Empowering Your Innate Capacity to Heal Osher Lifelong Learning Institute College for Seniors Spring 2014 Class 5

Empowering Your Empowering Your Innate Capacity to Innate Capacity to

HealHealOsher Lifelong Learning InstituteOsher Lifelong Learning Institute

College for SeniorsCollege for SeniorsSpring 2014Spring 2014

Class 5Class 5

ONEONEGOODGOOD

MOMENTMOMENT

Where Are We?Where Are We?

Discussion:Discussion:

~ EFT~ EFT

~ Feedback about class so ~ Feedback about class so farfar

Mind Over MedicineMind Over Medicineby Lissa Rankin, MDby Lissa Rankin, MD

““What we are today comes from our What we are today comes from our thoughts of yesterday, and our thoughts of yesterday, and our present thoughts build our life of present thoughts build our life of tomorrow: our life is the creation of tomorrow: our life is the creation of our mind.”our mind.”

~THE DHAMMAPADA~THE DHAMMAPADA (a collection of sayings of the Buddha in (a collection of sayings of the Buddha in

verse form and one of the most widely verse form and one of the most widely read and best known Buddhist scriptures) read and best known Buddhist scriptures)

How We Came to This How We Came to This MomentMoment

My story of accidentally(?) finding Dr. My story of accidentally(?) finding Dr. Lissa Rankin and realizing we were Lissa Rankin and realizing we were on to the same idea!on to the same idea!

Dr. Rankin’s story of her mounting Dr. Rankin’s story of her mounting health issues and disillusionment health issues and disillusionment with practicing medicine.with practicing medicine.

Our Shared FascinationOur Shared Fascination

After withdrawing from medical practice, After withdrawing from medical practice, Dr. Rankin began studying how the body Dr. Rankin began studying how the body heals itself, led by her fascination with, heals itself, led by her fascination with, and research on, the Placebo effect and and research on, the Placebo effect and mind/body medicine.mind/body medicine.

Placebo – Latin for “I shall please.”Placebo – Latin for “I shall please.”

On average, 1/3 of patients given inert On average, 1/3 of patients given inert substances and told it will help them substances and told it will help them heal, have complete physiological heal, have complete physiological recoveries. Why???recoveries. Why???

The Placebo and The Placebo and Contemporary MedicineContemporary Medicine

1955 – Dr. Henry Beecher published a 1955 – Dr. Henry Beecher published a seminal article called “The Powerful seminal article called “The Powerful Placebo” in the Placebo” in the Journal of the American Journal of the American Medical Association.Medical Association.

Modern chemical trials were born. Modern chemical trials were born. Scientific studies must prove that the Scientific studies must prove that the

healing effect of the drug or surgery healing effect of the drug or surgery being tested transcends the potent being tested transcends the potent healing power of the placebo. If it can be healing power of the placebo. If it can be demonstrated that it more effective than demonstrated that it more effective than the placebo, it is deemed “effective.”the placebo, it is deemed “effective.”

The Placebo: What it Really The Placebo: What it Really DemonstratesDemonstrates

It is proof that the mind can affect the It is proof that the mind can affect the body.body.

It is proof that the body can heal itself It is proof that the body can heal itself in powerful ways.in powerful ways.

Medical Journal Medical Journal ResearchResearch

~ Nearly ½ of asthma patients get relief from ~ Nearly ½ of asthma patients get relief from a fake inhaler or sham acupuncture. (1)a fake inhaler or sham acupuncture. (1)

~ Approximately 40% of people with ~ Approximately 40% of people with headaches get relief from placebo headaches get relief from placebo medications. (2)medications. (2)

~ Half of people with colitis feel better after ~ Half of people with colitis feel better after placebo treatments. (3)placebo treatments. (3)

~ More than half of patients with ulcer pain ~ More than half of patients with ulcer pain have relief of symptoms when given a have relief of symptoms when given a placebo. (4)placebo. (4)

More Journal ResearchMore Journal Research

~ As many as 40% of infertility patients ~ As many as 40% of infertility patients get pregnant while taking placebo get pregnant while taking placebo “fertility drugs.”(5)“fertility drugs.”(5)

~ When compared with morphine, ~ When compared with morphine, placebos are almost equally effective in placebos are almost equally effective in treating pain. (6)treating pain. (6)

~ Multiple studies demonstrate that ~ Multiple studies demonstrate that almost all of the happy-making almost all of the happy-making responses patients experience as a responses patients experience as a result of antidepressants can be result of antidepressants can be attributed to the Placebo Effect. (7)attributed to the Placebo Effect. (7)

The Physiology of the The Physiology of the Placebo Effect: One TheoryPlacebo Effect: One Theory

What are the physiological mechanisms by What are the physiological mechanisms by which thoughts, feelings, and beliefs may which thoughts, feelings, and beliefs may be translated into physiological change?be translated into physiological change?

Thinking positively about getting well may Thinking positively about getting well may stimulate natural endorphins that help stimulate natural endorphins that help ameliorate symptoms, alleviate pain, and ameliorate symptoms, alleviate pain, and improve mood. Researchers found that improve mood. Researchers found that when patients who responded to placebos when patients who responded to placebos were given the opioid blocker, naloxone, were given the opioid blocker, naloxone, which blocks endorphins as well, the which blocks endorphins as well, the placebo effect stopped being effective (8).placebo effect stopped being effective (8).

Enter the Parasympathetic Enter the Parasympathetic Nervous SystemNervous System

Believing you’ll get better and being Believing you’ll get better and being cared for by attentive clinical cared for by attentive clinical researchers or a trusted physician researchers or a trusted physician may relieve physiological stress, may relieve physiological stress, known to predispose the body to known to predispose the body to illness, and initiate physiological illness, and initiate physiological relaxation, which is necessary for relaxation, which is necessary for the body’s self-healing mechanisms the body’s self-healing mechanisms to operate properly.to operate properly.

When the relaxation response is When the relaxation response is elicited, stress hormones drop, elicited, stress hormones drop, health-inducing relaxation hormones health-inducing relaxation hormones are released, the parasympathetic are released, the parasympathetic nervous system takes over, and the nervous system takes over, and the body returns to homeostasis. body returns to homeostasis.

Only in this rested, relaxed state can Only in this rested, relaxed state can the body repair itself.the body repair itself.

Think Sick, Be SickThink Sick, Be Sick

““Never affirm or repeat about you health Never affirm or repeat about you health what you do not wish to be true.”what you do not wish to be true.” ~ Ralph ~ Ralph Waldo TrineWaldo Trine

~ Excessive knowledge about what can go ~ Excessive knowledge about what can go wrong with the body can actually harm you.wrong with the body can actually harm you.

~ Nocebo – Latin for “I shall harm.” ~ Nocebo – Latin for “I shall harm.” Demonstrates the power of negative belief. Demonstrates the power of negative belief. Usually associated with side-effects warnings.Usually associated with side-effects warnings.

~ Wrongly diagnosed patients who were given ~ Wrongly diagnosed patients who were given only a few months to live, died within that only a few months to live, died within that time frame, even when autopsy findings time frame, even when autopsy findings revealed no physiological reasons for an early revealed no physiological reasons for an early death. (9)death. (9)

Dr. Rankin’s ConclusionsDr. Rankin’s Conclusions

““We all know that stress is bad for us in a We all know that stress is bad for us in a vague what-do-you-expect-me-to-do-about-it vague what-do-you-expect-me-to-do-about-it sort of way. But after my initial research, I sort of way. But after my initial research, I understood the clear link between the understood the clear link between the stress the mind experiences and the way stress the mind experiences and the way the body breaks down. I observed how the body breaks down. I observed how emotional stressors like loneliness, emotional stressors like loneliness, frustration at work, anger about past frustration at work, anger about past trauma, money worries, and fear could trauma, money worries, and fear could result in illness.”result in illness.”

9 Requirements9 Requirements

In order to live a vital life, prevent In order to live a vital life, prevent disease, or optimize the chances for disease, or optimize the chances for disease remission, one needs:disease remission, one needs:

~ Healthy Relationships~ Healthy Relationships including a including a strong network of family, friends, strong network of family, friends, loved ones, and colleagues.loved ones, and colleagues.

~ ~ A healthy, meaningful way to A healthy, meaningful way to spend your daysspend your days


~ ~ A healthy, fully expressed creative life A healthy, fully expressed creative life that allows your soul to sing its songthat allows your soul to sing its song

~ ~ A healthy spiritual lifeA healthy spiritual life including a including a sense of connection to the sacred in lifesense of connection to the sacred in life

~ ~ A healthy sexual lifeA healthy sexual life~ A healthy financial life ~ A healthy financial life free of undue free of undue

financial stress, which ensures that the financial stress, which ensures that the essential needs of your body are metessential needs of your body are met

~ ~ A healthy environmentA healthy environment free of toxins, free of toxins, natural disaster hazards, radiation, and natural disaster hazards, radiation, and other unhealthy factors other unhealthy factors


~ ~ A healthy mental and emotional lifeA healthy mental and emotional life characterized by optimism and characterized by optimism and happiness, and free of fear, anxiety, happiness, and free of fear, anxiety, depression, and other mental health depression, and other mental health issuesissues

~ ~ A healthy lifestyle that supports the A healthy lifestyle that supports the physical health of the body physical health of the body such as such as good nutrition, regular exercise, good nutrition, regular exercise, adequate sleep, and avoidance of adequate sleep, and avoidance of unhealthy addictions.unhealthy addictions.

Meaning of HealingMeaning of Healing

Definition of the word “heal”: to become Definition of the word “heal”: to become whole.whole.

Difference between curing and this Difference between curing and this definition of healing: you can become definition of healing: you can become cured without being healed and you can cured without being healed and you can be healed without being cured.be healed without being cured.

““The process of being sick can become an The process of being sick can become an opportunity for spiritual awakening.” opportunity for spiritual awakening.”

~Lissa Rankin, MD~Lissa Rankin, MD

Dr. Rankin’s Wellness Dr. Rankin’s Wellness ModelModel

Based upon the concept of lifestyle Based upon the concept of lifestyle changes that activate the changes that activate the Parasympathetic Nervous System Parasympathetic Nervous System such that the body can return to such that the body can return to homeostasis (balance) and heal homeostasis (balance) and heal itself.itself.

CairnCairn

Whole Health CairnWhole Health Cairn

Radical Self-CareRadical Self-Care

~ Like a cairn, the body is awe inspiringly ~ Like a cairn, the body is awe inspiringly strong and resilient, while at the same strong and resilient, while at the same time fragile and easy to tip out of time fragile and easy to tip out of balance.balance.

~ The foundation stone is called the “Inner ~ The foundation stone is called the “Inner Pilot Light” – that inner knowing, the Pilot Light” – that inner knowing, the healing wisdom of your body and soul healing wisdom of your body and soul that knows what is true for you, and that knows what is true for you, and guides you, in your own unique way, guides you, in your own unique way, back to better health. back to better health.

Radical Self-CareRadical Self-Care

~ Atop the Inner Pilot Light are all the other ~ Atop the Inner Pilot Light are all the other contributing factors that affect health.contributing factors that affect health.

~ The whole cairn is surrounded by a “healing ~ The whole cairn is surrounded by a “healing bubble” of love, gratitude, service, and bubble” of love, gratitude, service, and pleasure. It is the glue that holds everything pleasure. It is the glue that holds everything in balance.in balance.

~ Keep in mind how important it is to keep the ~ Keep in mind how important it is to keep the “inner chatter” positive during the journey of “inner chatter” positive during the journey of radical self-care. The only way to truly heal radical self-care. The only way to truly heal is to engage in radical self-care with love and is to engage in radical self-care with love and compassion for yourself.compassion for yourself.

6 Steps to Healing 6 Steps to Healing YourselfYourself

““If you’re fearless enough to face the truth If you’re fearless enough to face the truth about yourself, your life, and your about yourself, your life, and your illness, you’ll have the opportunity to illness, you’ll have the opportunity to awaken to the bliss that comes from awaken to the bliss that comes from living in alignment with your Inner Pilot living in alignment with your Inner Pilot Light. And when you do, you relax your Light. And when you do, you relax your body, flip on your self-repair body, flip on your self-repair mechanisms, and make your body ripe mechanisms, and make your body ripe for miracles. Remember, for miracles. Remember, Anything is Anything is Possible.Possible.” ~ Lissa Rankin, MD” ~ Lissa Rankin, MD

Step One: Believe You Can Step One: Believe You Can Heal YourselfHeal Yourself

~ What the placebo and nocebo data ~ What the placebo and nocebo data reveal is that if you’re plagued by reveal is that if you’re plagued by negative, self-sabotaging beliefs about negative, self-sabotaging beliefs about yourself and/or your health, either yourself and/or your health, either consciously or subconsciously, any consciously or subconsciously, any attempt to heal yourself may be limited.attempt to heal yourself may be limited.

~ What you believe, manifests in the ~ What you believe, manifests in the body.body.


~ Meditate – Quieting your mind makes ~ Meditate – Quieting your mind makes it more receptive to changing beliefs. it more receptive to changing beliefs. Plus, consciously relaxing activates Plus, consciously relaxing activates the Parasympathetic nervous system.the Parasympathetic nervous system.

~ A guided meditation can be found at ~ A guided meditation can be found at mindovermedicinebook.commindovermedicinebook.com

~ Create statements that affirm how ~ Create statements that affirm how you want to feel like “I am whole, you want to feel like “I am whole, healthy, and free of symptoms.” Say healthy, and free of symptoms.” Say them out loud often.them out loud often.


~ Be the guardian of your brain. You may not ~ Be the guardian of your brain. You may not realize the power of the messages you allow realize the power of the messages you allow into your brain. Turn off the TV!into your brain. Turn off the TV!

~ In your mind, focus on what you want, not ~ In your mind, focus on what you want, not what you don’t want. The subconscious what you don’t want. The subconscious mind doesn’t process negation. If you focus mind doesn’t process negation. If you focus on lack (even if you don’t want it), you will on lack (even if you don’t want it), you will attract it.attract it.

~ To go deeper into changing subconscious ~ To go deeper into changing subconscious beliefs, explore hypnotherapy, Psych-K, beliefs, explore hypnotherapy, Psych-K, EFT, and Neuro-linguistic Programming EFT, and Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP).(NLP).

Step Two: Find the Right Step Two: Find the Right SupportSupport

~ When embarking on a healing journey, ~ When embarking on a healing journey, it takes a village.it takes a village.

~ Feeling supported and cared about ~ Feeling supported and cared about activates the PNS.activates the PNS.

Take time to consider which Take time to consider which practitioners you believe might be practitioners you believe might be able to help, and interview them, to able to help, and interview them, to see if they are a fit for the team you see if they are a fit for the team you want to build around your effort to want to build around your effort to heal.heal.


Find health care providers who believe in you.Find health care providers who believe in you. Ask them, “Do you believe I can get better?” and Ask them, “Do you believe I can get better?” and pay close attention to the answer. If they are pay close attention to the answer. If they are discouraging, you might want to consider discouraging, you might want to consider someone else.someone else.

Seek health care providers who truly care. Seek health care providers who truly care. Put your body in the hands of providers Put your body in the hands of providers

willing to collaborate.willing to collaborate. If your homeopath hates If your homeopath hates doctors, or your doctor thinks your Reiki master doctors, or your doctor thinks your Reiki master is a quack, it’s going to be hard to get everyone is a quack, it’s going to be hard to get everyone on the same page. Look for practitioners who on the same page. Look for practitioners who have openness to all modalities as possibilities have openness to all modalities as possibilities for healing.for healing.


Listen to the wisdom of your body. Listen to the wisdom of your body. What does your gut say when What does your gut say when you’re with your health care you’re with your health care provider?provider? Feelings of weirdness, Feelings of weirdness, tightness, or concern may be your tightness, or concern may be your body trying to tell you something. body trying to tell you something. Look for feelings of openness, Look for feelings of openness, warmth, relaxation, and calmness in warmth, relaxation, and calmness in your body as your best guide.your body as your best guide.


Make sure your health care provider Make sure your health care provider respects your intuition. respects your intuition. If you If you question a treatment and express your question a treatment and express your opinion in a respectful manner and your opinion in a respectful manner and your intuition isn’t respected, you might think intuition isn’t respected, you might think twice about whether this is the best twice about whether this is the best provider for you. The right practitioner provider for you. The right practitioner will welcome your feedback, understand will welcome your feedback, understand that you know your body better than that you know your body better than anyone else, and respect your wishes.anyone else, and respect your wishes.


Be willing to sign a waiver. Be willing to sign a waiver. If you If you choose not to have a recommended choose not to have a recommended treatment, because of our litigious treatment, because of our litigious society, a conventional doctor may society, a conventional doctor may need you to sign a waiver stating that need you to sign a waiver stating that you are rejecting the recommended you are rejecting the recommended treatment. This is only to cover their treatment. This is only to cover their butts. Don’t feel offended, or let it butts. Don’t feel offended, or let it intimidate you, if you believe you are intimidate you, if you believe you are right.right.


Know that you deserve the best Know that you deserve the best care possible.care possible. Don’t go telling Don’t go telling yourself stories about how you’re not yourself stories about how you’re not good enough/smart enough/young good enough/smart enough/young enough/rich enough/ (fill in the enough/rich enough/ (fill in the blank) enough to get the best blank) enough to get the best medical care. Believe in yourself, medical care. Believe in yourself, your inner wisdom, and your your inner wisdom, and your growing capacity for self-care.growing capacity for self-care.

Step Three: Listen to Your Step Three: Listen to Your Body and IntuitionBody and Intuition

Our culture does not encourage us to listen Our culture does not encourage us to listen to our inner wise healer, our Inner Pilot to our inner wise healer, our Inner Pilot Light. Instead of living embodied lives, Light. Instead of living embodied lives, heeding the wisdom of our intuition, we heeding the wisdom of our intuition, we dissociate. Without that guidance, we dissociate. Without that guidance, we wander without knowing where we are wander without knowing where we are going.going.

Exercise: “Let Your Body Be Your Guide”Exercise: “Let Your Body Be Your Guide”If you let them, physical symptoms can If you let them, physical symptoms can

build a bridge between you and your build a bridge between you and your inner wisdom.inner wisdom.

Step Four: Diagnose the Step Four: Diagnose the Root Causes of Your IllnessRoot Causes of Your Illness

Almost every illness is either caused by Almost every illness is either caused by or exacerbated by triggering the or exacerbated by triggering the stress response, which happens in the stress response, which happens in the body, but starts in the mind.body, but starts in the mind.

While you can mitigate some of the While you can mitigate some of the stress response without understanding stress response without understanding what’s triggering it, you’re better off what’s triggering it, you’re better off digging deep and diagnosing the root digging deep and diagnosing the root cause of cause of what is triggering the stress what is triggering the stress response in the first place.response in the first place.


When you diagnose the root causes of When you diagnose the root causes of what is triggering your stress responses, what is triggering your stress responses, you gain insight into how your body may you gain insight into how your body may be suffering as the result of your mind.be suffering as the result of your mind.

If you can heal the problem from the root If you can heal the problem from the root and stop the stress response at its origin, and stop the stress response at its origin, you’re much more likely to wind up you’re much more likely to wind up cured.cured.


When you begin to explore the root causes When you begin to explore the root causes triggering your stress response, and you triggering your stress response, and you realize that something within your realize that something within your control may be causing a health problem, control may be causing a health problem, you may find yourself engaging in blame, you may find yourself engaging in blame, shame, or guilt. shame, or guilt.

There’s no point in berating yourself for There’s no point in berating yourself for past behaviors (ex. Smoking, over-eating, past behaviors (ex. Smoking, over-eating, drinking, excessive worrying). Doing so drinking, excessive worrying). Doing so will only trigger the stress response and will only trigger the stress response and make things worse.make things worse.


Illness offers us a precious opportunity to Illness offers us a precious opportunity to investigate our lives without judgment, investigate our lives without judgment, diagnose the root cause of what might diagnose the root cause of what might be contributing to an illness, realign be contributing to an illness, realign ourselves spiritually, and do what we ourselves spiritually, and do what we can to make our bodies ripe for can to make our bodies ripe for miracles.miracles.

When viewed with compassion and When viewed with compassion and without judgment, illness can be a without judgment, illness can be a potent opportunity for personal growth potent opportunity for personal growth and spiritual awakening.and spiritual awakening.

Step Four: Diagnose the Step Four: Diagnose the Root Causes of Your IllnessRoot Causes of Your IllnessExercise #1: What Does Your Body Exercise #1: What Does Your Body

Need in Order to Heal?Need in Order to Heal?

(To download a guided meditation to (To download a guided meditation to lead you through this process, go to lead you through this process, go to mindovermedicinebook.com)mindovermedicinebook.com)

Exercise #2: How Balanced is Your Exercise #2: How Balanced is Your Whole Health Cairn?Whole Health Cairn?


Diagnostic Exercise #3 Make the Diagnosis for Diagnostic Exercise #3 Make the Diagnosis for YourselfYourself

This is the most vital of all the steps in the six-This is the most vital of all the steps in the six-step process.step process.

It is designed to help you identify limiting or It is designed to help you identify limiting or self-sabotaging beliefs, determine whether self-sabotaging beliefs, determine whether you feel supported by the right health care you feel supported by the right health care providers, and help you get a feel for what providers, and help you get a feel for what activities in your life might activate the activities in your life might activate the Parasympathetic nervous system as a part of Parasympathetic nervous system as a part of your treatment.your treatment.


Ask yourself this series of questions and go at Ask yourself this series of questions and go at your own speed. Take breaks, if needed. You your own speed. Take breaks, if needed. You can either write down your answers, or talk can either write down your answers, or talk them through with yourself or a trusted friend them through with yourself or a trusted friend or loved one.or loved one.

Make sure to be radically nurturing with Make sure to be radically nurturing with yourself. Focus on gratitude, fill your life with yourself. Focus on gratitude, fill your life with pleasure, and be your own best friend.pleasure, and be your own best friend.

Keep focusing on what’s working in your life so Keep focusing on what’s working in your life so you can be fearless enough to face and change you can be fearless enough to face and change what isn’t.what isn’t.


Class exercise with questionsClass exercise with questions

Using the answers to these questions, can Using the answers to these questions, can you identify the root causes associated you identify the root causes associated with your illness? Are negative beliefs with your illness? Are negative beliefs sabotaging you? Do you have the right sabotaging you? Do you have the right support? Are there imbalances in your support? Are there imbalances in your Whole Health Cairn? Are there activities Whole Health Cairn? Are there activities that would elicit the relaxation response that would elicit the relaxation response that you’re not utilizing?that you’re not utilizing?


Within each category also write down Within each category also write down anything you’ve identified that you anything you’ve identified that you believe is benefiting your health that believe is benefiting your health that you might want to ramp up in your life you might want to ramp up in your life as a part of your plan of self-care.as a part of your plan of self-care.

Congratulations! What you have created Congratulations! What you have created is your interpretation of what may be is your interpretation of what may be harming and benefiting your health.harming and benefiting your health.

Step Five: Write the Step Five: Write the Prescription for YourselfPrescription for Yourself

It is not enough for you to just It is not enough for you to just knowknow why why you might not be optimally healthy, you you might not be optimally healthy, you want to want to dodo something about it, and only something about it, and only you know best what that something you know best what that something might be.might be.

Your doctor might be able to prescribe Your doctor might be able to prescribe your pills but only your pills but only youyou can write The can write The Prescription for how your life needs to Prescription for how your life needs to change in order to optimize your whole change in order to optimize your whole health.health.


A Therapeutic Exercise:A Therapeutic Exercise:Write the Prescription for YourselfWrite the Prescription for Yourself

1.1. Look at the Diagnosis you have written Look at the Diagnosis you have written down.down.

2.2. Take a moment to close your eyes and Take a moment to close your eyes and tap into the healing wisdom of your tap into the healing wisdom of your Inner Pilot Light. Remind yourself to Inner Pilot Light. Remind yourself to stay open, loving, and compassionate stay open, loving, and compassionate with yourself. When you feel centered, with yourself. When you feel centered, relaxed, and intuitively open, open your relaxed, and intuitively open, open your eyes.eyes.


3. For each of the items you listed in the 3. For each of the items you listed in the Diagnosis, ask yourself what you can do Diagnosis, ask yourself what you can do to take action in order to treat any root to take action in order to treat any root cause of illness you have identified. cause of illness you have identified. Trust your intuition and try not to judge Trust your intuition and try not to judge what comes up. You don’t actually have what comes up. You don’t actually have to do anything yet, but you do need to be to do anything yet, but you do need to be honest with yourself. Don’t censor honest with yourself. Don’t censor anything. This is your personal anything. This is your personal prescription for healing.prescription for healing.

Nobody has to ever read this but you!Nobody has to ever read this but you!


If you’ve identified an issue and don’t If you’ve identified an issue and don’t quite know how to heal it, go to quite know how to heal it, go to LissaRankin.com where the author LissaRankin.com where the author writes practical prescriptions for writes practical prescriptions for living and loving fearlessly, as well living and loving fearlessly, as well as other techniques for healing as other techniques for healing yourself and living your best life.yourself and living your best life.


Take ActionTake Action

This is the beginning of your healing This is the beginning of your healing journey. It can be scary.journey. It can be scary.

If you are not willing to take action, are you If you are not willing to take action, are you choosing to be sick?choosing to be sick?

It is good to “fess up” to the choices you It is good to “fess up” to the choices you make in life.make in life.

Go easy with yourself. Take baby steps. Go easy with yourself. Take baby steps. Reward yourself often. Give yourself a lot Reward yourself often. Give yourself a lot of acceptance, gratitude and love.of acceptance, gratitude and love.

Step Six: Surrender Step Six: Surrender Attachments to OutcomesAttachments to Outcomes

There comes a time, after you’ve There comes a time, after you’ve shifted to positive belief, found the shifted to positive belief, found the right support, tapped into the wisdom right support, tapped into the wisdom of your body and your Inner Pilot of your body and your Inner Pilot Light, made the Diagnosis, written Light, made the Diagnosis, written the Prescription, and taken action on the Prescription, and taken action on it, to simply surrender and let go of it, to simply surrender and let go of attaching to any particular outcome.attaching to any particular outcome.

Step Six: Surrender Step Six: Surrender Attachment to OutcomesAttachment to Outcomes

Weather illness with grace, appreciating Weather illness with grace, appreciating every step of the journey even when it every step of the journey even when it doesn’t go your way.doesn’t go your way.

It is important to live in the present when It is important to live in the present when going through this process. Remaining going through this process. Remaining optimistic, focusing on gratitude, and optimistic, focusing on gratitude, and appreciating what you have is vital to appreciating what you have is vital to keep you from spinning out into regrets keep you from spinning out into regrets and sadness about what might have been.and sadness about what might have been.

Step Six: Surrendering Step Six: Surrendering Attachment to OutcomesAttachment to Outcomes

Surrendering your attachment to Surrendering your attachment to outcomes when you are sick, after outcomes when you are sick, after you’ve done everything within your you’ve done everything within your power to make your body ripe for power to make your body ripe for miracles, allows illness to be an miracles, allows illness to be an opportunity for spiritual awakening.opportunity for spiritual awakening.

Let go and trust the journey.Let go and trust the journey.

ReferencesReferences1.1. Michael E. Wechsler et. al., “Active Albuterol or Placebo, Michael E. Wechsler et. al., “Active Albuterol or Placebo,

Sham Acupuncture or No Intervention in Asthma,”Sham Acupuncture or No Intervention in Asthma,” New New England Journal of MedicineEngland Journal of Medicine 365 (July 14, 2011): 119-126. 365 (July 14, 2011): 119-126.

2.2. Femke M. deGroot et al., “Headache: The Placebo Effects Femke M. deGroot et al., “Headache: The Placebo Effects in the Control Groups in Randomized Clinical Trials; An in the Control Groups in Randomized Clinical Trials; An Analysis of Systematic Reviews,” Analysis of Systematic Reviews,” Journal of Manipulative Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics and Physiological Therapeutics 34, no.5 (June 2011): 297-34, no.5 (June 2011): 297-305.305.

3.3. Margaret Talbot, “The Placebo Prescription,” Margaret Talbot, “The Placebo Prescription,” New York New York Times Magazine,Times Magazine, January 9, 2000. January 9, 2000.

4.4. H. J. Binder, et al., “Climetidine in the Treatment of H. J. Binder, et al., “Climetidine in the Treatment of Duodenal Ulcer: a Multicenter Double Blind Study,” Duodenal Ulcer: a Multicenter Double Blind Study,” GastroenterologyGastroenterology 74 (February 1978): 380-388. 74 (February 1978): 380-388.

5.5. Shirley S. Wang, “Why Placebos Work Wonders,” Shirley S. Wang, “Why Placebos Work Wonders,” Wall Wall Street Journal, Street Journal, January 10, 2012.January 10, 2012.

6.6. J.D Levine et al., “Analgesic Responses to Morphine and J.D Levine et al., “Analgesic Responses to Morphine and Placebo in Individuals with Postoperative Pain,” Placebo in Individuals with Postoperative Pain,” Pain Pain 10, 10, no.3 (June 1981):379-389.no.3 (June 1981):379-389.

References ContinuedReferences Continued

7. Irving Kirsch and Guy Sapirstein, “Listening to Prozac 7. Irving Kirsch and Guy Sapirstein, “Listening to Prozac but Hearing Placebo: A Meta-Analysis of Antidepressant but Hearing Placebo: A Meta-Analysis of Antidepressant Medication,” Medication,” Prevention and Treatment Prevention and Treatment 1, no. 2 (June 1, no. 2 (June 1998).1998).

8. John D. Levine, Newton C. Gordon, and Howard L. 8. John D. Levine, Newton C. Gordon, and Howard L. Fields, “The Mechanism of Placebo Analgesia,” Fields, “The Mechanism of Placebo Analgesia,” Lancet Lancet 312, no. 8091 (September 23, 1978): 654-57.312, no. 8091 (September 23, 1978): 654-57.

9. I Wickramasekera, “A Conditioned Response Model of 9. I Wickramasekera, “A Conditioned Response Model of the Placebo Effect: Predictions from the Model,” the Placebo Effect: Predictions from the Model,” Biofeedback and Self-Regulation Biofeedback and Self-Regulation 5, no.1 (March 1980): 5, no.1 (March 1980): 5-18;5-18;

Nicholas J. Voudouris, Connie L. Peck, and Grahame Nicholas J. Voudouris, Connie L. Peck, and Grahame Coleman, “Conditioned Response Models of Placebo Coleman, “Conditioned Response Models of Placebo Phenomena: Further Support,” Phenomena: Further Support,” Pain Pain 38, no.1, (July 38, no.1, (July 1989): 109-16.1989): 109-16.

For those who would like to read the For those who would like to read the above articles, you can find them in above articles, you can find them in the research databases at UNCA the research databases at UNCA library or the Mahec library. library or the Mahec library. Librarians can assist you in finding Librarians can assist you in finding them.them.

ResourcesResources

Author’s websitesAuthor’s websites::lissarankin.comlissarankin.commindovermedicinebook.commindovermedicinebook.comowningpink.comowningpink.com

Other web resources:Other web resources:Institute of Noetic Sciences – noetic.orgInstitute of Noetic Sciences – noetic.orgwisebrain.orgwisebrain.orgOr just Google “activating the Or just Google “activating the

parasympathetic nervous system” for parasympathetic nervous system” for hours of entertainment.hours of entertainment.

Documents

Empowering Your Innate Capacity to Heal Osher Lifelong Learning Institute College for Seniors Spring 2014 Class 5