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.

When Dr. Herbert Benson introduced this simple, effective, mind/body approach to relieve stress in The Relaxation Response twenty-five years ago, the book became an instant national bestseller. Since that time, millions of people have learned the secret of the relaxation response--without high-priced lectures, drugs, or prescription medicine. The tremendous success of this approach has turned The Relaxation Response into the classic reference recommended by most health care professionals and authorities to treat the harmful effects of stress.

This revitalizing, therapeutic approach, discovered by Dr. Benson and his colleagues in the laboratories of Harvard Medical School and its teaching hospitals, is now routinely recommended to treat patients suffering from heart conditions, high blood pressure, chronic pain, insomnia, and many other physical ailments. Requiring only minutes to learn, and just ten to twenty minutes of practice twice a day, the Relaxation Response has proven to be one of the most effective ways to relieve the tensions of modern-day living for a richer, healthier, more productive life.

The bestselling guide to curing insomnia without drugs by "a pioneer" of the field, now updated with the latest research ("The Wall Street Journal")

For the past ten years, sleep-deprived Americans have found natural, drug-free relief from insomnia with the help of Dr. Gregg D. Jacobs's "Say Good Night to Insomnia."

Jacobs's program, developed and tested at Harvard Medical School and based on cognitive behavioral therapy, has been shown to improve sleep long-term in 80 percent of patients, making it the gold standard for treatment. He provides techniques for eliminating sleeping pills; establishing sleep-promoting behaviors and lifestyle practices; and improving relaxation, reducing stress, and changing negative thoughts about sleep.

In this updated edition, Jacobs surveys the limitations and dangers of the new generation of sleeping pills, dispels misleading and confusing claims about sleep and health, and shares cutting-edge research on insomnia that proves his approach is more effective than sleeping pills."

Say Good Night to Insomnia" is the definitive guide to overcoming insomnia without drugs for the thousands of Americans who are looking for a healthy night's rest.

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.

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.

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.