Studies Show Prayer and Exercise Best for Healing

According to Pat Thomas writing for NYR Natural News there are a number of research programs that have concluded that the fastest path to recovery, whether mental or physical is a combination of prayer and moderate exercise. The studies didn't limit the type to prayers or mantras - everything from "Hail, Mary full of grace" to "Shalom" to "Om". Pat points out that spiritual healing goes beyond religion but uses the methods of religion. There is also a paragraph sharing the results of experiments on plants that showed growth increased for ones that were healed or prayed over. I suspect it is the transfer of energy and the intention that works this "magic".

Most of the available evidence shows that prayer is most effective as a complementary rather than a primary therapy. Nevertheless there is reasonable proof that prayer has a healing effect. One analysis of 23 studies involving more than 3000 individuals concluded that more than half demonstrated that that prayer had significant effects. In this review therapeutic touch appeared to show the most promise.
Naysayers point out that no study has ever proven the ability of prayer to stop a person from dying from conditions such as heart disease and cancer. They note, and fairly, that the quality of the studies done into spiritual healing can be very uneven and often do not follow people for long enough to make sweeping statements about its effectiveness. This however appears to be missing the point.
Scientific research by its very nature requires a measurable endpoint – usually focusing on quantity rather than quality of life. Even Dossey has warned that holistic practitioners should not overextend the power of spirituality; we will all die eventually.
Short-term studies do show that prayer can have an effect on longevity (see below) but perhaps more importantly prayer may be a beneficial way to improve the quality of life for those in need. Even researchers who are sceptical have been moved to say that the occasionally remarkable results of studies into spiritual healing are interesting enough to warrant further, and more serious, investigation.
To read the source of this passage click here.

Have you had experience using the power of prayer or healing to improve the condition of another? Please share your story below. Here is a great book for you to read more about this: Healing Words: The Power of Prayer and the Practice of Medicine by Larry Dossey.