Prayer, Patience and Acceptance are ones of the core teaching in all religion and spirituality. Practicing those teaching will reward us a fuller, happier, healthier and longer lives. This practice has been preached by the prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as well as other prophets that preceded him, it is an ancient teaching of the secret for a higher Quality of Life - where you live longer, healthier and fuller - thousands of years ago and the modern science and medical research have now proved that.
Dr Harold G. Koenig – director of Duke’s Center Spirituality, Theology and Health of Duke University analysed more than 1,500 reputable medical studies, the result as we would expect is that "people who are more religious and pray have better mental and physical health”. What is interesting is that he further said that studies have shown that prayer can prevent people from getting sick or help them to get better faster!!
On the other note, Tom Knox – a one time atheist who became a worshipper after studying the medical and psychological benefits of faith says that the proof of the power of prayer is overwhelming.
To further prove this, The American Society of Hypertension established in 2006 that church-goers have lower blood pressure than non-believers and scientists have also revealed believers recover from breast cancer quicker than non-believers, have better outcomes from coronary disease and rheumatoid arthritis, and are less likely to have children with meningitis.
The Science on how this is all possilble is explained by Dr. David Spiegel, associate chair of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and medical director of the center for integrative medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine, he said “Praying involves the deeper parts of the brain: the medial prefrontal cortex and the posterior cingulate cortex — the mid-front and back portions,”. This can be proved as seen through magnetic image resonance (MRI), which render detailed anatomical pictures. “These parts of the brain are involved in self-reflection and self-soothing.”
In another study conducted by NYU Langone Medical Center, members of Alcoholics Anonymous were placed in an MRI scanner and then shown drinking-related images to stimulate cravings—which were soon after reduced when the participants prayed. The MRI demonstrated changes in parts of the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for the control of emotion and “the semantic reappraisal of emotion.”
Just not too long ago, researchers from UCLA found that long-term meditators (for an average of 20 years) had better-preserved brains than non-meditators as they aged. They had more grey matter volume throughout the brain. Study author Florian Kurth confirmed that they observed a widespread effect of meditation that encompassed regions throughout the entire brain.”
There is further data backing the idea that meditation and prayer can trigger the release of feel-good chemicals in the brain. Dr. Loretta G. Breuning, founder of the Inner Mammal Institute and the author of The Science of Positivity and Habits of a Happy Brain, explains that when we pray, we can activate neural pathways developed when young to release hormones such as oxytocin. “Oxytocin is known for its role in maternal labor and lactation, but it also [enables] social trust and attachment, giving us a good feeling despite living in a world of threat,” says Dr. Breuning. “It’s the idea of ‘I can count on something to protect me.’ So when a situation comes up and you’re out of ideas and you are helpless, feeling much like you did when you were a baby, prayer can provide some other source of hope.”
Jon Kabat-Zinn - a Microbiologist proved beyond the reasonable doubt that practices of Integrative Medicine—including the marriage of meditation and medicine—made Western medical science twice as curative.
Science based data will keep coming over time, proving that prayer is part of Integrative Medicine, and thus to my opinion, should be part of our professional recommendation as a health practitioner.
SO, God or Science? Science proves the power of prayer (to GOD) in wellness and better lives. Your brain responds to your prayer.
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