The theme of healing prayer is very common in the history of spirituality, but what about in the technical, scientific field of modern medicine? There has been incredible debate in the medical community over whether or not prayer can impact healing. While some studies seem to demonstrate that prayer can enhance healing, others show that […]
An Eye-Opening Look at the Power of Prayer
If you’ve ever wondered about the healing power of prayer, you might want to hear what Larry Dossey, MD has to say. He was a skeptic – until he found research he couldn’t ignore. Larry believes that distance healing is possible, whether through prayer, general well-wishes, or other interventions – even when patients don’t know […]
An Energy-Boosting Spiritual Lesson
What if patients had a “do-it-yourself” method for developing spiritually that could also help manage chronic disease? It sounds like a good idea, but how realistic is it? Jeanne McCauley, MD and her research team from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine have found a cost-effective way for older adults suffering from chronic diseases to […]
Reclaiming Control: Spirituality and Aging
We know spirituality matters throughout the course of life. Both young and old benefit from spiritual and religious beliefs in so many ways. But we’re always discovering new ways that spirituality can make a difference. For instance, a team of researchers at the University of Notre Dame think it’s about control. In a recent study […]
The Whisper of Wisdom
Wisdom. It can be hard to define. But when you hear it, you know. And when teachers share spiritual wisdom, everyone around them benefits. Spiritual teaching helps the heart, mind, and body in so many ways. In fact, a team of researchers at Calvin College systematically reviewed 75 studies of spirituality and mental health in […]
Ram Dass – Responding to Challenge with Grace
Disease and aging are natural parts of life. We can’t keep our patients free from illness or forever young. But we can help them respond to challenging life events with grace. When Ram Dass, PhD, experienced a life-changing stroke, he focused on the grace his experience brought him. He found kindness from strangers, and used […]
Do Patients Want to Talk about Spirituality?
It’s an important question to ask yourself: do my patients want to talk about their spiritual concerns? A recent study may help shed light on the topic. Farr Curlin, MD and his team at the University of Chicago analyzed data from 3,141 hospitalized patients looking to answer these questions. Patients who had a spiritual conversation […]
Can Spirituality and Medication Work Together?
I never would have imagined that medication and spirituality had anything in common. But a study out of Rush University Medical Center led by chaplain and assistant professor Patricia Murphy, PhD brings new findings that suggest spirituality can act synergistically with medication to produce better patient outcomes. For instance, spirituality may be a key factor […]
An Infant’s Eyes – More from Rachel Remen, MD
We got so many comments on Rachel’s story about how a newborn deeply affected a physician that we wanted to share it again with you. It’s a powerful reminder to keep your eyes open – you might be surprised by what you see. Take a look and let us know what you think. How has […]
Releasing Negativity – Why It’s Essential for Healing
We know that grief can affect our emotional health – but did you know that it may also have profound physical effects? A recent study led by Murray Mittleman, MD, at the Harvard School of Public Health found that the risk of heart attack may increase dramatically after the loss of a loved one. The […]