Prayer and meditation as medical therapies

Prayer and meditation have been used as health-enhancing techniques for centuries. Their use has been investigated more recently in the context of more conventional, allopathic medical approaches. These studies, despite methodological limitations, show some promise for the formal application and int...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPhysical medicine and rehabilitation clinics of North America Vol. 10; no. 3; p. 651
Main Authors Harmon, R L, Myers, M A
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.08.1999
Subjects
Complementary Therapies
Humans
Meditation - methods
Mental Healing
Rehabilitation - methods
Sensitivity and Specificity
United States
United States
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Summary:Prayer and meditation have been used as health-enhancing techniques for centuries. Their use has been investigated more recently in the context of more conventional, allopathic medical approaches. These studies, despite methodological limitations, show some promise for the formal application and integration of these techniques into western medical practice. Some potential benefits from meditation include reduced perceived stress and improvement in mild hypertension. Prayer appears to offer subjective benefit to those who pray; the effects of intercessory prayer on the health status of unknowing individuals requires more investigation.
ISSN:1047-9651
DOI:10.1016/S1047-9651(18)30186-4