People of faith often believe in the power of prayer to heal; some physicians are investigating this possibility.
Distant healing involves sending healing intentions for someone from a distance, using methods such as guided imagery, mindfulness practice, qi gong and Reiki.
Studies demonstrate the efficacy of distant healing. It does not appear to increase death risks or decrease complications from surgery; but can help heal warts and alleviate depression.
How it works
Prayer is the practice of sending out messages of love, hope, and positive intent with no requirement that the sender of the prayer be present for its recipient – this process is known as distant healing. Studies have demonstrated the efficacy of prayer as an aid for physical transformations within bodies.
Medical professionals have long understood the power of prayer to help individuals get better, yet were unable to explain its mechanism or effects on our bodies. Recently, scientists have come closer to grasping what makes prayer effective.
While some scientists remain sceptical of prayer’s power to effect change in physical reality, others are convinced of its healing benefits and are using prayer alongside traditional medicine for therapeutic effects. Elisabeth Targ of Psychiatrist has conducted several comprehensive and carefully designed studies on distant healing intent; her results show a small but significant positive influence on patients’ conditions.
One reason prayer seems to work is because it awakens an unknown form of energy that does not fade with distance and cannot be blocked by material substances such as metal. Certain people seem more adept than others at channeling and receiving this force of nature.
Doctor Larry Dossey is one such medical professional. For much of his career, he has studied prayer’s effects on human bodies as part of integrative medicine practices and implemented spiritual healing into his practice. Dossey believes we all share an interdependency that does not interfere with individuality – this philosophy informs his views of integrative medicine; traditional medical approaches like surgery have their place, but he considers prayer an integral component of healing processes as well.
Benefits
Prayer has long been known to assist during times of distress. Studies have demonstrated that when multiple people pray together, the results can be even more powerful than when just one individual prays alone. Furthermore, distant prayer healing may be just as effective.
Scientists have looked for scientific explanations to these effects, and quantum physics theories provide a potential answer. One such theory, “as above, so below,” proposes that energy can travel over great distances; another suggests focused intention can transfer this energy between times and spaces. When conducting distant healing sessions, practitioners often visualize and focus their intentions for each recipient in order to establish a connection.
Distant healing can be used to address many illnesses and conditions, from stress-related conditions and migraines to migraine headaches and chronic pain. It may also help address psychological conditions like depression and anxiety as well as spiritual growth and personal development.
There isn’t enough reliable evidence available to establish whether distant healing works effectively, yet studies have shown its positive benefits, including mental and emotional relaxation due to placebo effects or relaxation responses. Furthermore, some researchers have discovered prayer and distant healing can improve outcomes in specific conditions, such as heart surgery or skin warts.
No matter the scientific evidence, many doctors and scientists remain dubious of distant healing. One researcher who conducted a well-known study that showed prayer therapy reduced medication consumption among patients who received prayers than those not receiving prayer was quoted as calling this an “astonishing fraud.”
Other scientists have criticized these studies’ methodologies and noted it is impossible to conclusively determine whether prayers made the difference or was simply due to placebo effect; nonetheless, many people report experiencing benefits of prayer, while research into prayer and healing continues apace.
Techniques
Prayer involves connecting to God or another object of worship and seeking healing. Chaplains and counselors have been trained to respect different religious backgrounds when meeting the spiritual and emotional needs of patients, families, and loved ones. While some studies have demonstrated the efficacy of prayer on improving physical and mental health in patients, such studies are generally small-scale with results not yet replicated by larger studies.
Distant healing refers to the practice in which healers send spiritual energy directly from one healer to another who are far away, such as people, animals or plants. Intercessory prayers can be sent for any recipient – people, animals or plants alike. Energy may be transferred through air currents, photographs or videos and has proven its efficacy through various clinical studies on humans, animals, bacteria yeast cells grown in laboratories as well as any number of randomized controlled trials conducted worldwide.
These studies show that distant healing works, but it’s difficult to know whether its success was the result of prayer or placebo effect alone. Furthermore, it’s difficult to ascertain whether the energy being sent out is Reiki, Buddhist intention or another form. Some scientists have criticised these studies due to a lack of scientific rigor.
Additionally to randomized trials, there have been hundreds of anecdotal reports of healing through distant prayer. People have reported healing of chronic illnesses such as cancer and arthritis; others reported improvements to mental and emotional conditions through distant healing.
One study by Dr Elizabeth Targ compared outcomes for AIDS patients who received intercessory prayer with those who did not, showing that those receiving prayer had a lower death rate within six months compared with those not receiving prayer; it was a double-blind trial, showing a positive impact from having others pray for you; though as with all medical research this wasn’t conclusive evidence.
Preparation
Prayer is an integral component of most religions and serves to connect to a higher power or God. Though there have been numerous studies on its effects, many scientists remain skeptic. Recently however, a handful of meta-analyses have demonstrated distant healing‘s effectiveness – which will no doubt come as welcome news to Reiki practitioners, intercessory prayer practitioners, and those interested in other energy healing techniques like Reiki and intercessory prayer.
Reiki distance healing relies on three basic principles of intent, prayer and ritual. To get the most from Reiki sessions it’s important to set your intentions beforehand and conclude them with a mantra or other chant that resonates with you and brings an immediate sense of grounding. When practicing any type of energy healing (whether Reiki or another type) intentions are of paramount importance as is connecting to universal energy – therefore praying or meditation before and after sessions is also highly recommended.
