Biofeedback - A Tool to Enhance Mind-Body Control

This thought may have a slight science fiction feel to it and may sound impossible, but it is feasible to alleviate sickness by exploiting the vivacity of the mind. Yes, wishes can be horses and not just beggars but all of us have the inherent power to wish that our disease would disappear and it could. A little magic, a little medicine is what this is all about – it’s called mind body therapy – biofeedback.

Biofeedback is a self-training, mind-over-body technique which was developed way back in the 1960s. It is a complimentary and alternative therapy which teaches individuals to improve their wellbeing by using signals from their own bodies. To put it simply our body can be controlled by our thoughts and will power.

Biological feed back is a feedback from various parts of our body. The main parameters which a biofeedback therapist generally monitors are brain activity, muscle tension, heart rate, blood pressure, skin temperature and sweat gland activity.

These indications are measured and amplified by special monitoring equipment and presented as images or acoustics. The person receiving this information learns to be in charge of some of his involuntary functions which are in normal course regulated automatically.

Relaxation is a key component in biofeedback treatment. In our day to day lives, we human beings contribute to our own distress. A biofeedback specialist teaches relaxation exercises to his patients so that he can treat many disorders which include asthma, headaches, hot flashes, Raynaud’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, side effects of chemotherapy, irregular heartbeats, lower back pain, constipation, high blood pressure and epilepsy – all with the technique of biofeedback.

Now, what does actually happen during a normal biofeedback session? Electrodes are attached on your head and elsewhere to let you hear or see certain bodily functions. It’s like watching an action movie of your own body in the form of beeps and doodles.

The biofeedback therapist then directs the person to do some mental exercises. By way of experimentation, an individual can soon learn to recognize and be in command of the mental activities that will bring about the physical changes he desires.

Biofeedback sessions are generally conducted in a quiet, relaxed and comfortable ambiance. Depending upon the health problem and objectives, various machines and techniques are used to gather information about the body’s responses. They include:

• Electroencephalography (EEG) sensors which are used to measure brain waves. EEG technique may be used to treat insomnia and epilepsy.
• Electromyography (EMG) sensors which are used to measure muscle tension. EMG technique may be used to treat backache, headaches, neck pain, asthma and ulcers
• Galvanic skin response (GSR) sensors are used to measure the activity of the sweat glands. GSR sensors are useful in treating phobias, anxiety and stuttering.
• Temperature sensors are used to measure the skin temperature which can help treat circulatory disorders.
• Heart rate sensors are used to monitor pulse rate.
• Respiratory sensors are used to monitor O2 intake and CO2 output.

There are no negative side effects of this treatment, nevertheless some precautions are inevitable. This therapy is not recommended for patients suffering from psychosis, depressiondefine, obsessive compulsive disorders and diabetes. It may also be inappropriate for cognitively impaired individuals.

Individuals with pacemakerdefine implants should bring it to the notice of their therapist before starting treatments, as certain types of biofeedback sensors have the capacity to disturb the functioning of these devices which could even prove fatal.

This therapy needs 100% involvement of the patient. It cannot claim to be a cure but could reduce the amount of medication and also help a in the betterment of a condition that was not responding suitably to a prescription.