The following is a summery of an article publishedby Dr. Gregg D. Jacobs, fromHarvard Medical School, in TheJournal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine December 2001

Clinical Applications of the Relaxation Response and Mind–BodyInterventions

     Several hundred peer-reviewed studies in the past 20 years have shown that the relaxation response and mind–body interventions are clinically effective in thetreatment of many health problems that are caused or made worse by stress.Recent studies show that mind–body interventions reduce sympathetic nervous system activation and increase parasympathetic nervous system activity, andthereby restore homeostasis. This report provides an overview of studies that have shown a beneficial role of the relaxation response in the treatment of headaches, insomnia, cardiovascular disorders and can enhance immune functioning. Studies to date suggest that mind–body interventions are effective and can also provide cost savings in patient treatment. It is also clear,however, that mind–body therapies are not panaceas, and should be used in conjunction with standard medical care.