews LLC. All rights reserved.
Last updated 11/25/2006
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SOURCES: David E. Bresler, Ph.D., L.Ac., co-founder, Academy for Guided Imagery, executive director, The Bresler Center, Malibu, Calif.; Nola Schmidt, Ph.D., associate professor of nursing, Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Ind.; Carol L. Baird, D.N.S., APRN, associate professor of nursing, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.; Sept./Oct. 2005, Professional Pain Management
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