The Scientific Basis of Integrative Medicine

The Scientific Basis of Integrative Medicine (CRC Press, 2005) is one of the first books to elaborate on the nascent field of subtle energy medicine. First, a summary of the classic physiological systems serves as a review and provides uncommonly known facts regarding cellular and, thus, systems communication. The book examines the scientific underpinnings of the mind–body connection or psychoneuroimmunology (PNI), documenting the numerous interactions of the endocrine, immune, nervous and stress systems that so profoundly impact human functioning. Utilizing PNI research (i.e. from the perspective of the physiology of the mind–body connection), the book next explores the mental and emotional issues pertaining to stress and relaxation and how each impacts the physical body. Stress and relaxation not only are underlying factors in much illness, costing millions of dollars in health care, but these conditions currently also are conventionally acceptable areas for discussion with regard to their impact on a patient's physical health (e.g. Dean Ornish's work on reducing heart attack risk) (1). Scientific justification for broad integration of mental/emotional issues into the practice of medicine is presented. Stress and relaxation also are ideal precursors to looking at the role of spirituality in health care. A chapter on the pineal gland segues the reader from the well-established fact that the mind and body are inextricably connected to the cutting-edge field of subtle energy medicine. The authors take this line of research to unchartered territory, making the case that the pineal, not the pituitary, is the body's master gland and presenting the pineal gland as the physiological site of the interface between that which exists outside of the body and the hormonal and electrical cascades that are experienced as thought, emotion or spiritual in nature. The authors pull together recent medical research and ancient philosophical concepts to establish that comprehensive health care must involve thorough attention to the mind and spirit—not just the body. A novel paradigm for health care that incorporates the mental, emotional and spiritual facets in a practical but integrative manner is elaborated. The paradigm is based on literally hundreds of studies and over 20 years of research. Most books currently addressing emotional or spiritual components of health care tend to be inspirational or religious in nature—an area generally considered ‘hands-off’ to physicians. The Scientific Basis of Integrative Medicine uses hard science to tackle the gnawing issues of how physicians should address these aspects of their patient's care. The authors present a theory of the physiology of spirituality—or, in medical terms, a theory of how subtle energy impacts physical as well as mental or emotional functioning. In order for Western medicine to have a cohesive physiological system, it must account for the existence of energy fields within as well as outside of the human body. The Scientific Basis of Integrative Medicine looks at how various forms of energy (e.g. light, sound, electromagnetism or even prayer) translate into the chemical and electrical signals that orchestrate our physical health and mental well-being. It has been scientifically documented that factors, such as faith, prayer and love, influence our recovery from illness. These partially understood modalities currently are spoken of in terms of ‘energy’, ‘healing energy’ or ‘subtle energy’. The Scientific Basis of Integrative Medicine borrows from the emerging field of energy medicine to present what is already known about subtle energy as well as to offer a theoretical model for the biological energy exchange that occurs with subtle energy healing.