Guided Imagery to Fight Diabetes

Yesterday, I wrote a post about the power of a type of guided imagery known as imaginal healing.

Guided Imagery “Rediscovered” By Modern Medicine

This process is probably as old as we humans are, but it got lost along the way with the advent of so-called modern medicine. Paradoxically, it is in the medical community where this age old art is being revisited.

Using guided imagery for healing entails the process of seeing the body as well; seeing the body doing the things it does when it is well; “seeing” wellness throughout the body.

I recently ran across a site called “Diabetes Self-Management which had a very comprehensive article on how guided imagery is used with diabetes patients, among others. Here is a brief excerpt, but the whole article is worth the read:

Commonly offered to cancer patients to improve quality of life during chemotherapy, imagery is also known as a helpful adjunct therapy in preparation for surgery, childbirth, and other difficult situations. It has been shown to provide pain relief, shorten hospital stays, and lessen stress and anxiety. The link between stress and poor blood glucose control in people with diabetes is clearly established. And since much of the professional literature on diabetes calls for approaches to its management that consider the emotional and behavioral — not just physical — needs of the person, an easy-to-use stress buster that can also provide insight into behavior may prove to be very useful.

Guided imagery, which is often referred to as just imagery, or creative visualization or active imagination, uses the power of the brain to create holograms that then trigger the release of a wide range of chemicals in the body that go to the area being imagined. Imagining yourself in a relaxed state is the first step. It creates what researches call the relaxation response.

Guided Imagery for Healing Begins with Relaxation

When achieved, this is what happens to the body, according to the article:

“…the nervous system deactivates the stress response. Brain waves, respiration, heart rate, muscle tension, and blood glucose all decrease, while immune function and feelings of well-being increase.”

The whole article is long, but it is worth reading if you have ever been skeptical about the techniques of guided imagery.