Join the Australian Association of PNI Awareness Practitioners

Statement of Wellness 'Unity is the key, to emotional, physical, spiritual wellness.'

Through PNI research we understand that the mind is the body and the body is the mind.

Please note the areas highlighted in green are key points of information that relate to the PNI Certification Test.

Interactions

The main interests of PNI are the interactions between the nervous system, immune system, mental processes, and health.

In simple terms, PNI is looking at why peoples immune systems go down when they are under stress.

The inter-connective nature of the mind and body means that we can inadvertently compromise a persons level of wellness when we deal with the body or mind independently.

Bio-Chemical

The spotlight is also on our internal environment and how it is affected by stress, highlighting what we can do to change the negative biochemical response that stress generates. 

Organic Illnesses

PNI does not disregard the organic nature of illnesses such as bacteria and germs nor does it deny that some illnesses are genetically inherited.

Traditional

Traditional mind and body and alternative medicine can effectively alleviate the symptoms of many illnesses, but they are not the whole package.

As professionals, we can offer a range of resources and support.

We cannot be experts in all areas; however, we can be facilitators of support by helping each individual find the range of solutions they need to maintain wellness. When individuals are offered the appropriate resources and support, their potential for recovery and self-improvement is increased.

PNI was the gateway that informed us that the immune system is not autonomous. 

PNI is the systematic study of the relationship between the brain, thoughts and emotions and the immune system.

In 1975 Robert Adler (a psychologist) and Nicholas Cohen (an immunologist) demonstrated, at the University of Rochester, that the nervous system can affect the immune system, and termed the name Psychoneuroimmunology. 

PNI emotions are considered in direct relationship to the impact on our health and the immune system.

Psychoneuroimmunology - PNI

P "Psychological" for the mind emotions, feelings, and perception.

N "Neuro" for the neuroendocrine system - the nervous system and hormone systems.

I "Immunology" for the immune system.

The nervous system and the immune system work together. So every thought, emotion, and belief in the past present or future, real or imaginary has a neurochemical consequence.

Emotions are chemicals that can help or harms us - this provides us with an understanding of 'what we think we feel.'

Thinking is part of the bodies defense and recovery.

The brain controls all of the functions in the body. What affects the brain and the way we think affects us physically, biologically.

How we perceive an event directly impacts our immune system affecting our emotional and physical health; this provides us with an understanding of the importance of managing internal and external emotional conflict which aggravates stress.

The central nervous system modulates the immune and endocrine systems.

The endocrine system is made up of hormone-secreting glands which modulate the function of the body. Detangling this diverse and complex chemical regulating system is impossible. Only we don't need to understand precisely how it works to respect the scientific findings relating to our internal hormonal response system.

What we think we feel and what we believe generates a chemical response. A response which provides positive or negative consequences depending on our state of mind.

Candace Pert Ph.D. 

'The body and mind are one, what you think and say impacts the state of your cells. Your spleen, every lymph node, and all floating immune cells are in close communication with the brain.'

It is put forward that molecules are a second nervous system, as it allows the different systems of the body to communicate with each other (i.e., the endocrine, neurological, and immune).

Candace Pert Ph.D. - stated in her book 'Molecules of Emotions' that 'emotions live and run every system of the body.'

This chemical exchange of information provides scientific proof that emotions are inseparable from our physiology.

Molecules of emotions could also be termed as information substances.

The brain sends out information substances in response to the various problems throughout the body. It was believed that this was a one-way communication process, that the brain informed the body.

It is also now proven that the body also communicates with the brain.