IN 30 years of practising medicine, Dr Herbert Benson has found no healing force more impressive than the power of individuals to heal themselves.

Developing beliefs that promote healing are explored in his book "Timeless Healing" written with Marg Stark, (Simon and Schuster, £9 99p).

Dr Benson puts forward a three-pronged approach to health and well-being which combines procedures such as surgery with pharmaceuticals and self-care. The latter, which patients can do for themselves is, says Dr Benson "the most disparaged and neglected aspect of health care today".

It is part of people's destiny to believe in something good and something that lasts but only the individual knows what it is.

Dr Benson's own tendency is strongly towards a belief in God as an aid to healing but he also puts forward other techniques which help people to latch on to beliefs.

"Invoking beliefs is not only emotionally and spiritually soothing but vitally important to physical health", he says.

Remembered wellness is one method, illustrated by the many people who start to feel better once they have made an appointment with the doctor, because they associate that with recovery. Deep relaxation has a part to play too.

Dr Benson looks at how the brain comes into play to influence the body.

Seventy four per cent of complaints brought to medical clinics are of unknown origin. Between 60 and 90 are stress-related. "The vast majority of the time, patients bring medical concerns to the attention of a healing profession that cannot heal them with external tools or devices. Instead, doctors must rely on patients' internal mechanisms. We should really attribute the success of many medical treatments to the inherent healing power within individuals", he says.