The Balance Within

Since ancient times humans have felt intuitively that emotions and health are linked. But without compelling evidence, it has been impossible to say for sure that such a connection really exists and especially how it works. Now that evidence has been discovered. A thrilling scientific detective story, The Balance Within tells how researchers finally uncovered the elusive mind-body connection. In this beautifully written book, author Esther Sternberg - a scientist whose discoveries were pivotal in helping to solve this mystery - provides first hand accounts of the breakthrough experiments that revealed the physical mechanisms - the nerves, cells, and hormones - used by the brain and immune system to communicate with each other. She describes just how the immune system can alter our moods, and how stress can make us more susceptible to all types of illnesses. Finally, she explains why understanding these connections in scientific terms can help answer such crucial questions as "Does stress make you sick?" "Does believing make you well?" and "How do our personal relationships affect our health?"