Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee

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

22 snips

Dec 10, 2025

In this enlightening conversation, Dr. David Hamilton, a scientist and author known for his work on the mind-body connection, shares powerful insights on kindness and empathy. He discusses how acts of kindness can enhance immune function and cardiovascular health, dubbing oxytocin the ‘kindness hormone.’ Visualisation techniques are explored, revealing their ability to improve well-being and even athletic performance. David emphasizes the contagious nature of kindness and its ripple effect, as well as practical exercises to incorporate empathy into daily life.

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INSIGHT

Empathy Boosts Immune Function

Empathy in a medical consultation can boost a patient's immune response by around 50%.
How a person feels during care produces measurable physiological immune changes.

INSIGHT

Witnessing Kindness Changes Biology

Watching compassionate acts raises salivary SIgA and oxytocin, strengthening immune markers.
Feeling uplifted by kindness triggers measurable biochemical benefits even in observers.

INSIGHT

Slow Touch Activates Health Pathways

CT tactile touch activates emotional brain regions and raises oxytocin while lowering blood pressure.
Social touch affects cardiovascular and immune markers, not just subjective comfort.

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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…….

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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.