When people overcome limited emotional states that keep them connected to past experiences, break out of redundant habits and automatic programs, and change certain self-destructive hardwired attitudes and beliefs—the cells of their immune system are busy upregulating new genes. -- Dr Joe Dispenza

In a stunning discovery made by the University of Virginia’s School of Medicine, researchers have overturned decades of textbook teaching by determining that there is a direct correlation between the brain and the immune system. For years scientists have been trying to correlate the relationship between the two, yet they lacked the evidence to show how our thoughts and feelings (our neurochemistry) could affect our overall health. This groundbreaking finding could have significant implications on our understanding of how the brain and immune system interact. This will enable scientists to target the immune system for the benefit of the brain.

What this correlation hopes to uncover is the understanding of how inflammation begins to create—and sometimes is responsible for—certain diseases. For instance, with conditions such as Alzheimer's, rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, multiple sclerosis, lupus, and autism, when the immune system is suppressed and inflammation goes up, one of two outcomes can occur: either a new disease is activated in the body or the symptoms of an existing disease are exacerbated. Why? Because when we’re living by the hormones of stress for extended periods of time, inflammation increases and thus, the function of our immune system becomes compromised.

“It’s crazy, but maybe we are just multicellular battlefields for two ancient forces: pathogens and the immune system. Part of our personality may actually be dictated by the immune system,” said Jonathan Kipnis, chair of UVA’s Department of Neuroscience.

This exciting new breakthrough in science could explain why we’re seeing so many amazing healings in our workshops. When our students move into elevated states of being during meditation, by embracing feelings like love, joy, or gratitude, these emotions drive new modes of thinking. This in turn creates new brain chemistry, brings our brains back into coherence, and engenders new synaptic connections—which then influence our bodies in very immediate and direct ways. By studying our community’s ability to perform such feats, the independent research that my scientific team and I have been doing in the last 2 years fully supports this doctrine.

When people overcome limited emotional states that keep them connected to past experiences, break out of redundant habits and automatic programs, and change certain self-destructive hardwired attitudes and beliefs—the cells of their immune system are busy upregulating new genes. This means that their thoughts and feelings are signaling cells within the body’s internal defense system to turn on healthy genes to make better proteins—otherwise known as healthy antibodies—as well as a host of other beneficial chemicals to balance and regulate the body. This process in turn reduces inflammation, suppresses tumors, mobilizes enzymes, and so on.

So the next time you sit down to create a better life, a healthier body, or a new experience, just remember that your brain and body have never been separate-and that the bridge between the two is your immune system. The cells of your body have always been spying on your brain. So why not use your nervous system—the greatest pharmacist ever—to activate your body’s internal army to create order for you every day? You don’t even need a prescription.