It's The Thought That Counts: Why Mind Over Matter Really Works by Dr David R. Hamilton PhD

by David R. Hamilton

When pharmaceutical scientist David R. Hamilton, Ph.D., observed the results of tests on new drugs, he noticed that patients receiving control placebo pills reported the same level of improvement as those receiving the actual drug.Seeing this result repeat itself time and time again, he became fascinated by the mind-body connection and started to research the work of scientists, mystics, and healers working in this field. The result is this groundbreaking book, in which Hamilton explains how the mind and emotions can influence the well-being of your body and even the structure of your DNA.You’ll learn · the physical impact of meditation· why sending healing thoughts to a person in need is so beneficial· the power of love and its impact on body cells· all the many ways in which your thoughts affect you

Genres: Psychology, Health, Nonfiction, Self Help

Paperback

First published April 17, 2005

About the author

David has a first class honors degree in chemistry, specializing in biological and medicinal chemistry. He has the slightly geeky honour of having achieved 100% in his 3rd year university degree exam in ‘Statistical Mechanics’, which is a branch of quantum physics applied to chemistry.

After completing his PhD, he worked for 4 years in the pharmaceutical industry, first developing drugs for cardiovascular disease and cancer, then a year managing leadership and change projects. During this time he also served as an athletics coach and manager of Sale Harriers Manchester, one of the UK’s largest athletics clubs, leading the Junior Men’s team to three successive UK finals. Upon leaving the pharmaceutical industry, he co-founded the international relief charity Spirit Aid Foundation and served as a director for 2 years.

While writing his first book (2004-2005), he taught chemistry (main) plus ecology and mathematics (secondary) at West College Scotland (formerly, James Watt College of Further and Higher Education) and tutored chemistry at the University of Glasgow.

He’s now a bestselling author of 8 books (No’s 9 and 10 are due out in 2017) published by Hay House UK, and offer talks and workshops that use science to inspire – fusing neuroscience, the mind-body connection, kindness, and philosophical and eastern spiritual teachings. He also writes a regular blog on his website as well as occasional blogs for the Huffington Post (US edition) and Psychologies Life Labs, and is a columnist for Soul and Spirit Magazine. In 2016, David won the Kindred Spirit, ‘Best MBS Writer Award’.

He has been featured in numerous publications, including ELLE, RED Magazine, Psychologies, YOU Magazine, Good Housekeeping (both UK & US), and several newspapers.

You might wonder how he got into writing on the subjects he does. In his own words, “Well, during my time in the pharmaceutical industry, I was fascinated by the placebo effect – how people improve through believing they are receiving a drug – so I began to study mind-body interactions in my spare time. I decided to leave the pharmaceutical industry after 4 years because I wanted to educate about the mind-body connection, help people to believe in themselves more, and spread a little more kindness in the world in my own way.”

Reviews

[Dorothy Drew]

Dr. Hamilton takes a scientific approach to studies of the health effects of visualization. What happens to heart rate or blood biochemistry. Even more, what is happening to the DNA. One fascinating anecdote is about a young man who developed liver disease and needed tubes for drainage that would make him a semi-invalid for life. He spent hours every day imagining he was cleaning and polishing each cell - cell by cell - of his liver. A few months later one of the tubes was dislodged and when he was rushed to hospital, an x-ray done so that a new tube could be inserted found that his liver was perfectly healthy. (p. 11) The theory is his frequent, repetitive visualization turned on epigenes that encouraged the production of healthy cells.

Something that is very relevant to RTT.

Dr. Hamilton summarizes the scientific research on the placebo effect as 3 main factors:
1. A person's desire to be healed
2. The expectancy that something positive will happen
3. Their belief they will be healed
4. Positive Feelings - power of faith. (p. 21)
He describes research that showed the placebo effects for asthma or even the immune system.
Genes are affected by visualization. "Repetitive visualization...switched on specific genes that caused the construction of healthy liver cells". (p. 39)
"If we release our emotional pain through talking with someone or having some sort of therapy, then begin to dwell on positive, appreciative thoughts and feelings, we will encourage the growth of healthy cells. This is why hypnosis has been shown to be a powerful tool in the healing arts" (p. 39-40)
"It has been theorized that spontaneous remission from cancer, where it vanished virtually overnight, is a switching on of the interleukin-2 gene as a result of tremendous faith, hope, determination, visualization; a complete change of belief system; or some other powerful experience. When turned on, this gene turbo-charges the immune system, causing a neutralization of cancer cells and other harmful pathogens. So even if a person has inherited a tendency for an oncogene (cancer gene) to be switched on, a significant change in mind could switch it off, rendering the person healed" (p. 40)
He describes studies that show love increases the healing biochemicals in the blood.
He describes studies that show thoughts can heal wounds. "patients who were more stressed prior to their operation had less Interleukin-1 ...a substance involved with the inflammatory response" They took longer to heal. (p. 44)
Hostility between married couples was correlated with hardening of the arteries (increase risk of heart attack) "Wounds took longer to heal following marital conflict" (p. 44)
"thoughts of appreciation, care, and compassion can smooth the rhythms of the heart and elevate the immune system"
"We can also use mental techniques like visualization to speed up healing in any are of the body"
It might not be an "instant fix"
Negative thoughts -- that we cannot heal with our mind -- form the "negative placebo effect (nocebo)
He talks about how "warm feelings of appreciation" or a "loving touch" can help others around us
These thoughts and healing-touch can help provide "comfort in the final stages of there lives"
"A kind thought, a smile, or a few genuinely kind words cost nothing but they can go a very long way"
In the chapter "the power of intention" Dr Hamilton also talks about the research studies and brain scans that have been done on the healing power of energy medicine.
A long term study of hypertensive patients study qigong showed a major drop in death by stroke. Many also stopped taking any medication.
Qigong also helped cancer patients "it is likely that the practice of qigong helped to unblock some suppressed emotion as well as increase the amount of vital energy being supplied to all of the organs". (p. 60-61)
In a chapter of "Good Vibrations", Dr. Hamilton talks about the effect of music. "slow rhythmic music" changed levels of "brain-derived neurotrophic factor -- a substance that aids the growth and survival of brain cells....the area that controls memory and learning" (p. 72)
"Drumming is also used by some shamans to help them enter an altered state of consciousness. The sound vibrations (waves) presumably resonate with some of the body's natural rhythms and cause the production of mind-altering opiate-type neuropeptides....Prolonged drumming probably even involves a number of genes being switched on and off". (p. 73)
"Playing lullaby rhythm music reduced the heart rate in children who were getting a cast on a broken limb. " (p. 73-74)
"Researcher Fabien Maman ... discovered that a series of acoustic notes would destroy cancer cells, leaving healthy ones intact. He also found that a chromatic scale of notes would alter the energy emitted from healthy human cells." (p. 75-76)
Dr. Hamilton talks about research that has been done showing effects on healing of prayer, meditation, connectedness and spiritual beliefs and love.
"...if you remember that reality mirrors your thinking, changing any area of your life is well within your control and you need never be at the mercy of any person, organization, or situation. Change your mind -- your thoughts, your emotions, and beliefs -- and you will change your life."

"The power of belief is immense. We know how powerful the placebo effect is in creating health. But a similar type of placebo effect happens in our daily lives. our thoughts, intentions, feeling, and beliefs all create what happens to us." (p. 123)
His "Rules for Life": (p. 163-171)
1. Love for Self
2. Love for Others (he suggests watching the Film "Pay it Forward"
3. Love for Nature
"Your thoughts are far more powerful than you have ever imagined them to be. They are the starting point of all change, and so the source of all change is within you."

** Note page numbers are from the 2008 edition

[Dianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Hamilton’s interest in this topic was inspired by the field research tests he conducted for chemical companies. Realising that placebo tests produced comparable results with the sample that received the actual drug, Hamilton sets about understanding why.

This is the premise of a book that basically speaks about manifestation, healing through positive thinking and how can peace bring us health. I 100% believe everything stated in the book because I’ve felt it on my own skin. The books talks about real studies that took place, the placebo phenomenon and much more.

This book is a medical book but it’s an easy read! It isn’t long and covers many topics. My review is super slim because it’s summer and I’m writing whilst tanning aka taking a break.

If you want a reason or a sign to start manifestating then this book is for you!

[Erica Dippold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beginning half is more scientific. End half is more spiritual. Gives a wide-ranging overview of several different topics that one might find useful. Most interesting part for me was the overlap of visualization / gratitude in prayer within ancient texts. i.e. what "works" for prayer and what does not.
Also the level and intensity of emotion felt, as well as certainty, in that prayer -- or as another might call it the "law of attraction." "Subconscious programming" The endless overlaps between science and spirituality continue to be undeniably interesting..

[Caro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting

[Candice Tatro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative, lots of research backed information - loved the easy read. Very powerful and transformative.

[Shanou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting, some excellent reachings, precious advice; mind over matter very well explained and very clear
I love his Scottish accent

[L · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that completely changed and altered the way that i think about things, with its powerful, strong and direct message that is sent strait to your heart. the term of 'mind over matter' is just so relevant & real, and which is highlighted and emphasised throughout the entire book when discussing lifestyle issues. Emotions play a large role within all our lives as they can often determine a thought or action, that can be drematic and which can also effect ones health, mood & well-being. Having spent many years ill and in hospital all of Dr. David Hamilton's topics and views were completely and utterly understandable, and i was able to see exsactly where his ideas were based and leading too. You also do not have to be physically or mentally ill to be able to understand the simple, life changing concepts within this book as it also covers general things such as love and personal feelings; human emotion is so poinant & something that we do really base our lives upon. If you think to yourself 'i am happy' then you begin to actually start believing in this and it likewise aplies to everything else, so for an example if you are going to a job interview and you think that you will get the job the chances may be increased due to your positive & optimistic persona. This book was very truth drawing and most thought provoking, and i would highly recomend it to all those 'deep thinkers' out there who enjoy reading inspiring works that gives certain viewpoints and thoughts that are based around life & the way that we are. It is a well known fact that if you are ill in hospital for whatever reason that you will be more likely and the odds will be greater for you to get better quicker, if you think positive, optimistic and are pro-active in your recovery in thinking that 'i WILL get better'. With the daily stress and challenges within life it is books like this (that is more of a guide or manual) that help one to gain positivity and a new outlook & attitude to certain aspects, that change our thouhts and views hopefully for the better. Having the correct aproach to anything is important and here Dr. David R. Hamilton is not saying you 'HAVE' to think like this or 'this IS how you think or act' but rather he is opening a window into his thoughts & heart so that all can see who endeavour to aquire it and who would like to explore his concepts and notions. This was a small book that had and still has a profound effect upon myself and it is something that i would certainly recomend & urge one to read, as ignoring the books cover ('never judge a book by the cover') it may be something that would shock, suprise and/or change you. This is something that one can apply to all situations and events within life and is certainly not restricted to those who are ill, medical connections or similar, as it targets a wide & diverse readership. Try it and you may be suprised!

[Jeremy Neal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This seemed very promising, and I agree entirely with the unstated intent that I inferred from its approach, that this book is designed to evangelise the view that our thoughts affect reality, but I felt that it fell down due to its universalism - the book is far from deep or challenging - and it has a lite style too, more a collection of reviews than a cohesive whole.

So while I agree that mind does affect matter, it's preaching to the choir rather, and I've read more convincing material than this. It feels akin to putting the stabilisers back on your bike.

I'm not convinced that it would be an effective sermon for converting sceptics either. Who could ever convert a sceptic? I've never known it to happen.

So, good, but who is it for?

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent and thought provoking. We really do have far more control over our lives than most of us realise. Well written. The author's background as a scientist gives the work a validity which new age 'gurus' would die for. I've been to one of David Hamilton's talks and he is even more persuasive in person. Go if you get the chance. Become a believer. I dare you.

[Mathilde · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of scientific researchs to back up the placebo effect and how our mind has a direct effect on our body.

[Marianne]

Just a little something to read this weekend while camping to work on my anxiety. I am looking forward to getting started.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A feel good view of life.