Most physicians agree that Stress can exacerbate the symptoms of diseases, and can diminish the body’s ability to heal using its own natural healing processes.
Many suspect that Stress can be a causal factor in a number of illnesses, including high blood pressure, anxiety, depression, insomnia, headache and others.
Relaxation therapy is considered completely safe in healthy adults, and no adverse effects have been reported in the medical literature.
Scientists have studied the use of Relaxation Therapy for the following health problems: anxiety, stress, depression, insomnia, pain, high blood pressure, premenstrual syndrome, menopausal symptoms, headache, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, rheumatoid arthritis, smoking cessation, facial paralysis, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis pain, obsessive-compulsive disorder, asthma, irritable bowel disease, HIV/AIDS, tinnitus, Huntington’s Disease, angina, heart attack and post-traumatic stress disorder.
The Relaxation Response quiets the body and mind and enables your body to repair stress-induced damage. Relaxation diminishes the output of the stress hormones that gear up the body for fight or flight.
People with psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia or psychosis should avoid relaxation therapy unless recommended by a qualified health care provider.
Sandi Anders, M.Div., R.Y.T. is a yoga and meditation teacher and life coach in Nashville, TN. Visit her professional website for more articles and resources. She has created the two-CD set The Alchemy of Peace & Love combining a gentle and effective relaxation meditation with a powerful guided imagery experience to boost self-esteem and self-acceptance.
© 2007 Permission is granted to reprint this article in print or on your website as long as the paragraph above is included.