The belief that your imagination can help cure your ills isn’t a new one. Imagery has been considered a healing tool in virtually all of the world’s cultures and is an integral part of many religions. Navajo Indians, for example, practice an elaborate form of imagery that encourages a person to “see” himself as healthy. Ancient Egyptians and Greeks, including Aristotle and Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, believed that images release spirits in the brain that arouse the heart and other parts of the body. They also thought that a strong image of a disease is enough to cause its symptoms.

The power of the mind to influence the body is quite remarkable. Although it isn’t always curative, imagery can be helpful in 90 percent of the problems that people bring to the attention of their primary care physicians, says Martin L. Rossman, M.D., author of Healing Yourself: A Step-by-Step Program for Better Health through Imagery.

Imagery became more popular in the United States when O. Carl Simonton, M.D., a radiation oncologist in Los Angeles, began using it in the early 1970s to help cancer patients. Dr. Simonton claimed that activity of the immune system could be boosted by visualizing strong white blood cells attacking weak cancer cells. Those in the study lived twice as long as those who received medical care alone.

Step-by-step Guide
* Take a few moments to relax. Studies indicate that imagery works best when it is used in conjunction with a relaxation technique.

* Loosen your clothing, take off your shoes, lie down or sit in a comfortable chair and, if you’d like, dim the lights. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Picture yourself descending an imaginary staircase. With each step, notice that you feel more and more relaxed.

* When you feel totally relaxed, imagine a favorite scene. It could be a beach, a mountain slope or a particularly enjoyable moment with friends or family.
Try to go to this scene each time you practice your imagery.

* Once you feel comfortable in your favorite scene, gradually direct your mind toward the ailment you’re concerned about.

* If several images come to mind, choose one and stick with it for that session. Let the image become more vivid and in focus. Don’t worry if it seems to fade in and out.

* If several images come to mind, choose one and stick with it for that session.

* If no images come to mind, try focussing on a different sensation. For instance, imagine hearing fish frying in a skillet or smelling wildflowers in a meadow.

* If all else fails, think about how you feel at the moment. Angry? Frustrated? What color is that anger? What image is evoked? Use these feelings to forge images.

* Each time you do this, imagine that your ailment is completely cured at the end of the session. “That creates an internal blueprint that your body can follow to help heal you,” says Patricia Norris, Ph.D.

* At the end of your session, take a few more deep breaths and picture yourself climbing the imaginary staircase and gradually becoming aware of your surroundings. Open your eyes, stretch, smile and go on with your day.

* In the beginning, practice this imagery exercise for 15 to 20 minutes at least once a day. As you become more skilled, you will probably be able to do it at will for just a few moments at a time several times a day and still receive the benefits.