Half a dozen books on the value of prayer and meditation have made the best seller list. Oprah talks about it frequently on her TV show. It's commonly thought to be good for the soul. But is prayer also good for your health?
In a report published in July's Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, researchers from Duke University Medical Center studied the survival rates of older adults. The researchers found that healthy older adults who participate in private religious activity -- prayer, meditation or bible study -- "appear to have a survival advantage over those who do not."
Research points to the health benefits of certain forms of meditation which involve repetitive prayers, or mantras. When meditating, subjects sit quietly, clear their minds and repeat a silent phrase or prayer, such as: "May the best possible outcome prevail," "May God bless my family" or simply "Peace."
Studies show that such meditation can increase blood flow, decrease blood pressure, relax muscles, lower secretion of stress hormones, improve brain functioning and help remedy insomnia. These health benefits often persist for several hours after meditating.
To reap the health benefits of meditative prayer, practice it regularly, says Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D., a Tucson-based physician and author of Meditation as Medicine (Atria 2002). "Instead of praying just once a day," he says, "pray throughout the day when you're in a traffic jam, playing with your children or working at the office."
