Use Natural Images to Reduce Pain

by John DiPrete

If you study from chronic pain, staring at peaceful scenes of nature creates a calming, pain-reducing effect in viewers. It is intriguing to think that looking at an image can bring such positive results! According to a few studies:

So, the researchers measured the levels of pain felt. They found that those subjected to the peacefulness of nature experienced less pain.

The findings prove that it is not necessary just to distract a patient to alleviate pain but that the distraction must have a calming effect.

It also gives hope to sufferers who have tried other techniques which have failed to reduce pain, such as hypnosis or sedation. Such studies continue to implicate the calming effects of Mother Nature on human nature.

The potential impact of this research on pain management requires further exploration. For the time being, here is a collection of images that fit the criteria of pain reduction. We hope this portfolio offers a resource of light to all souls seeking solace in the rapture of beauty.

Researchers recommend that chronic pain sufferers, especially, should test the effects of these pain-reducing scenes.

Also, religious images of the Virgin Mary have been found to reduce pain in Catholics: “Roman Catholics felt less pain than atheists and agnostics when they were shown a painting of the Virgin Mary.” The assembled collection here also includes a picture of the Virgin Mary.

Finally, studies find viewing pictures of a romantic partner also reduces pain. However, we cannot include personal images of romantic partners here, for obvious reasons.

Studies Determine Natural Images Can Lessen Pain

In the restful contemplation of these pain-reducing scenes, there should flow the mindful appreciation of the soothing and healing effects we find throughout our natural world.

The conscious contemplation of natural images and peaceful pictures to lessen the experience of pain reflects the principle of using the mind to cure the mind. It’s an old and fruitful theme; a timeless method that has minimal side effects. As an alternative to drug therapy, the use of such techniques is undergoing a global renaissance. These techniques include meditation, hypnosis, yoga, and many spiritual disciplines.

The brain’s self-enhancing properties are being explored with meticulous detail using state-of-the-art technology in the practice of medicine and health. If the mind can fine-tune itself and be enlightened as a result of the gifts of scientific research, healing could become the next great horizon in the human frontier.

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REFERENCES

Lechtzin, N., Busse, A., Smith, M., Grossman, S., Nesbit, S., & Diette, G. (2010). A Randomized Trial of Nature Scenery and Sounds Versus Urban Scenery and Sounds to Reduce Pain in Adults Undergoing Bone Marrow Aspirate and Biopsy The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 16 (9), 965-972 DOI: 10.1089/acm.2009.0531

Younger, J., Aron, A., Parke, S., Chatterjee, N., & Mackey, S. (2010). Viewing Pictures of a Romantic Partner Reduces Experimental Pain: Involvement of Neural Reward Systems PLoS ONE, 5 (10) DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0013309

Wiech, K., Farias, M., Kahane, G., Shackel, N., Tiede, W., & Tracey, I. (2008). An fMRI study measuring analgesia enhanced by religion as a belief system PAIN, 139 (2), 467-476 DOI: 10.1016/j.pain.2008.07.030

About the Author

John DiPrete is a Web designer with a passion for neuroscience, art, and business. His work has appeared in MacWorld, Perceptual and Motor Skills, Medical Hypotheses, Speculations in Science and Technology, among other outlets. His Web site (www.MindBluff.com) is recommended by PC World Online. Readers can subscribe to his free email updates at http://mindbluff.com/subscribe.htm

Picture Source: Pixabay Nature Art The pictures chosen for this collection are listed as: Free for commercial use / No attribution required. Picture License: CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.en