Benefits of Spiritual Healing

Spiritual healing is, by definition, the use of non-physical means to treat illness or affliction. Sometimes referred to as “faith healing,” spiritual healing is a type of treatment generally considered to be classified as “alternative” or non-traditional. Yet the roots of spiritual healing go back for centuries, and some form of this treatment have been shown to exist is almost every culture known to history.

Edward Bourne, who authored “The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook,” lists some of the benefits of spiritual healing as a feeling of security and safety, peace of mind, self-confidence and the capacity to give and receive unconditional love. Many types of spiritual healing involve energy, both inside and outside of the body. The objective of most methods is to cleanse and clear the body’s life force of negative obstructions, so that the mind, body and soul can harmonize.

Many spiritual health practitioners see this as the only true path to whole health. It is commonly believed by spiritual healing enthusiasts that any ailment, be it physical, mental or emotional, begins in the mind, at least in some part. So when mind, body and spirit work together, the ailment can begin to heal. Many modern healthcare practitioners are beginning to realize the benefits of incorporating a spiritual aspect into a patient’s care, and in fact some HMOs and medical facilities are offering these services. The medical evidence does suggest that spiritual healing, in complement with traditional medical care, can increase positive outcomes for patients with a range of conditions. Specific studies suggest benefits in cancer patients, new moms, people suffering from depressive disorders, and cardiac patients, among others. Obviously, “healing” is a general term. So let’s look more closely at some of the benefits that have been documented as a result of a few of the different variations of spiritual healing.

Reiki, a well-known and much practiced method developed in the early 20th Century, channels energy through the hands of a practitioner through the body of the patient. Positive results have been recorded in the form of reduced heart rate and reduced diastolic blood pressure. Relief from depression and anxiety has also been attributed to Reiki therapy.

Polarity Therapy has been around since the mid-20th Century. It offers treatment using the body’s energy as well as a combination of diet, exercise, self-awareness and other factors. The body’s ailments are diagnosed through verbal means as well as touch. This therapy is thought to aid stress reduction, relief of migraine headaches, allergies, digestive disorders, PMS symptoms, body pain and fatigue. It has also reportedly helped with pregnancy and post-natal care.

Qi Gong (sometimes spelled Chi Kung), a Chinese method of healing that has been practiced for over 2,000 years, is a combination of exercise and the cultivation of qi (life force) energies. Discipline of the body plays a key role, and there are exercises to help regulate the body (posture), mind (through relaxation) and the breath. There are moving and still variations. Besides curing illness, its benefits are believed to include a stronger body including the diaphragm and cardiovascular system, a regulated central nervous system and cerebral cortex, greater synchronization of the brain waves, increased lung capacity and a more effective immune system. And then, there’s good old-fashioned prayer. Prayer can be done in a group or by oneself. It can be practiced even when the person being prayed for has no knowledge of such. Many studies have been done to validate the effectiveness of prayer. It can help with the health and well-being of the person being prayed for – but it also brings a sense of peace to the person doing the praying.