| A turning point in Science and our approach to the | | | | ongoing cascade of processes in the body including |
| human body occurred in 1953 when Watson and | | | | protein synthesis, and a swathe of biological |
| Crick discovered the double helix structure of DNA. | | | | processes. The biological processes include positive |
| DNA consists of four base chemicals called | | | | healing activities of the immune system |
| nucleotides: adenine, guanine, cytosine and thymine | | | | (anti-inflammatory), beneficial alteration of mental and |
| that reside on the inner surface of two parallel sugar | | | | emotional states (hormonal, peptide and |
| and phosphate rails. DNA holds all the information | | | | neurotransmitter balance) and the growth and |
| required to produce and maintain a living organism. | | | | development of new, neural and neuronal structures |
| In 2003 the Human Genome Project was completed | | | | (nerve and brain plasticity). |
| and the entire sequence of human genes was | | | | If all of these processes were a result of |
| unraveled, mapped and stored in databases. In the | | | | psychosocial (mind/brain) processes activating the |
| past decade DNA microarray technology has made it | | | | body this would provide evidence that corroborates |
| possible to measure the expression levels of many | | | | what my instincts were telling me. Furthermore, |
| thousands of genes simultaneously. | | | | evidence of these processes could convince even |
| DNA microarrays are quite complex, but basically | | | | the most hardened sceptic of the validity of |
| thousands of microscopic spots of DNA can be | | | | Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy. |
| attached to a solid surface, usually glass or silicon. | | | | In 2008 Ernest Rossi, Salvatore Iannotti, Mauro |
| This gives rise to the name "gene chip". A gene chip | | | | Cozzolino, Stefano Castiglione, Angela Cicatelli and |
| can be analyzed for coding structure. The coding | | | | Kathryn Rossi extended the use of DNA microarrays |
| structure can then be referenced against the | | | | to a pilot study. The study assessed the hypothesis |
| knowledge that exists on the gene databases. The | | | | that a top-down creatively oriented positive human |
| genes can also be referenced to a person's own | | | | experience can modulate gene expression on the |
| DNA to observe changes and differences over time. | | | | molecular level. It explored a new psychotherapeutic |
| A recent article in the Australian Journal of Clinical | | | | protocol comprising of hypnosis, psychotherapy, |
| Hypnotherapy & Hypnosis made me aware of the | | | | rehabilitation, meditation, and pastoral counseling. The |
| existence of a branch of research entitled | | | | name given to the protocol was "The Creative |
| Psychosocial Genomics. Psychosocial Genomics is the | | | | Psychosocial Genomic Healing Experience." |
| study of how inner psychological events and | | | | This research was co-sponsored by the Ernest |
| interactive social events can stimulate gene | | | | Lawrence Rossi Foundation for Psychosocial |
| expression. The process is thought to proceed from | | | | Genomics, The University of Salerno Department of |
| brain to body. | | | | Chemistry and Department of Education Sciences and |
| Until I read this article I had no idea that such | | | | The Instituto Mente-Corpo (The Mind-Body Institute) |
| research has ever taken place and I was immediately | | | | in San Lorenzo Maggiore, Italy. A DNA microarray |
| fascinated by it. I had been practicing Clinical | | | | data analysis of the white blood cells of three human |
| Hypnotherapy since 1993, knowing that it achieved | | | | subjects was performed immediately before, one |
| amazing results but not thoroughly understanding | | | | hour after, and 24 hours after The Creative |
| how these results were achieved. I had too much | | | | Psychosocial Genomic Healing Experience. Changes in |
| scientific training behind me to be caught up in the | | | | the expression of 15 early response genes were |
| egoistic notion that it was just I who was responsible | | | | documented within one hour of the experience. |
| for the results. I knew instinctively that changes must | | | | These apparently initiated a further cascade of 77 |
| take place in the clients' neurotransmitters levels, but | | | | genes 24 hours later. |
| further than that, did not give it further thought. | | | | Although this was just a pilot study, it proved a |
| Reading the article revealed to me that Ernest Rossi, | | | | principle. Further cross validation is now needed, with |
| a leading Psychotherapist and Clinical Psychologist had | | | | more subjects and a variety of diagnostic |
| proposed a connection between gene expression, | | | | classifications. Further cross validation and |
| protein synthesis and hypnosis as far back as the | | | | documentation will test the validity and reliability of |
| mid-seventies. | | | | using DNA microarrays to provide evidence for this |
| Psychosocial Genomics, through the examination of | | | | kind of healing. Nevertheless, this pilot study |
| gene expression seeks to understand the activity of | | | | reinforces the efficacy and benefits of Hypnosis and |
| the hypnotherapeutic process and provide some | | | | Hypnotherapy. |
| degree of measure. Gene expression enables an | | | | |