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The goal of biofeedback is to control stress or pain. Biofeedback is a type of therapy that has been described as "mind over matter".. it involved gaining concious control over biological functions that we are usually unconcious of. Biofeedback is a complementary or alternative therapy known as mind-body therapy.

The type of functions that can be controlled by biofeedback include things such as out heart rate, blood pressure, muscular tension and our temperature.

Biofeedback can help in the treatment of many ailments and conditions, although when it was first being developed in the 1960's it was viewed as a panacea for societies ills. These days, the expectations are more moderate, and yet biofeedback can still be extremely helpful in a number of applications.

Biofeedback is often used in the treatment of migraines. Migraines, tension headaches and muscular pain can respond well to biofeedback. Disorders of the digestive system, incontinence, high and low blood pressure, irregular heartbeat raynaud's disease, epilepsy and paralysis, as well as other movement disorders are have all shown improvement with treatment using biofeedback. Many clinical trials are currently underway to determine the value of biofeedback for other conditions as well.

As the goal in biofeedback is to bring under control bodily functions that the patient is not usually aware of, most biofeedback sessions involve being hooked up to a biofeedback machine so that the clinician and patient get the feedback they need to know if what they are doing is having any effect. These machines may beep or have a flashing light that goes off when the desired result is achieved. The machines are non invasive and usually take the form of small sticky pads that adhere to the skin. There are a number of different types of biofeedback, depending on what is being measured and your therapist may employ an number of different ones to get the required result.

Most biofeedback involves relaxation techniques to some degree, as the ailments it is treating are often the result of stress. Over time, repeated stresses may cause the patient's stress reponse to become permanently overactive, and it is this response that is seen as the resulting physical symptoms.

Some of the benefits of biofeedback include reducing or even eliminating your need for medicating drugs, especially pain relievers, and it has the potential to treat issues that have not responded to drug therapy. It can reduce medical costs and alos puts you incharge of your own healing.

Although doctors are still largely at a loss to understand the underlying mechanics of biofeedback and they are not sure exactly how it works, it may be a good approach if you find that the current management of your illness is inadequate, or if you just want to get off of medication.