Tapping into the power of guided imagery can reduce blood pressure, ease anxiety and more. The theory is, in terms of brain activity, that there isn’t much difference between imagining something and actually experiencing it. Brain scans prove that visualising something — sucking on a lemon, for example — triggers activity in the visual cortex, the same part of the brain that would respond if you were actually sucking that lemon. The visual cortex is also closely linked to the autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary actions such as breathing and pulse rate. And there’s plenty of new and interesting research to back up the theory. In one American study, patients who listened to a guided imagery CD while recuperating from surgery saved a whopping average of $2000 in treatment costs, mostly because they didn’t need as many drugs for pain relief. Similar results have been noted in cardiac surgery patients who experienced reduced blood pressure and stress levels when they used a guided imagery CD as part of their recovery plan. To find a CD that you like, check out the huge range at www.newworldmusic.com.au.
