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pressure.  These medica- tions certainly do not relieve stressors or address spiritual concerns that may be con- tributing to, or inhibiting, the healing process. Mind/body therapies actually include a wide array of modalities that center around the mind/body connection in healing.  Extensive research has been performed in many of these areas: • Meditation and relaxation were examined by Cooper in 1978 and found to signifi- cantly lower both systolic and diastolic blood pressure (32).  Likewise, a 1996 study of African Americans with hypertension found a reduc- tion in blood pressure through use of meditation (33).  Meditation is probably the simplest, and perhaps the most rewarding of all holistic therapies.  It makes you feel good about yourself and it's good for you. • Imagery and visualization are therapeutic techniques that lead the participant through a series of images that promote relaxation by calming the body's natural anxiety-provoking chemicals. These "images" may involve several of the body's senses, such as touch, sight, smell, motion and hearing.  With proper training, individuals can learn to guide them- selves through those states,   which provide a personal calming effect and can reduce heart rate and blood pressure.  Studies have demonstrated the ability of humans to control their hemodynamic response to stress (34). The benefits of such therapy endure even after the participant is no longer engaged in the activi- ty. • Biofeedback utilizes instru- ments that monitor bodily functions and allows the participant to regulate those functions.  For instance, lis- tening to your heartbeat enables you to consciously increase or decrease your heart rate.  Such techniques have been utilized to effec- tively lower blood pressure, as well (35). • Cognitive behavioral thera- py is a mind/body technique that uses short-term psy- chotherapy to reduce the stress response and induce relaxation.  These tech- niques are particularly use- ful in chronically ill individu- als who must permanently change their behavior - and accept that change. Therefore, the treatment of hypertension is ideally suit- ed to techniques that pro- mote relaxation and stress relief. • Hypnosis is a state of focused concentration that allows the mind to be highly receptive to suggestion (36). While not extensively studied for the treatment of hyperten- sion, hypnotherapy has been demonstrated to lower blood pressure and heart rate, at least temporarily.  Further studies on the long-term effects of hypnosis on hyper- tension have yet to be per- formed. SPIRITUALITY There is healing in believing. Spirituality is the belief in something, not necessarily someone, greater than one- self.  This should not be con- fused with religious belief, for a person can be spiritual without being religious. Unfortunately, the advent of modern scientific medicine brought about a clear sepa- ration between spiritual, reli- gious and scientifically founded beliefs.  However, with the emergence of holis- tic therapies, there has been a resurgence of interest in promoting spiritual and reli- gious healing and in studying its effectiveness in a whole host of disorders. Spirituality includes an array of beliefs such as feelings of love, compassion, empathy, gratitude and a sense of inner peace.  There is a diminished focus on self (36).  For example, love and social support are part of a person's spirituality that has

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