LATE BREAKING NEWS ABSTRACT
PSYCHONEUROIMMUNOLOGY RESEARCH SOCIETY 2003
REDUCTION IN RECOVERY TIME AND SIDE EFFECTS OF
STEM
CELL TRANSPLANT PATIENTS USING PHYSIOPHILOSOPHY
Cindy L. Mason
Visiting Scientist
Stanford Research Institute
cindymason@media.mit.edu
ABSTRACT
Three stem cell transplant patients at Stanford University Hospital
receiving daily sessions of the healing art known as Jin Shin Jyutsu®,
an ancient Japanese healing art described as physiophilosophy, reduced hospital
stays by 14, 15, and 17 days, respectively. Patients were being treated
for cancer and received stem cell transplants following radiation treatments.
Typical hospital stay for this procedure as dictated by insurers is 40 days
post transplant. The third patient left for home without need of a caregiver.
Jin Shin Jyutsu was applied weekly prior to the procedure. Daily sessions
begin the first day of out-patient radiation while patients stay nearby
the hospital. Sessions continued daily while in hospital and then in housing
units owned by the hospital nearby. Patients are released from each phase
based on blood cell counts. A team of four practitioners worked with each
patient.
The physiophilosophy is that disease and illness are manifestations of
attitude in the body. Practitioners and clients speak and think about illnesses
that arise in the body or mind as "projects" and work with Jin Shin Jyutsu
Self-Help as much as possible outside of the regular one hour sessions.
Patients are educated to become aware of their feelings and apply corresponding
Self Help techniques. Patients and practitioners report feeling their attitudes
change and there is much joy and laughter even under the most difficult
circumstances during sessions.