The possibilities as well as the limitations of the current state-of-the art in mind-body healing are illustrated by the following personal account written by a patient who used the ultradian healing response as a form of self-hypnosis (Rossi, 1988):
"After beginning psychotherapy with Dr. Rossi, I was informed by my gynecologist that I had developed a small polyp on my cervix.He said that I would probably need surgery but that the polyp was small and it could wait three months in order to see if it grew or decreased in size.I sought a second opinion, this time with the "top" OB-GYN in Beverly Hills.He confirmed the original diagnosis and recommended immediate surgery.
I decided to wait the three months.During that time, I used a relaxation and imagery exercise that Dr. Rossi had taught me:I would relax and imagine the polyp as a small, round tumor or growth of cells. Then I would image a ray of light like a laser beam contacting the tumor and making it disappear.When doing this visualization, I experienced a pleasurable sensation in the area of my cervix when I was visualizing the laser beam.The sensation reached a certain level of intensity and then I would stop the visualization naturally.I did the exercise consciously about five or six times per day for about two-to-three minutes each time.But, after a week of so, I found that the meditation was going on unconsciously most of the day.A great deal of my energy was withdrawn from involvement with social or emotional area during this time as well.My focus was on being healed.
Three months later, on my 38th birthday, I returned to the gynecologist.He informed me that "Mother Nature had taken care of itself" and the polyp was gone!"
Documentation for this case of apparent mind-body healing was provided by this patient's unusually well-qualified doctor, who was a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and a Diplomate of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.He confirmed the disappearance of the patient's polyp with the following letter:
"Dear Dr. Rossi,
On January 18, 1983, a three millimeter cervical polyp was diagnosed on ___ ___. When next seen on April 22, 1983, the polyp was no longer visible.
I hope this information will be of help to your care of this patient.
Very truly yours,
(Name withheld by request)"
A follow-up telephone call to this physician established his willingness to allow his letter to be used "for research purposes", but he was unwilling for his admittedly reputable name to be cited.
The above story is from the book: "Mind-Body Therapy"
Excerpt from the book "Mind-Body Therapy: Methods of Ideodynamic Healing in Hypnosis" by Ernest L. Rossi, David B. Cheek.