Hooponopono

Abstract

Hypertension (HTN) is a major risk factor in the United States for heart disease, stroke, congestive heart failure, and kidney disease. Heart disease is the single leading cause of death for women. For cardiovascular disease and stroke, yearly cost estimates associated with health care and missed work approach $300 billion. Approximately 31% of the population has HTN, and 25% has pre-HTN providing a risk for developing HTN. Estimates suggest that more than 76 million US adults older than 20 years have HTN; however, fewer than 50% of those aware of having HTN can control it with medications. Accordingly, new methods for reducing HTN must be identified to offset associated and significant health risks, financial expenditures, and societal costs.

Stress is associated with heart disease and also contributes to HTN. Examples of stress associated with HTN include personal fears, worries, and activities associated with family or demanding work schedules. In addition, emotions such as anger or long-term stressors increase the risk of pre-HTN, which may progress to HTN and coronary heart disease. As diet, exercise, and lifestyle modifications are helpful recommendations for those with HTN, it is possible that a nonpharmacological or complementary therapy approach might synergistically reduce stress for the individual. Synergy is explored when combining multiple interventions with each other, effectively integrating a bio-psycho-socio-spiritual (BPSS) approach to health.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is defined as a diverse set of health practices, interventions, and products that cannot be classified as conventional medicine. The National Institutes of Health views mind-body therapies as a subtype of CAM therapies that capitalize on the interaction between the mind and body, and the Institute of Medicine supports rigorous research to identify CAM therapies that improve health. For persons with HTN, complementary practices (eg, mindfulness, Tai Chi, meditation, and relaxation) have been tested as alternative treatments. In addition to the direct effects of CAM, DeSimone and Crowe suggest CAM therapies might also have a therapeutic effect on HTN because patients feel empowered to promote self-care.

One type of CAM therapy that may be beneficial to those with increased blood pressure (BP) or chronic conditions impacted by stress, is an ancient Hawaiian problem-solving approach known as ho’oponopono. The word “ho’oponopono” means “to correct or to make right.” Morrnah Simeona is the developer of one form of ho’oponopono therapy. She was honoured as a “Living Treasure” of Hawaii in 1983. According to Morrnah, this ho’oponopono therapy provides a way to unify the mind, body, and spirit in identifying and erasing memories of problems that manifest themselves as HTN and stress. As a complementary therapy, ho’oponopono focuses on forgiveness and creating balance—physically, mentally, and spiritually—through the conscious, subconscious, and superconscious mind. Anyone can use the process through education and by the application of “cleaning tools” to problems one perceives to occur throughout the day. The mental application of these tools such as meditation, short phrases, or breathing processes helps alleviate the effects of a problematic experience by releasing memories of the experience. Earlier research conducted by the first author (K.K.) using a ho’oponopono class instruction demonstrated statistically significant outcomes such as reduced mean BP and increased mean spirituality scores. For consistency, the principal investigator followed a similar format using content and cleaning tools in this present study that were used in the earlier study.