Science is making strides in brain studies which are providing proof that our thoughts can indeed affect the chemistry of our brains and thus our physical and mental health.

We have learned that negative emotions such as fear and stress not only make our bodies more susceptible to disease, but can actually cause the disease. Conversely, the same biochemical mechanisms that work against us may also be utilized to work for us.

The placebo effect has been shown to heal a fair percentage of patients whose belief in the cure was enough to actually rid their bodies of disease.
The new biology takes this further. It is not just the power of suggestion, but the actual thoughts and words chosen by the person which changes brain chemistry. We have 50 trillion cells in our body which communicate through neuro-chemical and vibration signals. Bruce H. Lipton, PhD, has done a large amount of work in this field, which is called ‘epigenetics’.

The word epigenetics literally means "above the genes", i.e., the mind controls the genes. The study of Epigenetics suggests that our minds can re-write our genes to actually change the paradigm of control.

Even though the programming of the cells begins in infancy or before birth, they can be reprogrammed by human will to act differently. Epigenetics says we can heal ourselves by programming our thoughts to redirect our physical reactions.

Our Yogic practices promise us much the same.

However, there is yet more to the power of the new biology.

If we subject ourselves to a heavy menu of negative stimuli, we will probably suffer from stress-induced illness. When the mind is stressed, the level of immune protective cells goes down. The opposite is also true: when the emotional state is relaxed, the number of protective cells goes up. So if a person practices meditation, positive thinking and other methods to create a relaxed mood, immunity against disease improves.

These positive mental practices help to change confidence levels—by first changing chemical levels. Repeating the same words over and over can create new paths between chemicals. Once the new paths are created, new thought patterns become habitual. For example, to provide more will power, a person can change "I will never" to "I can." Indians perfected the art of auto-suggestion through creating coded 'mantras' which when repeated or chanted in certain formats, within certain ritualised conditions, are guaranteed to get desired results. Not only that, but the fact that millions of people over thousands of years have created a kind of bank account of positive vibrations by the mere fact of having chanted some sound patterns for triggering certain thought processes. Every new chanter can actually plug in to that source to multiply his personal account by several notches.

Since mid Twentieth century, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a form of psychotherapy, developed based on the premise that thoughts can change behaviour and overwrite the cell's memory. It appears that similarly felt changes in behaviour and mood are caused by the different mechanisms of drugs, and therapy without drugs.

A number of studies have indicated that regular meditation can reduce hypertension or high blood pressure and that it can also lower abnormally high levels of cholesterol in the blood. Other studies indicate that regular meditation may substantially increase blood levels of certain important immune-system hormones, while reducing levels of the stress hormones that have been linked to many diseases.
Sounds, chants, prayers and music play a role in many healing traditions. Sound waves may well have a direct effect on certain aspects of bodily functioning.

What mystics knew eons ago, we now know evidentially: the mind has the power to bring mental, emotional and physical healing. Methods are now close at hand that are free and without harmful side effect.

Ultimately, in most areas of our everyday lives, we have the power, or can assume or appropriate the power through sustained practice, to take control of our own well-being. In an increasingly insecure world it is the individual and communities of individuals who can set many wrongs right. Instead of exercising choice between placebos meted out to us by people in power or poisons by those in control of the markets, we need to take responsibility to restore order in our lives, specially in a month when the Great Mahatma and Lord Rama join to help us demolish many demons and deal with our innermost fears with courage and honesty.