| Prayer's Scientific Power |
| Written by Deborah Lindholm | |
| Thursday, 19 March 2009 | |
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The mind body connection has amazing and powerful implications. Dr. Herbert Benson who founded the BHI, Bensen-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, which is a part of Massachusetts General Hospital, is a professor at Harvard Medical School. He believes that physical health is influenced by thoughts, feelings and behaviors. These same thoughts feelings and behaviors are also influenced by physical symptoms. It is yet another of life's amazing cycles.
The mind body connection has amazing and powerful implications. Dr. Herbert Benson who founded the BHI, Bensen-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, which is a part of Massachusetts General Hospital, is a professor at Harvard Medical School. He believes that physical health is influenced by thoughts, feelings and behaviors. These same thoughts feelings and behaviors are also influenced by physical symptoms. It is yet another of life's amazing cycles. What is unknown is how thoughts, beliefs, and feelings affect the development of disease and recovery from disease. We know that some people are able to change their thoughts through prayer and seemingly miraculous things happen, like the complete reversal of a terminal condition. While we still have to figure out exactly how these thoughts and beliefs affect our body we do know that the mind and body communicate constantly. What our mind thinks, perceives, and experiences is sent from our brain to the rest of the body on a steady basis. A powerful way people have found themselves influenced in regards to heath, both for themselves and others, has for centuries been through prayer. Using the mind body approach to medicine relies on teaching patients effective ways to reduce stress and change their natural thoughts, alleviating negative behaviors, and embracing their beliefs in order to control their health as they prevail over illness. Prayer for healing is found amongst all religions, from Judaism to Buddhism, Islam to or Christian. Prayer groups, healing circles and even prayer groups held online can be found the world over. An article found in the Washington Post says, "Surveys have found that perhaps half of Americans regularly pray for their own health, and at least a quarter have others pray for them." It's not only the religious who promote prayer for an alteration of health. Phenomena of varying kinds have been cited in quantum physics whereby particles from distant locations can affect the behavior of others in somewhat mysterious ways. Therefore, having people praying for you conceivably propels energy towards you which could affect your state of health. In addition to citations made in the domain of quantum physics, there have been an abundance of various studies conducted over the years which find have found a strong parallel between prayer and health. Theories are being tested continuously as the reasons for this are still unclear. Researchers found in the results of one study, conducted with 990 cardiac patients at Saint Luke's Hospital in Kansas City, Mo, how prayer improved health based on a combined score of various measures which were created by researchers for the particular study in question. In an interview conducted by Heritage.org with Dr. Harold G. Koenig, a tenured associate professor of psychiatry at Duke University, an associate professor of medicine, the director and founder of the Center for the Study of Religion/Spirituality and Health at Duke University, several smaller studies were cited. "(In these studies)You find a connection between religious involvement and immune and endocrine function; in five of seven studies, the religious experience lower mortality from cancer; in 14 of 23, they have significantly lower blood pressure; in 11 of 14, they have lower mortality; and in 12 of 13, clergy mortality is lower." Without a doubt, prayer has a significant effect on both health and mortality. Scientists are better equipped to define parameters and control groups, as they continue these studies we'll continue to gain additional insight on the inner workings of this indisputable connection. Until this point is reached, it's powerful to understand our thoughts and beliefs having such a direct effect on our health and mortality, as well as that of others. The Article Author: Ready to become empowered? Deborah Lindholm is a Serenity Empowerment Coach that shows you how to awaken your Inner Power Source to live an empowered life every single day. Download free pre-recorded telecasts, grab your "5 Simple Steps to Get What You Really, Really Want" report and more here: Free Stuff at Serenity Matters |
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