| abstract |
The relationship between the level of a hormone, such as the immune-regulating cytokine IL-1, in the blood stream of an animal and application of sensory stimuli to the animal is determined by periodically taking discrete samples of the animal's blood while the stimuli are applied, measuring the levels of the hormone in the discrete samples, and correlating these levels with the application of the stimuli. Thereafter, the level of the hormone is controlled by applying to the subject those stimuli that have been found to produce a desired effect on the level of the hormone in the blood. Biofeedback training and relaxation techniques are used to increase the effectiveness of the method and apparatus. |