Mind–body intervention

Mind–body interventions
Auditing (Scientology) Autosuggestion Autogenic training Feldenkrais Method Hypnotherapy Medical intuition Meditation Mindfulness Postural Integration (PI) Qigong Somatic psychology Sophrology T'ai chi ch'uan Trager Approach Yoga (alternative medicine)
NCCAM classifications
Alternative Medical Systems Mind-Body Interventions Biologically Based Therapy Manipulative Methods Energy Therapy
See also
Alternative medicine Glossary of alternative medicine

Mind–body interventions is the name of a U.S. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) classification that covers a variety of techniques designed to enhance the mind's capacity to affect bodily function and symptoms.^{[citation needed]} Many of these techniques are best described as alternative medicine, including meditation, prayer, healing, and therapies that use creative outlets such as art, music, or dance.^{[citation needed]} Others interventions have now become mainstream (for example, patient support groups and cognitive-behavioral therapy).^{[citation needed]}

Intervention during pregnancy and labour

Proponents claim a correlation between improved health during pregnancy and labour outcomes and the practice of meditation, yoga, relaxation techniques, massage, and hypnosis.^{[citation needed]} These practices are claimed to have positive effects on both mother and fetus, though more research is needed to determine the amount of benefit produced.^{[citation needed]}

Yoga

One peer-reviewed experiment, cited below, showed that a yoga session comprising body scans, meditation, postural yoga, and walking meditation helped to alleviate both physical or perceived pain (depending on which trimester the intervention took place in). The earlier the intervention took place, the more effective it was.

Meditation

Another peer reviewed, journal published study cited below, was conducted in which pregnant women met two hours every week for eight weeks to practice mindful-based intervention (specifically the Mindful Motherhood Intervention), which included practices of mindfulness of thoughts and feelings, body, and psychological concepts. This was practiced through awareness exercises, exercises regarding pain/anxiety, and mindful movement. After the intervention process, mothers showed a decline in anxiety, negative affects, stress, and depression, whereas the control group, who did not participate in any form of meditation, showed an increase in depression and anxiety, and decrease in positive affects, as the pregnancy went on.

Relaxation Techniques

To test the effects of guided relaxation, a study cited below was conducted where pregnant women (and their fetuses) were monitored for 18 consecutive minutes. This was followed by 18 minutes of monitoring during the relaxation segment, consisted of a lights-off session of guided imagery to release tension and embrace a relaxing state. This was concluded with 18 minutes of post-relaxation monitoring. The findings showed decrease in psychological tension, heart rate, skin conductance, respiration, cortisol levels, and respiratory sinus arrhythmia in the mothers. So there was a clear link between maternal relaxation and fetal relaxation (though more studies should be conducted to test the implications of this).

Exercise

In another peer-reviewed, journal published study, cited below, 31 women who were receiving routine antenatal care at a public health service in Brazil were asked to participate in three water aerobics classes a week. These sessions included moderate workouts, outlined by the American College of Sports Medicine. Prior studies had shown that moderate exercise during pregnancy accounted for “reduced impacts on articulations, less edema, increased diuresis, a significant reduction in arterial pressure, an increase in the volume of amniotic fluid, less need for analgesia, control of body weight, less back pain and a reduction in postpartum depression. In addition, psychological benefits such as improved well-being, satisfaction, self-confidence and body awareness have been reported.” In this particular experiment, from the baseline questionnaires to the final ones, 90% of the women believed that the water aerobics had benefited them in a positive way. 65% believed that childbirth would be easier after the exercise, diminishing their stresses related to childbirth.

Hypnosis

An interview study from 1962 suggested that hypnosis could reduce childbirth pain and improve memory of the event.A 2003 study suggested hypnoses could provide natural pain relief for women in labor.

Massage

It has been suggested that massage during pregnancy results in reduced rates of depression, anxiety, and leg and back pain, reduced stress hormone levels, excessive fetal activity, and prematurity. The study also showed a reduction in labor times by an average of three hours, less reported pain, and less medication. During labor, massage during the first two phases of dilation seemed to reduce pain, although no difference was observed in the third phase.

List of mind–body intervention practices

• Aromatherapy
• Art Therapy
• Autosuggestion
• Bach Flower Therapy
• Dance movement psychotherapy
• Dynamic Embodiment
• Eutony
• Feldenkrais method
• Hatha yoga
• Hypnotherapy
• Journaling
• Laban Movement Analysis
• Meditation
• Metamorphic Technique
• Movement Therapy
• Music Therapy
• Qigong
• Rebirthing-Breathwork
• Self-hypnosis
• Somatic Experiencing
• Somatic Movement Education & Therapy
• Support groups
• Taijiquan
• Trager Approach
• Visualization
• Vivation
• Yoga