How Kindness Boosts Your Immune System, The Power of Visualisation & The Importance of Empathy with Dr David Hamilton #602

Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee

Dr Rangan Chatterjee

Health & Fitness, Medicine, Alternative Health, Mental Health

4.8 • 10.9K Ratings

🗓️ 10 December 2025

⏱️ 106 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This is the time of year that reminds us to be grateful, kind and spend time with the people we love. To celebrate, I have decided to re-release a conversation that took place on this podcast almost 6 years ago now with the wonderful David Hamilton. David is a scientist, researcher and one of the world's leading experts in the science of kindness. He is also the author of multiple bestselling books including Why Kindness Is Good For You and How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body. This conversation was actually recorded all the way back in February 2020, one month before the start of COVID. But, as with most of the conversations on my podcast, the content within it is timeless and just as relevant today as it was when we actually recorded it. In our conversation, we explore many different themes including: How empathy and kindness can impact various markers of our health, including the functioning of our immune systems and our cardiovascular health Why David calls oxytocin the ‘kindness hormone’ How exactly we can use visualisation to improve the quality of our lives, The science of the placebo effect The importance of connection and empathy in healthcare And the phenomenal ripple effect of kindness, whereby one act of kindness can lead to one hundred and twenty-five more. David is such a wonderful human being who is doing his very best to help create a kinder and more compassionate world. I think this conversation is perfect for the current time of year and I hope that it serves as a gentle reminder that being kind is not only good for the world around us, it’s good for ourselves as well……. Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com. Thanks to our sponsors: https://www.vivobarefoot.com/livemore https://drinkag1.com/livemore Show notes https://drchatterjee.com/602 DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

Transcript

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0:00.0	There was a study on doctor visits over 700 patients with symptoms of the cold or flu, and
0:07.0	they participated in, it was called a care study, consultation and relational empathy.
0:12.0	And they secretly had to give the doctor a score between 0 and 10 on the empathy that they showed during that visit.
0:20.0	And those who scored the doctor a perfect 10 out of 10,
0:23.6	their immune response to the same condition
0:26.0	was 50% higher than everyone else.
0:29.2	And it just came down to empathy, how it made them feel.
0:32.8	And what you're seeing is how you feel then
0:34.8	is physically affecting the function of the immune system.
0:38.6	Hey guys, how you doing? I hope you having a good week so far. My name is Dr. Rongan Chatterjee,
0:45.2	and this is my podcast, Feel Better, Live More.
0:51.4	This is the time of year, at least in the UK, when people are gearing up for Christmas.
0:57.2	Now, I'm well aware that Christmas represents different things to different people.
1:02.5	And of course, not everyone chooses to celebrate it.
1:05.7	But there is no question that in many countries around the world,
1:10.4	this is a time of year that reminds us to be
1:13.2	grateful, kind, and spend time with the people we love. So to celebrate, I thought I would
1:20.3	re-release a conversation that took place on this podcast almost six years ago now with the wonderful David Hamilton.
1:30.2	David is a scientist, researcher, and someone who is considered to be one of the world's
1:35.8	leading experts on the science of kindness. He's also the author of multiple best-selling books,
1:42.9	including why kindness is good for you and how your
1:46.3	mind can heal your body. Now, this conversation was actually recorded all the way back in February
	...

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