Often, spiritual practices are set aside by doctors when they are talking to patients about their health concerns. Doctors are frequently reluctant to talk to patients about aspects of their life outside of their complaints of aches and pains, high blood pressure and other ailments. However, in a study presented to the Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Research Congress, researchers found that participating in regular spiritual practice increases patient responsiveness to health interventions.
The Power of Prayer and Meditation
Researchers worked with patients in rural North Carolina with a history of high blood pressure. When examining multiple factors in the lives of patients, researchers found that common factors such as socioeconomic status, gender, race and education did not make a difference in heath status. However, study participants who regularly participated in prayer or meditation activities and expressed a sense of spirituality had lower blood pressure levels and displayed fewer health issues overall.
Repeated studies have found that regular spiritual practice contributes to positive health outcomes for cancer patients. Additionally, researchers have found that spirituality plays an important role for many people who struggle with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety and drug addiction. Individuals who hold a spiritual belief in the positive power of healing often demonstrate a more positive outlook on life in general, even when faced with stressful or traumatic events.
Traditional Chinese medicine holds that health involves more than the physical body alone. Mind-body medicine is becoming more accepted within Western medicine and attention is now being paid to the importance of spiritual and emotional health and their impact on physical health and health problems.
Do you participate in a regular spiritual practice? What brings you comfort when you are faced with traumatic or stressful events?
– The Alternative Daily
