Exploring The Mind-Body Connection + 6 Ways To Improve It

6 Ways To Improve Your Mind-Body Connection

Even though our knowledge of the mind-body connection is evolving, we can take what we know about this connection to improve our overall health now.

Below are 6 evidence-based mind-body therapies that you can start incorporating into your daily life to strengthen your mind-body connection and facilitate mental and physical healing.

1. Practice Mindfulness Meditation

One of the biggest ways to improve your mind-body connection is to reduce stress, that complex fight-or-flight response. There are many stress reduction techniques (spending time outside, blue light blockers, prayer, journaling, etc.), but my favorite stress reliever is mindfulness meditation.

Establish regular mindfulness meditation to refocus yourself on the present moment and lower overall levels of stress response, anxiety, and depression. (16) Focus on guided imagery, and feel how your heart rate can normalize right away.

2. Take Time For Yourself

With so much going on in our daily lives, making time for self-care is often the last on our to-do list. However, spending time alone — enjoying your own company away from other people — is often an overlooked way to enhance your mind-body connection.

I think of it as solitude, not loneliness. (17)

Not only is this “you time” a way to decompress and destress, but it can also give you an opportunity to clear your head and work through any negative emotions or daily traumas that could be contributing to poor physical health.

3. Assess Your Diet

The food you eat plays a major role in how you feel physically and mentally. I spend a lot more time with my patients on diet than your typical doctor because it’s so important!

Obviously, an unhealthy diet contributes to obesity. But sugar, alcohol, fat-free foods, and nutrient deficiencies also play a role in depression and anxiety. (18, 19)

Foods like turkey, turmeric, and magnesium-rich dark leafy greens may alleviate depression and anxiety symptoms by correcting deficiencies and supporting healthy brain function. (20, 21, 22)

Check out the benefits of my favorite diet, Plant-Based Keto.

4. Try Cognitive Behavior Therapy

Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) was initially developed to treat depression and is still considered one of the most effective types of therapy for depression. (23) The whole idea is to improve negative emotions by changing destructive thoughts and behaviors through developing personal coping strategies unique for each person.

The mind often forgets things that the body remembers. This is especially true when it comes to past trauma, hurt, or grief. Even if you don’t think you’re dealing with daily stressors, I recommend seeing a qualified CBT therapist who can help you unpack suppressed feelings or experiences that may be impacting your mental and physical health.

5. Incorporate Breathwork

Under stressful conditions, breathing gets shallower, which only feeds anxiety. Anxiety leads to all sorts of physical symptoms and vice-versa.

Focused breathwork is a great tool for bringing you back to the present moment whenever you feel stress and anxiety rising up. (24) I’ve seen breathing exercises quickly lower cortisol levels and regulate high blood pressure. When done right, it seems to reset the nervous system.

Plus, this healing tool requires zero equipment and can be done anywhere.

Read Next: Functional Doctor’s Guide to Practicing EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) Tapping

6. Take Adaptogenic Herbs

Adaptogens are a family of plants and herbs that are considered generally safe for everyone. They help the body reduce the effects of stress hormones and have a balancing effect on cortisol.

My favorite herb to help lower stress and anxiety is ashwagandha. It also supports heart health, neurological health, hormone function, and fights inflammation — so it’s great for physical and mental health. (25)

You can find adaptogens in powdered form to add to your daily smoothie, tea, or coffee.

Read More: A Functional Doctor’s Perspective on Microdosing

The Takeaway

While we are continuously learning more about how your physical well-being affects your emotional health and vice versa, the mind-body connection cannot be denied. Functional and integrative medicine emphasizes this and understands that healing isn’t limited to the physical alone.

In order to start healing mentally, emotionally, and physically, we need to start addressing health from a whole-person perspective.

Therefore, in my telehealth functional medicine clinic, we aim to find and treat the root cause behind a person’s health problems by bringing in various forms of health care, including conventional treatments and alternative wellness therapies.

As one of the first functional medicine telehealth clinics in the world, we provide webcam health consultations for people around the globe.

Read Next:

• How Holistic Health Is Empowering Women To Reclaim Their Wellness
• Medical Gaslighting: Signs And How To Overcome It