Relaxation Revolution: The Science and Genetics of Mind Body Healing [Hardcover]

Herbert Benson (Author), William Proctor (Author)

Book Description

Release date: June 22, 2010

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.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

While new age types and holistic healers have long argued for the connection between mental attitude and physical health, Western doctors have resisted, largely because of the difficulties with testing the efficacy of ephemeral ideas such as "the placebo effect" and the value of meditation in reducing pain, nausea, and migraines. Benson, of Harvard Medical School, has dedicated his life to proving that meditative responses tangibly improve physical health, reduce illness, and encourage a healthy immune system. To combat skeptics, the authors utilize conventional research methods and rigorously test a variety of illnesses. The results are compelling, but good science doesn't always make for great reading; after presenting a relatively simple theory, the authors barrage readers with redundant examples of their success. While their results are confined to the scientific journals cited here (though not in detail), the authors create a quandary. Laypeople will find the repetition tedious, while scientists will be skeptical of paperless overviews. While their research may be sound, Benson and Proctor fail to strike that key balance, and readers wanting to test their methods will have to look elsewhere.
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Review

“Nearly 35 years ago [Dr. Herbert Benson] became a kind of medical rock star with his bestselling book The Relaxation Response. It outlined a pioneering approach to relieving stress and a host of medical conditions related to it. Today…it is as relevant as ever.”

--Linda Matchan, Boston Globe

“Dr. Benson is truly one of the seminal thinkers bringing the integrated study of the mind and body to western medicine.”

--Dr. Mani Bhaumik, University of California Los Angeles

“Peaceful thoughts really can influence our bodies, right down to the instructions we receive from our DNA.”

--ABC News

“Herbert Benson, MD, is the father of modern mind body medicine. Dr. Benson’s research has demonstrated that the relaxation response is the physiological counterpoint to the fight-or-flight response and serves as a natural antidote to stress.”

--Daniel Redwood, Health Insights Today

“Herbert Benson, M.D. and William Proctor have been enlightening pioneers in their studies…their work can be shared by everyone, not just health-care practitioners.”

--Reverend Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., President Emeritus, University of Notre Dame

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Scribner; 1 edition (June 22, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439148651
• ISBN-13: 978-1439148655
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #108,372 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 49 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great, but unnecessarily long October 22, 2010

By Scott G

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I echo another review that said this book can be summed up easily in a pamphlet. It basically tells you to spend some time each day concentrating on a word/image and some additional time doing one other visualization technique. The other main problem with the book is that it seems written by someone who does not really understand this new age of genomic technology. I am a geneticist (which I guess is an unfair advantage), but I found the big chunk of this book that talks about how relaxation can change your gene expression to be a little naive and unsubstantiated. It is just not that simple. But I can't complain too much b/c just receiving the book and flipping the pages made me determined to meditate, and that has seriously improved by state of well-being.

If you are on the fence about buying this book, try to find a recording of an NPR show that the author did some months ago - it essentially gives you the same information.

33 of 38 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Should have been reduced to a pamphlet September 9, 2010

By Reader

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

The basic notions of this book were well explained. However, it was endlessly repetitive. The instructions for using the relaxation method were given at least once in each chapter. A short brochure would be adequate for conveying this information.

Beyond that, most attention was given to overcoming attitudes against non-traditional approaches to healing. I think the authors do not appreciate the extent too which the scientific/medical community respect the placebo effect, and woould like to harness it. It simply is not understood well at this time.

I was hoping that some of the scientific experiments that demonstrate the effects of relaxation techniques upon gene expression would be described. Perhaps one of the co-authors on the scientific journal publications would undertake such a task; I think readers interested in this topic would appreciate the added information.

FInally, the use of the term "genetics" as used in the title is somewhat off-target. Typically, genetics refers to a branch of biology that covers the inheritance of genes, not the expression of genes.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Ignore The Biased Negative Reviews!!!!! April 20, 2012

By Art

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

The few negative reviews that suggest this wonderful book could be reduced to a short pamphlet are ludicrous on their face. Even worse, such reviews might discourage a reader who could benefit greatly from the work of Dr. Benson. In one case, a reviewer seems intent on proving that he knows more about genetics than Dr. Benson. Compared to the author's long history of helping patients, I wonder exactly what that reviewer has done to eliminate human suffering and pain?

Dr. Benson describes 40 years of clinical and research protocols in this book in order to explain why the reader should take his healing methods seriously, and to convince the reader that his methods are of benefit to the majority of people. Therefore, he gives many examples from both his clinical and research work to instill confidence in his readers.

No book will benefit 100% of its readers. But the few reviewers who did not benefit or were too undisciplined to master the easy protocols described in this book would better serve other potential readers by simply stating that they were not personally helped and let it go at that.

Forty years of research and scrutiny by peer reviewed medical journals prove that the majority of readers can benefit from the work of Dr. Benson. You are probably one of them. The trivial investment in this book may prove to be the best money you ever spent on medical care.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Reference for Relaxation Revolution July 4, 2011

By Nick Farley

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I purchased this as a gift for someone who was hampered with frequent episodes of migraine headache. After study of this book, she reports that her migraine headaches are nearly gone. She has had a lengthy medical history of trying many different prescriptions, exercises, treatments none of them helping to any satisfactory degree. She credits her success to information in this book.

28 of 34 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent!!! July 26, 2010

By Armando R. Neves Nt

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

In this new book by dr. Herbert Benson of Harvard Medical School is possible to review the history of mind-body medicine with depth and accuracy. He is one of the pioneers of this field, and their studies support the advancement of the practice of mind-body medicine worldwide. Recommend to professionals and others interested in applying mind-body approaches in their practices and their lives. Thank you. Armando Ribeiro das Neves Neto, MS. Sao Paulo - SP. Brazil.

22 of 27 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good... July 25, 2010

By J. Cook

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

After reading Benson's research on meditation at Harvard in the 1970's, in Scientific American and other, learned meditation, which to my surprise, alleviated my serious problem with spastic colitis, and other benefits. This updates the information. Pat Cook - Dallas, TX

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Has helped me a great deal, give it a chance. October 6, 2010

By happycritter

Format:Hardcover

It has long been accepted that stress has a measurable, negative effect on our bodies, our minds and our lives so it to me it seems logical that relaxation can have the opposite effect. This book explores and explains how and why that is true.

I have been doing the practice in this book for just over two months. It is a 20-25 minute investment each day and it has been well worth dedicating that small amount of time for the returns I have gotten. It has noticeably reduced my daily stress level even to the point that physical symptoms caused by or at least exacerbated by that stress are virtually gone. It's not easy to do anything before morning coffee but I committed to 8 weeks and I intend to continue the practice.