A cheerful heart does good like medicine, but a crushed spirit dries the bones.
Proverbs 17:22
Research involving the mind-body connection (called
psychoneuroimmunology) can be summarized in one sentence: The cerebral cortex
(the thinking part of the brain) is connected to the limbic area (the feeling
part of the brain) that is linked to the hypothalamus (the hormone control
button of the brain) that, in turn, influences the rest of the body through a
series of extremely complex microbiological connections.
When we have a thought or a feeling, our brains make chemicals known as
neuropeptides. These proteinlike molecules attach to the receptor sites of
blood cells allowing brain and body cells to talk to each other
chemically. Immune cells that repair tissue, heal wounds, ingest bacteria, and
protect us from cancer have receptors for these chemical messengers.
Messages flowing between the brain and the immune cells are transported
instantaneously. When we experience joy, the white blood cells receive that message
immediately. Conversely, when we are unhappy, a negative message is transmitted
directly to the white blood cells. Thus, our emotional reaction influences
physical health. Positive message, good
health. Negative message, poor health.
What's more intriguing, scientists have discovered certain cells in the
body can make the same chemicals that the brain makes when it thinks. Our body
cells make harmful or beneficial chemicals depending on our mood. A
cheerful heart does good like medicine, but a crushed spirit dries the
bones...is more than an aphorism. Likewise, there
may be biological truth in the statements, He's a pain in the
neck, or She makes me sick.
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