Mind-body medicine - An introduction and review of the literature

Mind-body medicine (MBM) is an exciting field of medicine that is not new, indeed it is a phenomenon inherent to clinical practice. Because of its current popularity and effectiveness for certain chronic conditions seen in primary care, MBM is especially relevant to the primary care provider. Meditation, hypnosis, guided imagery, biofeedback, and relaxation therapy are the most studied MBM techniques. A review of the medical literature shows these techniques may be effective for specific indications such as chronic pain, headache, insomnia, and anxiety. Furthermore, preliminary studies have shown mind-body techniques in combination with usual care therapies may affect morbidity and mortality outcomes for coronary artery disease and cancer.