I live in Canada and subscribe to CBC News. A recent article caught my interest. I've long been a believer in the benefits of the mind in all areas of life, including health. See my article on weight loss. The article tells us that a hospital in Calgary, Alberta, is giving the method a try:

The Calgary Health Region has a new prescription for patients dealing with the anxiety of pain and illness: CDs with guided visualization and relaxation techniques.

On one CD, a soothing voice backed by calming music asks patients to "imagine now what is necessary for your body to be healed."

"We've had very positive responses to it," said Nancy Guebert, who is in charge of the program for the Calgary Health Region.

"We saw that we used less pain medication post surgery. We've seen shorter lengths of stay."

In the Think Positive Blog, an article states:
Meditation has been found to have a positive influence on the body and mind. Successful management of chronic pain, increased ability to control blood pressure, and management of hormones associated with stress are a few of the physiological benefits associated with meditative practices. In addition to these physiological effects, meditation is also known to produce a variety of psychological benefits, including reduction of anxiety, enhanced sense of well-being, increased awareness of emotions and repressed material, and a greater sense of self-actualization.

One excellent CD is Healing Meditation: Nourish Mind, Body and Spirit by Kelly Howell (pictured above.) It's available at major book stores including Amazon and from Kelly's website.