Wow! How is that for a mouthful of marbles! Funny thing is that I have been told enough times in my life that I mumble, to grudgingly acknowledge that it is probably the truth. So imagine me trying to say that word! 

 

Psy-ko-nur-OH-imm-UUhn-ology

 

Basically it is the study of the interaction between psychological processes and the nervous and immune systems of the human body.

 

It was coined and made popular by a man named Norm Cousins in the 1980’s who was not a medical professional. He was a journalist who worked with UCLA and discovered an amazing trend in their cancer wards. 

 

Cancer and all forms of progressive disease, had a significantly lower recurrence rate with patients who had both positive mindsets AND positive outside input. It was NOT a guarantee, but the statistics were astounding. 

 

It was discovered that certain mindset techniques (that are beyond the scope of this article) had direct correlations with immense increases in very specific immune cells that were otherwise lacking.

 

Norm also was famous for his scathing criticism of Doctor/ Patient relationships at the time. He documented hundreds, if not thousands of cases, that proved a direct link between patient recovery and doctor bedside manner. It was the first of its type, and is one of the driving influences in my practice. 

 

We are a team of two peers, that simple. 

 

Forget the first definition - my definition is that “Laughter is the Best Medicine” and Norm proved it 40 years ago!