Promoting health? It's all in the game

[Islander]

By Kate Kelland (http://blogs.reuters.com/search/journalist.php?edition=us&n=kate.kelland&), Health and Science Correspondent
LONDON | Tue Jun 26, 2012

LONDON (Reuters) - Meet Roxxi - a feisty and fully-armed virtual nanobot. Billed as "medicine's mightiest warrior", she's fighting an epic battle deep inside the human body where she launches rapid-fire assaults on malignant cells.
Or, if it's not cancer but diabetes you're fighting, why not join Britney and Hunter, two digital kids whose adventures to other worlds are spurred on by regular and timely updates of your blood sugar levels.
They are a far cry from chemotherapy, diabetes medications, or aspirin, but Roxxi, Britney and Hunter are some of the buzz products from the brains of those who want to promote health and sell medicines.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/26/us-pharma-games-idUSBRE85P0IW20120626?feedType=nl&feedName=usmorningdigest

[mellowsong]

Many years ago, a friend (fellow nurse) was fighting lymphoma. Her husband, a computer programmer, developed a computer game for her where she basically chased down cancer cells all over her body, sort of like PacMan. Yes, she went through traditional chemo but, she was given about a 20% chance of surviving even 2 years yet, when I left she was cancer free. I don't know if it helped her but probably because it gave her power.

I see potential here although most of the games would be promoting conventional medicine. Again, as in everything else, moderation. It will not be helpful if the child (or adult) develops an obsession with the game and forgets all about playing outdoors, exercise, reading a book etc.

[Aaltrude]

The mind is very powerful Mellow.
One strategy I have found will often work for focal pain is to picture yourself "popping" it out like you would a pimple.