Adam Saville: The healing power of the mind

Mind over matter

Adam Saville
clock • 5 min read

COVER editor explores placebos, the 'Ice Man' and thinking ourselves well

Traditionally, the human mind is treated as separate to the body in Western medicine - and vice versa. What happens when someone is depressed? Most often we prescribe them pills. Likewise, when someone has an infection, we treat it with antibiotics. Today, however, there is more science than ever before investigating connections between mental and physical health. What was previously written off as the work of new-age "spiritual healers" is steadily going mainstream. For starters, just check the BBC's recent edition of Science Focus magazine, with its issue focus on ‘The Hidden Pow...

To continue reading this article...

Join COVER for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, key trend analysis and industry insights.
  • Stay on top of the latest developments around health and wellbeing, diversity and inclusion and the cost of living crisis.
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletter.
  • Members only access to monthly programme 'The COVER Review'
  • Be the first to hear about our CPD accredited events and awards programmes.

Join now

 

Already a Cover member?

Login

More on Individual Protection

Beagle Street enters intermediary market

Beagle Street enters intermediary market

Life and CI

Cameron Roberts
clock 19 June 2026 • 3 min read
CIC claims for prostate cancer up by 65% since 2023: Aviva

CIC claims for prostate cancer up by 65% since 2023: Aviva

£38m paid out for prostate cancer in 2025

Jaskeet Briah
clock 15 June 2026 • 1 min read
Partner Insight: The evidence bottleneck - why claims slow down, and how we fix it together.

Partner Insight: The evidence bottleneck - why claims slow down, and how we fix it together.

Faster evidence. Clearer updates. Better support. Changes that could ease the bottleneck.

Dave Thompson, Senior claims technical manager, Scottish Widows
clock 15 June 2026 • 4 min read