No state of mind exists that is not reflected by a state of the immune system. Body and mind are one, the body is the actual outward manifestation, in physical space, of the mind. Candace Pert's work "Molecules of Emotion" brilliantly proves the mind body connection which unfortunately today is still not always considered in U.S. Medicine when offering treatment options. The mind is a very complex organ which has as it's primary goal to survive.
Physically it's important to understand, our brain is made up of molecules containing receptors and ligands which are neurotransmitters, steroids, and peptides. Our brain is constantly receiving information through our senses and responding to the cells in the rest of the body through our thoughts and emotions. No two brains are the same and our brain will not be the same from birth to death. Our brains experience two large growth periods, one in early childhood and then again in adolescence. Once hormones are introduced reproduction, as a basic instinct, takes center stage in our behavior until we are older and hormones diminish. Once hormones diminish clearer thinking will return.
Our environment is constantly changing and our brain is always directing our body in how to react. These reactions are recorded experiences and our expressed emotions are fundamentally survival adaptive responses. We must learn to recognize these adapted behaviors and forgive some of the behavior we and others engage in, realizing these learned behaviors are how we cope with what threatens us.
Our Limbic brain is where information from the senses is stored, translated, and sent up to the higher brain for action. It is often referred to as the emotional brain because it is the axis where sensory information is converted to survival adaptive responses shown as behavior. The Limbic brain contains a high concentration of receptors and peptides. Candace Pert states” Neuropeptides and their receptors thus join the brain, glands, and immune system in a network of communication between brain and body, probably representing the biochemical substrate of emotion.” It could be that spontaneous healing is the result of the Limbic brain receiving a healing message so clearly that the peptides alter the direction of cells in the immune and endocrine system.
A lot of study has been done on neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, endorphins and many others as a pathway for drugs both illegal and prescription. In these studies it has been shown that altered neurotransmitter levels can be the cause of addictions. If your neurotransmitter levels are low in the body using certain drugs can release stored neurotransmitters until eventually you are depleted. This is how an addictive cycle is set up with drugs such as extascy, cocaine, and heroine. A big release happens when the pathway is opened and after the high there is a an extreme low so addicts get high again trying to feel the same way. Neurotransmitters can become low without the use of heavy illegal drugs. Much of our American diet leads to low serotonin levels and many antidepressants and other prescribed drugs can also deplete neurotransmitter levels.
Spiritually, we can impact our emotions and our immune system by exposing ourselves to goodness. There have been studies such as the “Mother Theresa effect” that show a bolstered immunogloblin 1A just by the presence of goodness or a study that found people diagnosed with a disease lived longer if they had a support network. The value we put on ourselves and our relationship with others can have a positive emotional and immunological response.
Our bodies and mind are one. “All emotions are healthy, because emotions are what unite the mind and body. Anger, fear, sadness, the so-called negative emotions, are as healthy as peace, courage, and joy. To repress these emotions and not them flow freely is to set up a dis-integrity in the system, causing it to act at cross-purposes rather than as a unified whole.
