The Healing Benefits of Prayer

Dr. Herbert Benson, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, published a best-selling book titled “The Relaxation Response” in 1975. His book was the first to describe the effects of chronic stress on the human body, and the health benefits of meditation and prayer.

There are now over 3,000 articles in the medical literature about this subject. The health benefits of meditation and prayer include an improved sense of well-being, lower stress levels, and lower blood pressure. These practices also shorten hospital stays and lower the incidence of suicide. They have been shown to increase the lifespan by an average of seven years.

Some of the spiritual practices known to promote health and well-being include contemplation, prayer, and yoga. Classes that enhance our creativity like art, music, and dance therapy, also induce the relaxation response. So do activities such as journaling or attending spiritual retreats.

Everyone is different. You will probably need to experiment to find the practices that work best for you. It is definitely worth the effort!

Reference: Discover the Healing Power of Prayer, by John K. Graham, M.D., The Houston Chronicle, July 23, 2016.