Herbert Benson

From the author of #1 bestseller The Relaxation Response comes a practical guide to how behavioral medicine can counteract the harmful effects of stress and help you regain control of your health. "In The Mind/Body Effect, Herbert Benson, MD, redefines medical care as a process in which the mind and body are tended as components of a single vital organism, and calls upon individual patients to share with physicians the responsibility for their own medical well-being. Writing with brilliant clarity, he exposes hypes and commercialism within a society obsessed with health and terrified of pain. The Mind/Body Effect may be the most important medical book for laymen since Dr. Benson's The Relaxation Response."--Noah Gordon, publisher, Journal of Human Stress "In their avid pursuit of better health, millions of Americans are making themselves less healthy. Ironically, their doctors often make things worse instead of better. In this fascinating book, Dr. Benson tells us--patients and doctors alike --how to break the vicious cycle."--David W. Ewing, executive editor, Harvard Business Review "The next great advance in the health of the American people will come not from hospitals or laboratories but from what they learn to do for themselves. The Mind/Body Effect represents a major step in that direction."--C. Norman Shealy, MD, PhD, codirector, The Pain and Health Rehabilitation Center

Recent scientific breakthroughs--demonstrating that mind body strategies can actually "switch off" or "switch on" gene activity associated with health and disease--have triggered a mind body revolution in the medical world. In the 1970s, Dr. Herbert Benson of Harvard Medical School ushered in a new era of understanding in the field of mind body medicine. Coining the term "relaxation response," Dr. Benson identified the body's physiologic reaction that is the exact opposite of the stress (fight-or-flight) response. In the four decades since that initial discovery, Benson and his colleagues have established the first effective therapy to counteract the harmful effects of stress. They have explored how the relaxation response, the power of expectation and belief, and other mind body phenomena can produce healing in your own body. A new era has dawned. Genetic research now shows conclusively that the mind can influence the body down to the genetic level. Your mind has the ability to change the way your body and your genes function. We now have scientific proof that the mind can heal the body. In Relaxation Revolution, Dr. Herbert Benson and William Proctor present the latest scientific endings, revealing that we have the ability to self-heal diseases, prevent life-threatening conditions, and supplement established drug and surgical procedures with mind body techniques. In a special "treatment" section, Benson and Proctor describe how these mind body techniques can be applied--and are being applied--to treat a wide variety of conditions, including: - High blood pressure - Anxiety and depression - Infertility - Insomnia - Menopausal hot flashes - Many pains, including backaches and headaches - Phobias - And much more Relaxation Revolution details Dr. Benson's recent work with colleagues in the field of genetics, which links mind body treatments to the healing of a steadily expanding number of medical conditions. Mind and body have become part of a scientific and medical whole; together they represent a complete approach to healing and maximal well-being. In clear, straightforward language, Benson and Proctor cite the experiences of real people to show how mind body techniques have the potential not only to enhance healing but also to reduce health costs to individuals and to society as a whole. Relaxation Revolution shines a light on the future of medicine.

An innovative approach to lowering blood pressure that builds on the national bestseller The Relaxation ResponseFor the 100 million people worldwide dealing with high blood pressure, bestselling author Dr. Herbert Benson and cardiac wellness expert Aggie Casey have created a proven plan for lowering blood pressureBased on the groundbreaking work done at the Mind/Body Medical Institute, the authors' program goes beyondadvice about nutrition and exercise to incorporate a proven stress-management program--including the relaxation response. Key featuresEasy-to-follow diet and nutrition guidelinesDirectives for heart-healthy exerciseProven relaxation techniques for managing stress and improving cardiovascular healthExpert advice on how to talk to your doctor about your blood pressureThe low-down on blood pressure lowering drugs and their side effectsTips on how to create a personalized program that's just right for you

Control Your Menopause Symptoms with a Holistic Mind/Body Approach Millions of women report the years after menopause as a time of increased confidence and feelings of empowerment. However, the menopause transition can be a difficult one. Maybe you've endured night sweats. Maybe you've begun asking friends and family, "Is it hot in here?" only to get a resounding "No." Maybe you're noticing that PMS is more than a monthly occurrence. If you're searching for a natural or integrated medical approach to navigate the midlife transition and improve your long-term health, you have picked up the right book. Based on groundbreaking programs developed by clinicians at the Mind/Body Medical Institute, including Dr. Herbert Benson, Mind Over Menopause is the only book to combine the expertise of the Mind/Body Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, and a leading member of the North American Menopause Society to create a complete plan for coping with menopause symptoms, so that all women can attain that confidence and enhance their midlife experience.

Would it surprise you to learn that to solve a seemingly unsolvable problem, you need to get up and leave the room? A walk in the woods will help you finish your novel? Humming can make you a better tennis player? "Or completely giving up" is the way to succeed? In "The Breakout Principle, " the bestselling author of "The Relaxation Response" delivers the ultimate self-help principle -- simple instructions to activate a powerful biological trigger that converts conflict and confusion into clarity and extraordinary performance, a state athletes refer to as "the zone." More than three decades ago, Dr. Herbert Benson of the Harvard Medical School began research into why some people are devastated by stress while others thrive, turning it into brilliant achievement. Now "The Breakout Principle" reports the discovery of an easy-to-access inner switch that increases mental function, enhances creativity and productivity, maximizes athletic performance, and enriches spiritual life. The same internal mechanism that improves a tennis serve or golf putt strengthens your speaking skills, makes you a better negotiator, and fosters inner peace and belief. Dr. Benson and coauthor William Proctor explain the cutting-edge science behind the phenomenon in accessible language, clearly describe the four distinct phases of the Breakout, and provide simple, step-by-step instructions on how to activate the Breakout "trigger." Compelling case histories and information on how to incorporate Breakouts into daily life are woven throughout the book. Dr. Benson's previous discoveries have helped millions reduce the harmful effects of stress. "The Breakout Principle" now reveals how to maximize your untapped abilities and powers.

In this time of quarantine and global uncertainty, it can be difficult to deal with the increased stress and anxiety. Using ancient self-care techniques rediscovered by Herbert Benson, M. D., a pioneer in mind/body medicine for health and wellness, you can relieve your stress, anxiety, and depression at home with just ten minutes a day. Herbert Benson, M. D., first wrote about a simple, effective mind/body approach to lowering blood pressure in The Relaxation Response. When Dr. Benson introduced this approach to relieving stress over forty years ago, his book became an instant national bestseller, which has sold over six million copies. Since that time, millions of people have learned the secret--without high-priced lectures or prescription medicines. The Relaxation Response has become the classic reference recommended by most health care professionals and authorities to treat the harmful effects of stress, anxiety, depression, and high blood pressure. Rediscovered by Dr. Benson and his colleagues in the laboratories of Harvard Medical School and its teaching hospitals, this revitalizing, therapeutic tack is now routinely recommended to treat patients suffering from stress and anxiety, including heart conditions, high blood pressure, chronic pain, insomnia, and many other physical and psychological ailments. It requires only minutes to learn, and just ten minutes of practice a day.

Learn how the mind shapes the body, and take charge of your health and wellness with the science and power of belief. In this life-changing book, Dr. Herbert Benson draws on his twenty-five years as a physician and researcher to reveal how affirming beliefs, particularly belief in a higher power, make an important contribution to our physical health. We are not simply nourished by meditation and prayer, but are, in essence, "wired for God." Combining the wisdom of modem medicine and of age-old faith. Dr. Benson shows how anyone can, with the aid of a caring physician or healer, use their beliefs and other self-care methods to heal over 60 percent of medical problems. As practical as it is spiritual, Timeless Healing is a blueprint for healing and transforming your life.

Describes methods for extending the mind's power to heal the body, relieving such complaints as headaches, insomnia, back pain, and angina