The relationship between Attention and Immune Regulation
Behold! the study: https://x.com/RogerThisdell/status/2089627058213200072?s=20
And a screenshot of the study plus a quote from the abstract in case of link rot:
… where scientists find what we all already know: there is a relationship between attention and immune regulation.
But it’s not possible to draw one simple conclusion. Attention can make pain go up or down, make immune response better or worse. Cue: “ohmygod EvyrThing?is so CompiCAtled.”
Yes. In my opinion there is not one simple conclusion, but, given approx 3 simple strands to the phenomena, there actually IS a simple conclusion. Going from one to three strands is not that bad.
My Opinion on How it works
Skip to the end: My conclusion is this: the “body” tries hard to comply with the “mind”, OR the body-mind responds to what “You”, the Self want. However, we also live in a biological world with certain physical truths that cannot be ignored.
So, it’s very important to note that the *quality* of attention is incredibly important.
Many people put attention on a part of the body which is injured or sick, focus on the pain and mentally scream “do not want!” at the area. That area will then try to -not exist, and -not be in pain, while also having full attention on it, so it is enlarged in experience, all while the natural biology is trying to heal it. This creates very mixed signals for the body-mind, the area will experience stress and inflame, resources (eg blood sugar) will divert to the thought-mind that is panicking and to trying to reduce pain, and the body may conserve resources thanks to thinking it is still under stress from the environment. This will undoubtedly slow healing down.
If the person in such a scenario distracts attention away from the area, the pain will decrease and the inflammation will decrease, and hopefully biology can be left alone to do the healing.
The *ideal* scenario though would be to direct *loving attention* to the area. Curious attention that does not judge or flinch or demand. Wise, loving attention will give the Self or Mind a sense of what is really happening there and why.
A wise self will then direct support for healing to the area. The wise self will put the rest of the body into ideal conditions for healing (such as resting, drinking water, or movement for a sprained muscle etc). A wise self will feel into the pain, and will not request the body decrease the pain. Instead it will send support and resources to the area. To feel pain relief a wise self will widen attention to the whole body and whole world once love has been given, because a wise self knows pain will fall away when a broader view is held in awareness. Distraction as tool, not as habit.
The area will then not become inflamed, it will start to heal faster, it will not receive mixed signals, it will be fully resourced and given permission to do its best work, and healing will happen much, much faster. And with reduced pain.
Using all the tools of the intellect can come into play here, from anatomy, from knowledge of eg hormones or circulation or white blood cells or anything from Western science, to plant remedies, to friendly advice, to spiritual healing techniques, will greatly help.
Any and all True information, when wielded by the wise intellect and infused with the genuine self-love of the heart, and directed by wide or narrow loving Attention, will supercharge healing and pain relief.
The body-mind and Self are aligned in thought and action, infused by love and wisdom. This is how attention relates to healing.
Be Wise. Be Well. 🙏
Leave a Reply