Herbert Benson, M.D.
Graduate ('61) and Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard
Harvard Medical School
Morristown Hospital Auditorium
Studies found that expectations of a positve outcome
helped patients get better sooner
"60-90% of office visits to a physician are in the mind-body, stress-related realm"
In 1972 Dr. Benson studied stress related diseases
at Harvard Medical School
He studied the physiological changes during meditation
He and Dr. Robert Wallace published first study on meditation
Oxygen consumption decreased during meditation
Carbon Dioxide output decreased during meditation
Rate of breathing decreased during meditation
Cellular ventilation decreased during meditation
PO2 output decreased
|Blood lactate levels decreased during and after meditation
Oxygen consumption was deeper than during sleep
Symptoms of the body under stress
Dr. Cannon identified the Flight & Fight Response
In the same lab room the Relaxation Response was identified.
Effects of Stress
Dr. Benson speaks to health care professionals
The Relaxation Response can be easily learned by anyone
How did the Separation of Mind and Body
in medicine come about?
Here is a historical context.
The History of the Placebo Effect
which early medicine relied upon
Basic Concepts of the Placebo Effect
Belief and expectancy on the part of the patient
Common principles of meditation have been found in history worldwide.
