Customer Reviews

Relaxation Revolution: The Science and Genetics of Mind Body Healing

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

A Great Book

Herbert Benson has pioneered in the field of Mindbody Interventions over the past forty years.
His clinical research has shown the powerful effects of techniques designed to counteract the impact
of the Stress Response. This book elaborates on the fruits of his latest research into the genetic impact of practising techniques for elliciting the Relaxation Response. These results have huge implications for clinicians
across Psychiatry, General Medical Practice, Psychology, Psychotherapy, Social Work, Occupational Therapy, Nursing, Occupational Health, and Human Resource Management.
For people suffering from anything from anxiety,headaches, chronic pain, high blood pressure, to parkinsons disease and fibromyalgia, this book offers the potential for you to have an positive impact not only on your symptoms but also on underlying disease process.

This book may be the revolution that puts Relaxation and Meditation into the frontline of disease interventions.

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.

This is the third Book vom Herbert Benson I read.
For me his books are very inspiruing and effective!
Thank you Dr Benson!

My primary care physician recommended this book to me--and I am very glad that he did. After my visit, I purchased the Kindle edition and just finished it. I especially enjoyed the simple two-step prescription that is very practical. The authors demonstrate the scientific research beyond the relaxation revolution and that it can be applied to individuals free of charge to improve overall health.

The book repeats things which I found useful to learning and building my confidence in applying the prescription to my everyday life. While it seems easy to do--spend about 30 minutes every day practicing the two-steps--it actually requires both a deep belief in the concept and a commitment to working through the process that you can do this.

It was helpful that I began a meditation practice over five years ago, so the first step of focusing on a word or concept for 12-15 minutes each day made sense to me. But I definitely said a lot of "Oh Wells" along the way. The second part of the exercise is a bit harder--focusing on "remembered wellness" or visualizing something that is calming. I can do that for a few seconds, but it will take much practice to accomplish that feeling on a consistent basis for 12-15 minutes each day.

I am excited to have this roadmap to better health and will try the 6-week program in earnest. Thanks much to these authors who devoted their careers to this study of mind body health and thanks to the many doctors who have the confidence to embrace these ideas and pass them along to their patients.

We all should pay attention to the research that we "need" to be aware of the health benefits and
"need" to correct the devastating effects of stress on our lives. This gives everyone a working definition of relaxation, the scientific research to support the claims, and the argument for the benefits of finding that relaxation response in this 21st century world-out-of-control!