p The concept that imagination has the ability to cure illness is not new. Ancient Greeks and Egyptians believed that images release spirits in the brain that stimulate various organs and functions, and that a mental picture of disease is enough to cause its symptoms. In the 1600s, imagery was thought to wield such power that it could even affect embryos in pregnant women. One hundred years later, doctors and healers changed their minds and agreed with French philosopher Rene Descartes who asserted that the mind and body were separate and had no influence on each other.

p Imagery came back into practice in the 1970s as a method for helping cancer patients. In one landmark study, cancer patients who used imagery in conjunction with standard medical care lived twice as long as those receiving medical care alone.

Several studies suggest that imagery can boost immune response. Imagery has been used to increase activity of natural killer cells that recognize and destroy virus-infected cells, other microbes, and tumor cells. Other studies have shown that imagery can lower blood pressure, slow heart rate, alleviate insomnia, relieve stress and anxiety, treat phobias and obesity, and help regulate menstrual cycles. PET scans (positron-emission-tomography tests that highlight areas of brain activity) have demonstrated that the brain can react the same way to an imagined sensation as a real one.

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p New Choices in Natural Healing Bill Gottlieb, Editor Rodale Press, Inc.

p The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Healing Remedies Norman Shealy, MD, PhD Element Books Limited

p Complete Encyclopedia of Natural Healing Gary Null, PhD Kensington Books

p The Complete Illustrated Guide to Nutritional Healing Denise Mortimore Element Press

p Prescription for Nutritional Healing James Balch, MD Avery Publishing Group

p The Food Pharmacy Jean Carper Bantam Books

p Homeopathic Medicine at Home Maesimund Panos, MD JPTarcher

p Asian Health Secrets: The Complete Guide to Asian Herbal Medicine Letha Hadady, DAc Three Rivers Press

p You Don’t Have to Die Sick: The Immune Booster Resource Guide Bob L Owen, PhD, DSc HealthHope Publishing House

p Beyond Antibiotics: 50 Ways to
Boost Immunity and Avoid
Antibiotics

p Dr. Michael Schmidt 

p North Atlantic Books

p How to Survive Medical Treatment: A Holistic Guide to Avoiding Risks and Side Effects of Conventional Medicine Dr. Stephen Fulder, MD CW Daniel

p Prescription Alternatives Earl Mindell, RPh, PhD Keats Publishing

p Earl Minde/l’s Vitamin Bible for the 21*’Century Earl Mindell, RPh, PhD Warner Books

p Your Liver...Your Lifeline: Detoxification and Rejuvenation for the Whole Body Jack Tips, PhD Apple-A-Day Press

p Tissue Cleansing Through Bowel Management

p Bernard Jensen, PhD, DC

p Bernard Jensen International

p Cleanse and Purify Thyself Richard Anderson, ND, NMD Triumph

p Miracles Do Happen: A Physician’s Experience with Alternative Medicine

p Norman Shealy, MD, PhD

p Element Books Limited

p Quantum Healing: Exploring the Frontiers of Mind/Body Medicine Deepak Chopra, MD Bantam Books

p Why People Don’t Heal and How They Can

p Caroline Myss, PhD Three Rivers Press

How to Raise a Healthy Child...ln Spite of Your Doctor Robert Mendelsohn, MD Ballantine Books