John E. Sarno

John E. Sarno was one of the most influential authors of the early twenty-first century, becoming known for his books on the power of the mind-body connection and its role in healing chronic pain. He was an American physician, academic, and researcher, whose theories and methodologies changed the way in which chronic pain was treated and understood.

Sarno was born in 1923 in Hackensack, New Jersey, to a family of Italian immigrants. He received his medical degree from New York University School of Medicine and completed a residency in physical medicine. He specialized in treating pain, in particular back and neck pain. He was Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine, Professor of Clinical Medicine, and Attending Physician at New York University Medical Center.

While studying back pain in his medical practice, Sarno was the first to propose that many physical symptoms, including back pain, are symptoms of an underlying psychosomatic illness. He proposed a novel concept at the time: emotions could cause physical pain. Sarno argued that psychological repression of certain emotions can lead to back pain, a link which was only slowly accepted in the medical community.

Sarno’s book, Mind Over Back Pain (1986), was the first book to explore the psychological and emotional aspects of back pain. He believed anger was the emotion most likely to bring about chronic pain and showed how repressed anger leads to physical pain. In his book, he presented case studies of patients who, through psychotherapy and the application of his methodologies, significantly or completely healed their back pain.

Sarno’s work inside and outside of the medical field quickly gained traction and recognition from all over the world. His books and ideas, including Healing Back Pain (1991), The Mindbody Prescription (1998), The Divided Mind (2005) and others, sparked international interest and started a revolution in the way pain was treated and understood. As a result of his pioneering work, Sarno’s ideas have been adopted by a growing number of medical professionals, as well as by individuals seeking relief from chronic pain.

Sarno received numerous accolades for his work, including being named one of the “Thousand Most Influential Physicians in the Twentieth Century” by the American Medical Association, and receiving the ACSM’s highest award, the James A. Garrick award in 2001. Sarno passed away in 2017 but his work lives on, continuing to help and inspire people around the world.

John E. Sarno’s influence and contributions to the medical and psychological landscape are far-reaching and cannot be understated. His books have provided a gateway for many individuals to understand and heal their chronic pain, showing that deep emotional and mental healing is often as important and as impactful as physical healing. His work has allowed chronic pain sufferers to overcome their physical pain, and live a healthier, more productive life.