Cortisol is an adrenal hormone, whose secretion changes in response to daily stress, or mental or physical diseases. Cortisol has thus been studied as a biomarker for psychosomatic conditions. While cortisol levels have conventionally been determined using saliva samples, hair and nail cortisol have attracted recent attention. This review investigates the physiological validity of hair and nail cortisol assessment as a biomarker for mid-range and long-term cortisol secretion. Hair and nail cortisol have an advantage over conventional saliva cortisol, as they remain unaffected by temporal fluctuations in systemic cortisol levels. Additionally, hair and nail samples can be collected non-invasively, and stored at room temperature. Moreover, hair and nail cortisol offer the benefit of reflecting mid-range to long-term (several weeks to months) internal environmental conditions, and thus are expected to be a new methodology for mid-range and long-term cortisol measurements, whereas saliva and blood cortisol provide instantaneous measurements.

Dossey classified three historical medicine types : the first stage type is physical medicine, the second stage type is psychosomatic medicine, and the third stage type is medicine combined with spiritual interventions. By contrast, Ikemi referred to Japanese Psychosomatic medicine with an oriental tradition as “somatopsychic medicine” and proposed a bio-psycho-socio-eco-ethical medical model improved upon by Engel’s model. He states that the goal of psychosomatic medicine is “existential awakening”, and transcendence to spirit, integrating Eastern and Western psychosomatic approaches where needed. It suggests that “somatopsychic medicine” is the third stage of medicine.

“Mi”, a body concept peculiar to Japan, refers to a stratified integrated body including an objective body, a subjective body, an intersubjective body, and a spiritual body. We practice “somatopsychic medicine” using a multidimensional approach (Rainbow Medicine) to “Mi” that introduces process-oriented psychology into psychosomatic internal medicine. In this paper, we describe an actual case application of Rainbow Medicine, using COVID-19 as an example.

This paper provides an introduction to the use of Qigong in psychosomatic medicine. A practice dating back to ancient China, Qigong can be classified into five categories : Dao Yin (movement), Tu Na (breathing), Jing Ding (relaxation), Cun Xiang (visualization), and Nei Dan (meditation). However, modern Qigong focuses on the first three as health-promoting techniques accessible to all, although the essence of Qigong is arguably found in progressing to Cun Xiang and Nei Dan―especially in the spiritual development of Nei Dan. The author will give their personal view and examine the potential of spiritual development.

For patients with psychosomatic disorders who are unable to perceive the underlying mental state, a somatic approach that focuses their attention on breathing and/or other physical sensations is much easier for them to understand and adopt. There are various mindfulness practices based on the principles of shinshin ichinyo, the inseparability of body and mind, which first direct attention and enhance sensitivity to physical sensations on the moment, and once the mind is settled, enable the relationship between physical sensations and mental state to be understood. By being aware of their mental state and lifestyle habits in different daily situations, patients are able to not only explore appropriate responses, but also prevent and relieve psychosomatic symptoms.

Mindfulness is applied in a wide variety of health conditions, while its mechanism is being analyzed by brain science. In psychosomatic medicine, this approach enables patients to face the mental states that they recognize from their experiences and accept that they can care for themselves.

This paper discusses Focusing and the body. Focusing, ――developed by the American philosopher and psychotherapist Eugene Gendlin――is a process of explicating the felt sense, a bodily feel of one’s situations which is not yet formed into words or concepts. Explicating the felt sense with linguistic and symbolic articulations generates novel meanings. The meaning of the body in Focusing, as well as the process of how new meanings are generated, is illustrated through a hypothetical clinical vignette. The paper then discusses how the felt sense is situationally lived and how it is an implying of further steps of living. The authors conclude the discussion by touching upon their views of body/mind and of subject/object.

An integrated therapeutic approach was adopted with one case and monitored over a long period of time. Adlerian-based counseling and psychotherapy helped the client to not only improve their interpersonal relationships but also change their thought processes ; however, internal healing was unaffected. Although yoga therapy has demonstrated both physical and mental benefits, a gap exists between its physical and psychological aspects, with new beliefs being formed. Hatha yoga primarily affects the body, but Kripalu yoga exerts a more psychotherapeutic effect, except that the therapist’s skill is believed to be crucial. Meanwhile, vibrational energy therapy produces a considerable effect on the body. Integrating these various therapeutic techniques resulted in physical, mental, and spiritual growth, through balancing the light and dark side of the client’s nature. In a time of global turmoil, due to COVID-19, physical, mental and spiritual growth is essential to avoid becoming perplexed by the situation. Therefore, it is important to establish criteria for how and when to apply such an integrated therapeutic approach in the future.

We report the educational effect of observing human dissection on clinical psychology students. Students in the Department of Clinical Psychology at Kagawa University Faculty of Medicine took an academic human dissection tour. Responding to a questionnaire administered after the tour, 80% of students reported greater understanding of the structure and functions of the human body. Furthermore, students indicated their awareness of bioethics and the responsibilities of psychologists, and displayed a willingness to learn. Regarding the free-text responses, comments were mainly related to “knowledge, skills, and attitudes required of psychologists,” “learning from real feelings,” and “respect for body donation.” The trainee clinical psychologists confirmed the high educational effect of the dissection tour.