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SHOW

Rated 4 out of 5 by Dan1234 from Not What I Was Expecting The main theme of this course is that the brain-body connection is worth more research. The presenter does a great job of making that case. However, some of the episodes are titled 'how to' which led me to believe that there was going to be some instruction on actually putting some of the ideas she discusses into use. Not so. The episodes were mostly full of anecdotes to support her general argument but there was nothing I could put into day to day use. I did not learn 'how to' do anything from this course. Interesting topic and may be worth a view but don't expect to be able to change anything in your life from watching this.

Date published: 2023-09-09

Rated 5 out of 5 by Tige from Power of Mind Over Body Dr. Marchant is more focused on communicating her material rather than on impressing the listener with her personal intelligence and charisma. I appreciate this attitude. I am weary of the "sage on the stage. Excellent job, Dr. Marchant.

Date published: 2023-08-28

Rated 5 out of 5 by Thomas W from Packed with helpful & actionable information I loved this series. I've always be a proponent for mind-body research and medicine without the woo-woo. I've often found it difficult to understand why mainstream academia/science disregards the importance of the mind-body connection. If an intention can move your body, jump a fence, and kiss your lover - then of course it has the ability to alter other things within your body; almost by definition, it would have to. This was a wonderful re-confirmation of several aspects I had already been aware of as well as a good many more - not to mention the multiple citations and explanations of several research endeavors I was not aware of. I absolutely recommend this course for everybody - even the skeptics ... especially for skeptics. On the issue of the benefits of a belief in some divine power. Previously, I had struggled with trying to figure out how to garner those benefits without brainwashing myself into believing some religious doctrine or another. I've decided to approach is like this: 1. Assume humanity (or some other species in our infinite universe) continues to progress and colonize other planets and eventually achieve "class 3" (or 4) civilization status. 2. Realize that such heights and progress are most likely accomplished through high-functioning and dynamic social structures which indicates at least some level of benevolence. 3. Such mastery may very well yield some methods for manipulating, traversing, or sending information through time and decide to investigate paradox-free interventions to maximize wellbeing throughout all reality for all individuals. 4. Assume a super AI developed to parse all available temporal information, searching for anything resembling an attempt to communicate with a higher intelligence and responds with some influence over ones intuition in order to raise the potential for some specific decision which is more likely to lead to greater wellbeing. Obviously this is far fetched - but just the possibility gives me a reasonable basis for believing in something greater with some amount of control that I can address and feel like it might actually be getting to something that can help a little. It's a stretch, I'll admit, but it works for me :)

Date published: 2023-08-23

Rated 2 out of 5 by RLSh from No usable information Unless you are in a clinical trial, or a scientist considering your next research topic, this course, which promised to teach us how to incorporate the mind body connection offered nothing more than repetitive examples of trials and experiments that show a connection. (Really repetitive) Sadly, there was no information on how a layman could incorporate this information into daily life. Beyond blah blah, its really effective blah blah, I got nothing useful for the first 3 lectures and refused to waste time on the rest. Instructor was clear and well spoken. If you are interested in this material on an academic level, she will be great. If you are actually looking for solutions, look elsewhere.

Date published: 2023-08-23

Rated 5 out of 5 by DonMDPhD from Excellent Course, Engaging Presenter! I'm a retired MD (Trauma Surgeon) with a good deal of research under my belt. My initial impression was that here was an author, hawking her book filled with questionable--at best--research. I spent a good deal of my career seeing the effects such "research" has wreaked on the public as well as other researchers. So, I was ready to jump into this course with every intention of ripping it to shreds. Well, as you can see from my rating, things didn't go as planned! What I discovered in this course was a remarkably well-balanced approached to the subject. Despite the protests of many "researchers," results can be made to "prove" just about any postulation. But Dr. Marchant doesn't go down that road. Indeed, she embraces a "the data suggest" approach, thankfully refraining from trying to convince us that all the research she refers to is the gospel. I thoroughly enjoyed each and every lecture or (taking a cue from "the professor's" excellent review) fireside chat but the one that resonated most with me was #7: "How Caring Leads to Curing." My practice was centered on this principle and it saddens me more than I can say that modern medicine does not embrace it more because of the need to spend more time with paperwork than with the patient. One area not touched upon and which I offer for your consideration is hospital design and decor. I live in a small town and in 2008 we built a new hospital and built it with healing in mind. Pastel colors, artwork and all-private rooms with a view from every bed of the trees and hills which surround our town. All of that had a decidedly positive effect. But what patients noticed most was the phrase we spoke every time before we exited their room: "Is there anything else I can do for you? I have the time." This course is a joy, as is Dr. Marchant. It is by no means extensive but it's not meant to be. If you are looking for a course that will cause you to consider medicine and healing in a different light, I highly recommend "The Power of Mind over Body." And to my colleagues in the medical field, this one's for you, too!

Date published: 2023-08-21

Rated 5 out of 5 by rj2021 from I viewed this course and also bought it for a family member. I think it makes a persuasive point about the effect of our own mindset on our health and well-being. We need to do our own part in promoting our health outcomes. Doctors and drugs only go so far.

Date published: 2023-08-02

Rated 5 out of 5 by JPM54 from Insightful An interested review of unconventional ways to improve health presented in a balanced way. Information like this is useful to overcome negative biases against the power of our minds and its ability to help us fight diseases.

Date published: 2023-08-01

Rated 5 out of 5 by concerned citizen from This needs a call to action. I find the presentation compelling and it looks, to me at least, like something is rotten in our systems. I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but I think the author has done a good job of stating her case there is compelling early evidence that the our minds can do a lot to control and heal our bodies. But time after time, she reports that the step of confirming the early results runs into lack of funding to repeat the original work. Plus the plausibility that big Pharma would not want cheap/free cures and treatments supplanting their money stream is very strong motivation for them to stifle it. I'd love to see this work taken to the next level with an open minded, scientific approach based follow-up.

Date published: 2023-07-26

Overview

The 12 lectures in The Power of Mind over Body will change the way you think about disease as you investigate the implications of the vital but chronically understudied brain-body connection. Along with award-winning journalist and speaker Jo Marchant, who has spent her career studying the brain and the role it plays in physical health, you will explore the science behind phenomena like the placebo effect and hypnosis while digging deep into the consequences of pain, fatigue, and stress. You will examine therapies that utilize the power of the mind and you will get to know the scientists blazing a path forward. You will construct a powerful toolbox informed by years of research that will help you live a healthier and longer life.

About

Jo Marchant

Our brains and bodies do better when we shift our attention away from ourselves and we connect with the world—and with each other.

ALMA MATER

Medical College of Saint Bartholomew’s Hospital

Jo Marchant is an award-winning journalist and speaker as well as the author of several popular books, including the New York Times bestseller Cure: A Journey into the Science of Mind over Body. She earned a PhD in Genetics and Medical Microbiology from the Medical College of Saint Bartholomew’s Hospital. She has worked as a senior editor at New Scientist and Nature, and her articles have appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, and Smithsonian magazine. Her speaking engagements have included appearances at the Royal Institution in London and the Edinburgh Science Festival.

By This Expert

Trailer

01: How Your Mind Influences Your Body

What is the placebo effect? How does it work physiologically? Why do so many medical professionals dismiss its importance and impact? What can we learn from scientists like Jon Levine and Fabrizio Benedetti who work in placebo research? And why are some people more receptive to placebos than others? Explore these questions and more as you begin your exploration of the mind-body connection.

28 min

02: Harnessing the Placebo Effect

Continue your study of placebos by exploring the mechanics of pain. See how our brains contend with the prospect of harm. Determine if so-called “predictive coding” might explain why the placebo effect varies across populations. Unpack the efficacy and appeal of alternative medicine. And determine whether doctors can use placebos honestly and ethically.

30 min

03: How to Train Your Immune System

Most people know about conditioned responses thanks to Ivan Pavlov’s famous dog training experiments. But here, go even deeper. Determine how learned responses impact our immune systems and work out how we can train our bodies to more effectively respond to and even slow disease progression.

30 min

04: How to Fight Fatigue and Push Your Limits

What is the evolutionary and biological function of fatigue? When does the brain decide to call it quits on exercise, and why? How might expectations, memories, sensory experiences, and social circumstances affect athletic performance? And is it possible to break the cycle of chronic fatigue with therapy that targets the mind?

25 min

05: How Your Mind Rules Your Gut

Delve into the connection between your mind and gut by zeroing in on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a relatively common disorder that affects roughly 15% of the population. Then, turn your attention to the emergent field of psychogastroenterology, spotlighting innovative therapies—particularly hypnosis—that treat digestive problems by targeting the brain.

30 min

06: Easing Pain with Virtual Reality

Explore the pain management potential of virtual reality (VR). See what VR can do for long-lasting, chronic health problems. Walk through current research on the technology. And investigate how VR mimics the embodiment effect to treat body image disorders, phantom limb pain, and chronic regional pain syndrome.

26 min

07: How Caring Leads to Curing

Most of us already know that care networks are important when it comes to recovery, and we’ve learned that expectations can influence reality. So how can we couple caretaking with positive expectations to ease pain? And could quality care and so-called “comfort talk” actually lead to better disease outcomes? Explore these questions and more.

28 min

08: How to Beat Stress and Stay Young

Spend the rest of the course learning about how you can cultivate a more focused and relaxed mindset to live a healthier life overall. Investigate how chronic stress wreaks havoc on the body. Work to understand the impact of stress on different socioeconomic groups. And delve into the positive potential of stress.

28 min

09: Retraining Your Brain for Better Health

What can mindfulness offer when it comes to everyday living? First, explore what stress can do—physiologically, electrically, and chemically—to the brain. Then, delve into mindfulness as a concept and as a technique to see how simply mediating can reverse years of stress on the brain, reduce inflammation, and boost immunity.

30 min

10: How Friends Keep You Well

Explore the health benefits that come with having quality relationships. Examine what loneliness can do to our minds, bodies, and even DNA. And investigate how to target the problem of loneliness across all stages of life with techniques that range from compassionate parenting to volunteer programs for the elderly.

30 min

11: How Awe and Religious Belief Impact Health

Here, turn your attention to religiosity and spirituality. Does religious belief impact physical health? And if so, how? What are we to make of reports that religious practitioners are generally healthier and live longer than nonbelievers? And how does the unique feeling of awe affect one’s physical and mental state?

31 min

12: How a Revolution in Medicine Can Benefit You

Finish the course by reexamining the toolkit you’ve assembled over these 12 lectures, so that you can start building a life far less burdened by stress, pain, and illness. Then, discover what a real revolution in medicine—one attuned to the body-mind connection—would actually entail.

28 min