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American Academy of Pediatrics
Article

Complementary, Holistic, and Integrative Medicine: Mind-Body Medicine

Hilary McClafferty
Pediatrics in Review May 2011, 32 (5) 201-203; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1542/pir.32-5-201
Hilary McClafferty
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  1. Hilary McClafferty, MD*
  1. *Assistant Director of the Fellowship, Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Phoenix, AZ.
  • Author Disclosure

    Dr McClafferty has disclosed no financial relationships relevant to this article. This commentary does not contain a discussion of an unapproved/investigative use of a commercial product/device.

Objectives

After completing this article, readers should be able to:

  1. Define mind-body medicine.

  2. Review evidence-based pediatric mind-body therapies and identify medical conditions where these therapies have proven beneficial.

  3. Encourage pediatricians to consider integrating mind-body medicine into practice.

What is Mind-Body Medicine?

Mind-body medicine might be defined as the deliberate harnessing of positive thought and emotion and using them for the purpose of enhancing health.

It has been well established that poorly managed pain and stress can activate the inflammatory cascade, depress immune function, and increase the risk of chronic depression, anxiety disorders, and posttraumatic stress disorder. (1)(2)(3)(4)(5) The field of mind-body medicine capitalizes on the inverse association that positive emotions and use of self-regulation skills can trigger beneficial physiologic reactions, including enhanced immunity, decreased inflammation, and improved mental health. (6)

A wide variety of mind-body techniques can be used to achieve a state of calm, positive focus. The modalities that have the best supporting evidence of efficacy in pediatrics currently are biofeedback, hypnosis, guided imagery, mindfulness, music therapy, and yoga. (7)

Challenges in Mind-Body Medicine

New fields of medicine present unique challenges, and mind-body medicine is no exception. This broad, wide-ranging topic rarely is addressed in medical education. Mastery of new skills is required, treatment is highly individualized, insurance reimbursement may vary, colleagues may be skeptical, and pressure to prescribe medication rather than suggest an unfamiliar therapy may deter physicians from recommending it.

Why is Mind-Body Medicine Important?

Mind-body therapies encourage children to become active participants in their care and are low risk and cost-effective. They can be used as evidence-based alternatives to conventional therapies if conventional treatments have undesirable adverse effects, as adjunct supportive therapies, or as primary treatments in cases where they offer superior …

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Pediatrics in Review: 32 (5)
Pediatrics in Review
Vol. 32, Issue 5
1 May 2011
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Complementary, Holistic, and Integrative Medicine: Mind-Body Medicine
Hilary McClafferty
Pediatrics in Review May 2011, 32 (5) 201-203; DOI: 10.1542/pir.32-5-201

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Complementary, Holistic, and Integrative Medicine: Mind-Body Medicine
Hilary McClafferty
Pediatrics in Review May 2011, 32 (5) 201-203; DOI: 10.1542/pir.32-5-201
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  • Article
    • Objectives
    • What is Mind-Body Medicine?
    • Challenges in Mind-Body Medicine
    • Why is Mind-Body Medicine Important?
    • The Importance of Language in Mind-Body Medicine
    • Stress Diagnosis in Children
    • Selected Mind-Body Modalities: Best Evidence in Children
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  • Complementary, Holistic, and Integrative Medicine: Yoga
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