The Brain-Body Connection

From as far back as we know—and probably farther—our human system has perplexed and intrigued the deepest thinkers. Extraordinary theories abound in historical records about how our bodies and minds work and how other forces influence our behaviour, our health, and our lives. Hippocrates and his contemporaries believed that four key bodily fluids, including blood, phlegm, and both black and yellow bile (known collectively as “humors”), were the drivers of health and disease. Centuries later, philosopher and surgeon Galen’s position that good health involved a “balance of the passions” (anger, anxiety, grief) was grounded in those ancient tenets of humorism. It wasn’t until Descartes proposed a separation of mind and body in the 17th century that the biomedical model took hold in research and practice. Since then, of course, we’ve made incredible strides in our understanding of anatomy, physiology, and pathology. Yet the separation of body and mind intuitively didn’t feel right for many. Now it seems that we’ve come full circle, and researchers are finding evidence that the mind-body connection is a powerful force when it comes to health.