The Potential of Mind-Body Medicine for Prevention and Treatment of Stress and Trauma

by Maren M. Michaelsen¹ and Tobias Esch¹

¹Institute for Integrative Health Care and Health Promotion, School of Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, 58455 Witten, Germany

Mindfulness Meditation and Spaceflight: A Potential Adjunct Therapy for Astronauts

by Arthur Saniotis ^1,2,5, Gabriel G. Dela Torre³, Francesco Maria Galassi^1,4, Maciej Henneberg^1,5 and Kazhaleh Mohammadi⁶

¹Biological and Comparative Anatomy Research Unit, School of Biomedicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia

² Bachelor of Doctor Assistance Department, DDT College of Medicine, Gaborone, Botswana

³Neuropsychology and Experimental Psychology Lab, University of Cadiz, Cadiz, Spain

⁴Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland

⁵Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

⁶Department of Anesthesia Technologies, College of Health Technology, Cihan University-Erbil, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

Wondering Awe and Gratitude as an Indicator of Perceptive Spirituality: Its Potential Relevance for Mind-Body Interventions

by Arndt Büssing¹

¹Professorship Quality of Life, Spirituality and Coping, Institute of Integrative Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, 58313 Herdecke, Germany

Integrative Rheumatology – The Relevance and State-of-the-art of Mind-Body Medicine for Rheumatic Diseases

by Monika Klass^1,2

¹Medical Clinic for Rheumatology and Physical Therapy, Helios Clinic Duisburg, Germany

²Outpatient Clinic for Integrative Health Care and Naturopathy, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany

A Cogniceptive Model of Trauma Fixation

by Pascal Büttiker¹

¹Department of Psychiatry, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Czech Republic

Mind-Body Exercise Corner

Mindful Eating Exercise

Mind-body medicine is an approach to health and healing that recognizes the interconnectedness of the mind and body. Exercises such as Mindful Eating Exercise promote relaxation, reduce stress and enhance self-awareness.

Duration: 5 minutes

Instructions

1.     Prepare: Choose a food item that fits your hand (e.g. fruit, nut, gummy bear). Sit comfortably, place both feet on the floor, and close your eyes or focus on a point. Take deep breaths to relax. Then open your eyes.

2.      See: Examine the food visually, noting details such as surface texture, colour, shadows, and overall appearance.

3.      Feel with your hand: Hold the food between your index finger and thumb or place it in your palm, exploring its texture, temperature, weight, and other tactile sensations.

4.      Feel with your lips: Gently bring the food to your mouth, stroke it against your lips, and notice any differences in surface and temperature compared to your fingers.

5.      Smell: Place the food under your nose and observe its scent. Note the intensity and qualities of the smell, such as fruity, sweet, aromatic, biting, bitter, or tart.

6.      Taste: Place the food in your mouth without chewing, focusing on how it sits on your tongue. Then pay attention to the taste and any changes as you start chewing.

7.      Swallow & find out: Trace the food into your throat/body and notice when you no longer sense it. Feel into your body and reflect on any surprises or new sensations.

Mindful Eating in Company: Practice mindful eating in social settings, subtly examining your plate or utensils. Mindful drinking is also possible, savouring the temperature and scent of beverages before consuming.

Variations: With a little bit of practice, mindful eating can be incorporated into various settings, such as restaurants with friends or in the office with drinks. Note that some foods may have multiple properties, which adds to the richness of the exercise.

Announcement

Job position at the MBMRC (25%, in German/English, hybrid)

As a research assistant, you will support the work of the Institute for Integrative Health Care and Health Promotion (IGVF) under the direction of Prof. Dr. med. Tobias Esch with the organisation and implementation of a scientific conference on Mind-Body Medicine (MBM) at the University of Witten/Herdecke (UW/H) from 01.02.2024.

The aim of the conference in autumn 2024 is to establish an international platform for scientists in the field of MBM and to promote long-term research cooperation. Particular attention will be paid to basic research in MBM.

The position is initially limited to 10 months and is planned with a working time of 10 hours per week. A longer-term collaboration is envisaged.

Please find more information (in German) here.

The Mind-Body Medicine Research Council (MBMRC)

At the present time, the Council consists of the following members:

Tobias Esch, M.D. (Co-Chair)
George B. Stefano, Ph.D. (Co-Chair)
Radek Ptáček, Ph.D., MBA
Maren M. Michaelsen, Dr. rer. oec. Dr. rer. medic. (Project Lead)

How to become a member of MBMRC

As the MBMRC has been founded in 2022, and due to its dedication to rigorous contributions on the basic research foundations of Mind-Body Medicine, the number of members is yet small. In the future, the council aims to invite outstanding researchers in the field to become MBMRC members. Membership implies no fee.