Health: prayer, meditation and relaxation heal? - The Daily

Faced with the two most frequent serious illnesses carcinoma and the ‘ heart attack is determined almost always a psychological reaction characterized by three phases: 1) phase of despair and discouragement (I can not accept being sick How will I do?) 2) phase of anger and resentment (why me? Others are doing well and are not aware of my discomfort), and 3) phase of acceptance and commitment (I try to cooperate with the doctors to get better and heal). Patients suffering from these serious illnesses are often sent to psychological consultation . Many people come to counseling saying that they want to let off steam, but who do not believe in the possibility of receiving aid. The psychological care for them are only palliatives useless in the face of organic disease that afflicts them. Others want to believe that with their psychological commitment and their willingness will heal them. Many say they would like to believe in God because they think that those who believe have a, albeit fictitious, relieved. Illusion, even if you do not need from a practical point of view, it would be less painful for them.

Some studies have shown that meditation , the relaxation and prayer strong lead in our body some short-term effects such as slowing down of the heartbeat, drop in blood pressure, respiratory improved oxygenation, decreased muscle tension is under the control of the will that involuntary. Other, albeit controversial, observations show that long-term results in a decrease in cortisol (defined by some as a stress hormone), improved cardiovascular system and especially the immune system. It is this last aspect is interesting because the immune system is the defense mechanism we have against tumor cells and infections.

Putting together these data we hypothesize that if a person suffering from cancer or heart attack is devoted to meditation, relaxation or prayer is making a “sort of cure” that will improve the chances of recovery from his illness.

We are talking about controversial topics in which, for various methodological reasons, it is difficult to arrive at a scientific conclusion some .

The assumption, however, that the attitude of our grandparents to gather in prayer and meditation was the right response to the discovery of a serious illness is undoubtedly impressive.