By Kate Thorp/Divine Caroline
The power to heal is a profound gift. But is it all science and medicine? Or could faith possibly have a role, or maybe even a little hocus pocus?
If you’re in need of healing—looking to provide relief to a loved one or wanting to be a healer—you may have sought not only medical intervention, but also a few less traditional, yet often potent, methods, such as mind over matter. In other words, if our minds convince us that something is working (the placebo effect), could that belief actually help to heal us? Conversely, could we undo the benefits of modern medicine with doubt?
To learn more, I decided to research more popular—and sometimes controversial—methods of healing that go beyond the idea of mind over matter.
Laughter
You’ve heard the saying, “Laughter is the best medicine.” Laughter has indeed been credited with pain reduction, lowering stress hormones, and boosting the immune system. It’s not all rhetoric, though; quite a few patients and physicians would agree. Funny movies, comedy clubs, or attending a session of The Laughter Remedy, created by Paul E. McGhee PhD, might just prove to be a smart form of entertainment with a side of healing. But don’t misunderstand this remedy to be a silver bullet; even Dr. McGhee says you should use it in conjunction with your medical professional’s instructions.
Animals
Man’s (and woman’s) best friend has continuously proven to do more than keep us company. Aside from the profound stories of animals finding their way home from hundreds of miles away or the incredible ability of some to sense death, seizures, or illness, we know that the unconditional love of animals can provide healing effects, too. They’re credited most with lowering stress levels, blood pressure, and improving cardiovascular health, and many organizations have been formed with those healing effects in mind. Therapy Dogs, Inc, for example, has a goal to bring happiness and cheer to people in need and Windrush Farm uses its horses to transform the lives of those with disabilities.
Experts are now studying whether dogs can diagnose illness such as ovarian cancer, diabetes, and others.
Touch
Humans are sensitive creatures, so it makes sense that touch and human contact are essential in the healing process. Babies who are born prematurely or with illnesses recover at much higher rates when held skin-to-skin with their mother. Also, twins or triplets progress more positively when kept in cribs together. It works for adults, too. In fact, many organizations like Healing Touch International have created specific programs to help patients through surgery, pain management, stress, cancer, and other ailments with the healing power of touch. It really doesn’t take much to imagine how this could be beneficial. Just think of someone holding your hand or giving you a hug; it’s comforting and reassuring. Simple and beneficial for any healing process in my book.
Prayer
One of the most debated and only recently-studied healing powers is prayer. Many say they’ve experienced healing just knowing that people who believe in God prayed for them. But scientists want to prove whether healing can happen if someone prays for you without your knowledge. A few studies have done little but stoke the flames of doubt. The first attempt was by Drs. Krucoff and Crater who completed the Mantra study, a study to determine whether prayer by strangers influenced medical outcomes, but it soon came under fire due to its small sample size of only thirty patients. Another researcher, Dr Elizabeth Targ, set out to prove this theory as well. Her study claims that the power of prayer—regardless of belief or association—works. I definitely pray for the ones I love and those in need. I’ve always rested on faith that my prayers would matter. I’m not sure how even the best researchers could prove the effect of prayer.
Music
Music can be a powerful mood influencer. As early as Hippocrates, the Greek philosopher credited with today’s Western system of medicine, music was used in the healing process. The term “The Mozart Effect” evolved from the fact that the composer’s music has been shown to help strengthen the mind, reduce tension, enhance creativity, and heal the body of those who turned to it for comfort.
There is some controversy as to whether all music can heal, or if the current cacophony of sounds are, in fact, harmful. Personally, I think it’s all about how the music makes you feel in a particular setting. Although I feel relaxed while getting a massage, I think I’d get a headache from some of the spa music choices if I wasn’t getting a rub down. The yogis of India would disagree and in fact strongly believe that each note evokes specific emotions.
Exercise
Now there’s yet another reason that being a couch potato is bad for us. Researchers from the University of Illinois conducted several studies on mice that suggest exercise speeds up the healing of wounds and also helps boost our immune system. Jeffrey Woods, an associate professor of kinesiology, nutritional science, and pathology at the University of Illinois, says it’s likely that exercise decreases local inflammation, as the wounds in the exercising mice had lower levels of inflammatory cytokines compared with wounds in sedentary mice.
Human studies also strongly suggest that exercise strengthens the body’s immune response to infectious disease. A cross-sectional study also conducted by Dr. Woods of highly fit versus sedentary older people showed that those who exercised had higher antibody or immune responses to an influenza vaccination than those who did not exercise.
There are many more healing powers that have potentially powerful benefits, such as sex and meditation, and even magnetic bracelets and moonstones. Please comment and let me know if something has helped you. I’m always looking for new ideas.