Spirituality and Medical Practice

Spirituality and medicine have been shown to be interconnected from prehistoric times. Ancient doctors and healers were predominantly religious leaders and priests. Even in today’s world of biochemical Western Medicine, many traditional healers in Third World countries, especially in Africa, are religious leaders and priests of one religion or the other. These healers are believed to know and understand spiritual laws. They all believe that most of the diseases and afflictions originated from the spiritual world. However, due to advances in the science of medicine and technology, most inhabitants of the modern world do not believe in the ancient perspective of the spiritual causes of diseases. Today, most people believe that health and disease originate solely from genes and the environment. However, recent evolution of consciousness in the minds of open-minded scientists and doctors has propelled the research on the role of the mind and spirituality in health and disease. Evidence from modern scientific research institutions like Harvard University and Duke University in the United States, has shown that faith, prayer, meditation, visualization, thoughts, concentration thoughts and thought transference, can influence the biological, physiological, emotional, and mental functioning of all human beings. Thanks to the effort and dedication of few scientists who are redirecting their attention to the study of Ancient Truths. The interaction between mind, body, and spirit is now an active area of investigation in major academic institutions all over the world. Scientists have found that non-visible and subtle energies in and outside the human body directly affects the health and well-being of human beings, Although some of these scientists believe that they have discovered something new, ancient thinkers, philosophers, healers, and great religious leaders, including Jesus Christ were aware of these truths centuries ago. Spirituality by itself is a healing technique. It takes into account the physical, mental, and spiritual dimensions of the human being and conveys the message that love grace, power, peace, happiness, harmony, and health are available to all. These facts are now generally accepted by the scientific and medical community all over the world. Although many factors involved in spirituality are difficult to understand and measure by scientific methods, spirituality remains a very important aspect of the human experience. Spiritual health is not just the absence of sickness or disease; it is a state of well-being; the quality of living in which you are at peace with yourself and in harmony with other fellow beings, as well as the whole world and the immediate environment in which you live. Essential components of spiritual health include a sense of meaning and purpose; a sense of mission in life, and the realization of God-given potentials and talents to accomplish the mission, the feeling of being in control of your life. It also includes a sense of personal control and empowerment, a sense of a direct connection to your inner self and God, and the realization that there is some law and power at work within yourself and in the universe which is above and beyond the rational and natural. Convincing evidence from medical literature now support the beneficial role of spirituality in health, well-being, and in the practice of medicine. Because of this realization, several open-minded scientists and medical professionals are now exploring the relationship between spirituality and medicine.. To better understand the role of spiritual health in the healing process, courses in spirituality are now being offered in many medical schools in the United Sates as part of the medical education curriculum.