Mind Body Medicine
Body and mind in balance
Mind Body Medicine is a health concept that focuses on the whole person and balances body and mind. The “Temple of Health” visualizes this concept and shows how different levels can be used to promote self-care and self-efficacy and reduce symptoms through multimodal therapies.
Mind-Body Medicine is a modern, integrative health concept that harmonizes body and mind, promotes self-care, and is used both preventively and therapeutically. The goal is to alleviate symptoms and strengthen self-efficacy through multimodal therapeutic concepts. Mind-Body Medicine combines current scientific knowledge with proven methods from complementary medicine, psychology, nutrition, and sports science, and is offered in both group and individual treatments.
In Switzerland, Mind-Body Medicine is practiced by health professionals from various fields and is represented by the Swiss Association for Mind-Body Medicine (SFMBM). At the University of Zurich, we also offer the Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in "Health Psychological Lifestyle Change and Mind-Body Medicine."
“Whole Person Health” views the person as a whole and takes into account biological, behavioral, social, and environmental factors to promote health, strengthen resilience, and prevent illness, rather than just treating individual diseases.
In modern Mind-Body Medicine, digitalization and the One Health approach also play a significant role.
In 2024, we further developed the Temple of Health to represent the Whole Person Health-Mind Body Medicine concept. This visualization supports Mind-Body Medicine consultations and illustrates how various factors and levels are interconnected for a healthy life.
- Foundation: The foundation illustrates essential aspects considered in Mind Body Medicine recommendations, such as physical and mental health status, living circumstances, personality, and mindset. Mindfulness is seen as a foundational element that can be nurtured through specific interventions or combined with other approaches.
- Six Pillars: These pillars represent resources that can be strengthened through targeted interventions. They include: physical activity, nutrition, relaxation & breathing, sleep, complementary self-care therapies, and nature & arts.
- Ceiling: Here, Mind Body Medicine approaches support emotional regulation and cognitive processes.
- Roof: The temple’s various levels also shape our relationships with ourselves, others, and digital tools.
Copyright
Im Jahr 2024 durch einen systematischen partizipativen Prozess entwickelt durch:
Claudia M. Witt, Simon Ruegg & Daniel Hausmann-Thürig; supported by Elina Christes, Anna Paul, Christiane Pithan, Nadine Laub, Anne-Marie Flammersfeld, Anita Thomae, Sonja Schläpfer, Anja Kröner, Silvia Rusch, Amelie-Marie Rojas, Beatrice Gschwend, Heidrun Pöcherstorfer, Petra Uffer, Imke Grosse-Wilde, Hannah Geiger, Bettina Plattner, Studierendengruppe der Mind Body Medizin Summerschool in Essen August 2024, students of the One Health seminar of the Faculty of Veterinary medicine of the UZH in September 2024
Grafic Design: Casey Murphy
Italian Translation: Petra Uffer
Relaxation and breathing exercises are essential components for reducing stress and supporting mental health.
In Mind-Body Medicine, engaging with nature involves conscious contact (nature connection) through one or more senses with living or non-living, individual or collective elements of nature. Not all nature contact inherently supports health and well-being; within Mind-Body Medicine, mindfulness plays a key role in maximizing the benefits of nature.
