Visualization Techniques for Cancer Healing

Most cancer patients are only familiar with the mainstream medical treatment options, such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. However, alternative medicine and remedies such as exercise, massage, and music therapy can also help manage and treat some cancer symptoms. Visualization and imagery therapies are popular and usually reliable alternative remedies for managing and treating cancer.

Here is a comprehensive guide on how visualization and imagery cancer therapies work and their potential effects and benefits against cancer. This guide also includes a brief overview of two reliable visualization exercisesfor cancer healing that anyone can perform.

How Does Visualization Help Manage & Treat Cancer?

Salivating when you think about your favorite food is a natural and common phenomenon. The thought of enjoying a delicious meal or snack stimulates neurotransmitters that tell your brain to get ready to eat. To this end, the brain immediately triggers the production and secretion of extra saliva (which helps with chewing and digestion) in preparation for eating.

Imagery and visualization are psychological concepts, but hunger is a physiological process. Salivating at the thought of food is one of many examples of the psychological and physiological effects of imagery and visualization.

Defining Visualization & Imagery Therapies

Visualization and imagery therapies for managing and treating cancer are based on the concept that the body and mind are intricately linked, and one can affect the other. There is an underlying belief that adopting a positive attitude and thinking positive thoughts can help boost the body’s natural immune system and healing properties to fight cancer – or, at the very least, some of its symptoms.

How Visualization & Imagery Therapies Work

Imagination and mental pictures are the basis of visualization and imagery therapies. The process entails imagining something specific in your mind and immersing yourself in the experience so that you can see, hear, smell, and even taste the mental pictures.

The Simonton method is the most common and popular visualization therapy recommended as an alternative cancer remedy. The method entails imagining the character from the popular videogame Pac-Man eating and destroying cancer cells. Notably, many oncologists have been recommending this technique since the 1970s.

Types of Visualization & Imagery Therapy Techniques for Cancer

Your imagination is the central aspect of visualization therapy, and you can base your visualization therapy sessions on any subject or concept. However, all visualization and imagery therapies are categorized into two types:

#1 Palming

Palming visualization therapies involve covering your eyes with your palms and imagining different colors. This technique is based on the correlation between colors and emotions. For example, red is associated with danger, while white is associated with peace.

This technique entails visualizing a color that you associate with stress and then suddenly switching to one that you associate with happiness. Besides manipulating your emotions, this technique also helps erase the mind of all negative thoughts related to cancer and all other stressors.

#2 Guided Imagery (GI)

Guided Imagery (GI) is a bit more complex than palming as it involves visualizing detailed, life-like imaginations. The Simonton method is the most popular example of GI.

However, your imagination doesn’t have to be limited to a customized version of the Pac-Man game – you can visualize almost anything positive that your imagination may conjure. For example, you can imagine yourself winning a race against menacing cancer cells or playing real-life whack-a-mole with your cancerous tumors.

The Visualization Therapy Process

Visualization and mental imagery therapy techniques are very versatile and flexible – essentially, the therapy is only limited by your imagination. Cancer patients can engage in these therapies alone in a private setting or at an immunity therapy center under the guidance of a professional therapist.

DIY Visualization Therapy

A DIY approach to visualization therapy requires using a video or audio recording recommending various visualization exercises. Therapists also recommend finding a quiet, private space without any distractions. The recording will guide you on what to do and think, and all you have to do is let go of everything else in your mind and immerse yourself in the imagination.

Professional Visualization Therapy

A guided imagery therapy session under the guidance of a professional therapist usually happens in a clinical setting. The therapist usually does all the talking, and all you have to do is follow their cues with your imagination.

Usually, your therapist will introduce you to a range of visualization exercises or imagery techniques and ask you to choose your preferred one. It is advisable to choose the most exciting option to easily immerse yourself in the imagination. The therapist will then ask you to stay comfortable (you can sit or lie down) and close your eyes before starting the exercise. They will then ask you to imagine various sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and other senses and experiences.

The clinical setting is usually characterized by an overall relaxing atmosphere. For example, many therapists usually use warm lighting and play relaxing music in the background to help the cancer patient relax. It is also worth noting that your therapist may recommend breathing techniques to help you’re your mind and relax your muscles. These sessions usually last for between 20 and 30 minutes.

Benefits of Visualization & Imagery for Managing & Treating Cancer

Visualization and mental imagery therapies have many potential benefits for cancer patients. Here is an overview of visualization therapy’s most notable effects and benefits against cancer. It is worth noting that these benefits are based on scientific findings that aren’t necessarily linked to cancer. They include:

Relieving Stress & Anxiety

Cancer is a scary condition, and a positive diagnosis usually triggers stress and anxiety in many cancer patients. Stress usually comes from negative thoughts about how the condition will limit their overall quality of life, including their life expectancy. Most notably, many patients fear that their condition may defy treatment, and the thought of leaving loved ones behind can be overwhelmingly sad.

Visualization therapy is designed to distract cancer patients from negative thoughts about their condition and other stressors. This momentary disruption helps alleviate patients’ stress and anxiety, albeit temporarily.