Effects of Prayer
on Immune
System
Effects of Prayer on Immune System
Does prayer really help the immune system to work?
Yes. Evidence exists for the healing power of prayer. According to Dr. Barbara Joseph in "My Healing From Breast Cancer," her inspiring book, "If we allow ourselves the belief in
the power of prayer and pray for our highest good in the way that comes most naturally to
us and with the utmost compassion for ourselves, we can support our healing."[1]
The real force of prayer in preventing and overcoming disease are described in several
excellent books:[2-4]
• "Healing Words, The Power of Prayer and the Practice of Medicine" by L. Dossey, M.D.
• "Prayer is Good Medicine: How to Reap the Healing Benefits of Prayer" by L. Dossey, M.D.
• "The Faith Factor" by D. Mathews
Clinical studies have demonstrated that people who pray are:[4]
• Less likely to get sick
• Better able to cope mentally and emotionally with their illness
• More likely to recover from surgery
• More likely to recover from illness
Also, evidence exists for the power of prayer to maintain and improve the function of the immune system. Chemical connections have been identified between molecules produced by the central nervous system and cells of the immune system.[5] Astrocytes, a type of cell in the brain, can produce interleukin-1 (IL-1), a cytokine that affects immune reactions.
Furthermore, lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, contain receptors for many chemicals synthesized by the central nervous system.
Prayer and the psychological factors involved, including suggestion, expectation, anxiety reduction, conditioning, and the hope and will to live may have a positive placebo effect in
nourishing the function of the immune system.[6] Clinical trials of the effects of chemotherapeutic drugs on cancers and determination of side effects show that placebo effects occur in the control groups of patients (i.e, those receiving no active drug).
Moreover, the relaxing, altered consciousness, and spiritual effects of meditation and prayer and the resulting inward sense of peace can strengthen the immune system and the body in general.[5-7] According to Harold Koenig, Director of the Center for the Study of Religion/Spirituality, Duke University, when prayer uplifts or calms the spirit of people, fewer stress-induced (sometimes termed "fight-or-flight") hormones are produced by the adrenal glands.
Meditation and prayer can:[5-7]
• Decrease stress-induced hormones
• Reduce pre-surgery anxiety
• Lower the risk of development of various serious diseases
• Help the immune system to function
In addition, many recent studies have shown that patients with serious diseases who are prayed for by others actually heal better and faster than do those who are not prayed for by others. Praying for the healing of others is a form of an alternative medicine method known as "distance healing." In prayer by others (termed intercessory prayer), attitudes of prayerfulness and holiness and feelings of empathy, caring, and compassion encourage
healing.[5, 7]
Studies show that prayer by people concentrating on the healing of either cells grown in the laboratory or animals with certain ill conditions can reduce the growth rate of leukemia cells in culture, decrease the size of tumors in mice, and speed wound healing in
animals.[6, 7] A small, double-blind (meaning that neither the patients nor the doctors knew who was receiving the distance "treatment") clinical study of patients with advanced AIDS demonstrated that distance healing reduced the number of new AIDS-defining illnesses, severity of disease, outpatient visits to doctors, number and days of hospitalizations, and mood.[8, 9]
Some doctors feel that better recovery of the patients could occur if the doctors prayed with their patients prior to and following operations or the administration of powerful medications.[5] Because of the positive research on the effects of prayer and these beliefs about the value of prayer in the healing process, certain medical schools in the U.S. are offering classes in faith and medicine.
However, we should not assume that just our prayer and/or prayer by others will either keep us from getting sick or make us well. Dr. Dossey observes that, "We should understand that prayer does have an impact, but it can’t save us from death or guarantee we won’t get sick."[2, 3]
As with other alternative medicine approaches, meditation and prayer can help us empower our minds with positive energy, aid in the body’s recovery, improve quality of life, and improve outcome. Dr. Dossey recommends, "...don’t wait for the results of more
double-blind studies to pray. We can stand to have more extraneous prayer in this world of ours."[2, 3]
REFERENCES
1. B. Joseph. My Healing From Breast Cancer." 1996. New Canaan, Connecticut: Keats Publishing.
2. L. Dossey, "Healing Words, the Power of Prayer and the Practice of Medicine." 1993. San Francisco: Harper.
3. L. Dossey: Prayer is Good Medicine: How to Reap the Healing Benefits of Prayer. 1996. San Francisco: Harper.
4. D. Mathews, "The Faith Factor."
5. Distance healing really works. Jewish Link. Accessed at
www.jewishhealing.com/healing_really_works.html.
6. S. Barrett. Psychoneuroimmunology — the bridge between science and spirit. In "Silver Threads," edited by B. Kane, J. Millay, and D. Brown. 1993. Praeger.
7. Prayer & spirituality: The proof that prayer works. Holistic-online.com. Accessed at
http://1stholistic.com/prayer/hol_prayer_proof.htm.
8. F Sicher, et al. A randomized double-blind study of the effect of distant healing in a population with advanced AIDS: Report of a small scale study. "Western Journal of Medicine." 1998; 169(9): 356-63.
9. R.A. Anderson. Psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology review and commentary. "Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients." 04/2002.
Psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology describes the unity of mental, neurological, hormonal, and immunological functions, addressing the impact of cognitive images of the mind (whatever its elusive definition) on the central nervous, endocrine, and immune systems. It encompasses biofeedback and voluntary controls, impacts on physiology of thought and belief, past/present stress, placebos, social relationships, and "energy medicine." This column highlights clinical applications of cogent studies from these arenas of holistic medicine in the new millennium.
Travel Health and Treating Emergencies in the Woods
Psychoneuroimmunoendocrinological principles seem to relate to this topic only with a long stretch. I submit the following possibilities.
Stress in Challenging Circumstances
In this review, the authors discuss the compromise of immune function secondary to acute and chronic stress that increases vulnerability to viral infections, triggers aggravation of episodes of asthma, accelerates clotting risk for myocardial infarction, and accelerates deterioration of blood sugar control in diabetes.
McEwen BS, Stellar E. Stress and the individual. Mechanisms leading to disease. Arch Intern Med. 1993 Sep 27; 153(18): 2093-2101.
Comment: Travel is stressful. Driving long distances is known to add to our load of stress. Air travel becomes more stressful by the year: cancelled flights, concern about adequate safety inspections, recycled dry air with deficiency of negative air ions, solar radiation exposure, sedentary deep venous thrombosis risk, and dehydration can be listed as acute stressful hazards. As these authors suggest, any acute stress or uptick in chronic stress potentially deteriorates health and may precipitate an acute deterioration in pre-existing disease states such as coronary artery insufficiency, asthma, and diabetes.
on Immune
System
Effects of Prayer on Immune System
Does prayer really help the immune system to work?
Yes. Evidence exists for the healing power of prayer. According to Dr. Barbara Joseph in "My Healing From Breast Cancer," her inspiring book, "If we allow ourselves the belief in
the power of prayer and pray for our highest good in the way that comes most naturally to
us and with the utmost compassion for ourselves, we can support our healing."[1]
The real force of prayer in preventing and overcoming disease are described in several
excellent books:[2-4]
• "Healing Words, The Power of Prayer and the Practice of Medicine" by L. Dossey, M.D.
• "Prayer is Good Medicine: How to Reap the Healing Benefits of Prayer" by L. Dossey, M.D.
• "The Faith Factor" by D. Mathews
Clinical studies have demonstrated that people who pray are:[4]
• Less likely to get sick
• Better able to cope mentally and emotionally with their illness
• More likely to recover from surgery
• More likely to recover from illness
Also, evidence exists for the power of prayer to maintain and improve the function of the immune system. Chemical connections have been identified between molecules produced by the central nervous system and cells of the immune system.[5] Astrocytes, a type of cell in the brain, can produce interleukin-1 (IL-1), a cytokine that affects immune reactions.
Furthermore, lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, contain receptors for many chemicals synthesized by the central nervous system.
Prayer and the psychological factors involved, including suggestion, expectation, anxiety reduction, conditioning, and the hope and will to live may have a positive placebo effect in
nourishing the function of the immune system.[6] Clinical trials of the effects of chemotherapeutic drugs on cancers and determination of side effects show that placebo effects occur in the control groups of patients (i.e, those receiving no active drug).
Moreover, the relaxing, altered consciousness, and spiritual effects of meditation and prayer and the resulting inward sense of peace can strengthen the immune system and the body in general.[5-7] According to Harold Koenig, Director of the Center for the Study of Religion/Spirituality, Duke University, when prayer uplifts or calms the spirit of people, fewer stress-induced (sometimes termed "fight-or-flight") hormones are produced by the adrenal glands.
Meditation and prayer can:[5-7]
• Decrease stress-induced hormones
• Reduce pre-surgery anxiety
• Lower the risk of development of various serious diseases
• Help the immune system to function
In addition, many recent studies have shown that patients with serious diseases who are prayed for by others actually heal better and faster than do those who are not prayed for by others. Praying for the healing of others is a form of an alternative medicine method known as "distance healing." In prayer by others (termed intercessory prayer), attitudes of prayerfulness and holiness and feelings of empathy, caring, and compassion encourage
healing.[5, 7]
Studies show that prayer by people concentrating on the healing of either cells grown in the laboratory or animals with certain ill conditions can reduce the growth rate of leukemia cells in culture, decrease the size of tumors in mice, and speed wound healing in
animals.[6, 7] A small, double-blind (meaning that neither the patients nor the doctors knew who was receiving the distance "treatment") clinical study of patients with advanced AIDS demonstrated that distance healing reduced the number of new AIDS-defining illnesses, severity of disease, outpatient visits to doctors, number and days of hospitalizations, and mood.[8, 9]
Some doctors feel that better recovery of the patients could occur if the doctors prayed with their patients prior to and following operations or the administration of powerful medications.[5] Because of the positive research on the effects of prayer and these beliefs about the value of prayer in the healing process, certain medical schools in the U.S. are offering classes in faith and medicine.
However, we should not assume that just our prayer and/or prayer by others will either keep us from getting sick or make us well. Dr. Dossey observes that, "We should understand that prayer does have an impact, but it can’t save us from death or guarantee we won’t get sick."[2, 3]
As with other alternative medicine approaches, meditation and prayer can help us empower our minds with positive energy, aid in the body’s recovery, improve quality of life, and improve outcome. Dr. Dossey recommends, "...don’t wait for the results of more
double-blind studies to pray. We can stand to have more extraneous prayer in this world of ours."[2, 3]
REFERENCES
1. B. Joseph. My Healing From Breast Cancer." 1996. New Canaan, Connecticut: Keats Publishing.
2. L. Dossey, "Healing Words, the Power of Prayer and the Practice of Medicine." 1993. San Francisco: Harper.
3. L. Dossey: Prayer is Good Medicine: How to Reap the Healing Benefits of Prayer. 1996. San Francisco: Harper.
4. D. Mathews, "The Faith Factor."
5. Distance healing really works. Jewish Link. Accessed at
www.jewishhealing.com/healing_really_works.html.
6. S. Barrett. Psychoneuroimmunology — the bridge between science and spirit. In "Silver Threads," edited by B. Kane, J. Millay, and D. Brown. 1993. Praeger.
7. Prayer & spirituality: The proof that prayer works. Holistic-online.com. Accessed at
http://1stholistic.com/prayer/hol_prayer_proof.htm.
8. F Sicher, et al. A randomized double-blind study of the effect of distant healing in a population with advanced AIDS: Report of a small scale study. "Western Journal of Medicine." 1998; 169(9): 356-63.
9. R.A. Anderson. Psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology review and commentary. "Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients." 04/2002.
Psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology describes the unity of mental, neurological, hormonal, and immunological functions, addressing the impact of cognitive images of the mind (whatever its elusive definition) on the central nervous, endocrine, and immune systems. It encompasses biofeedback and voluntary controls, impacts on physiology of thought and belief, past/present stress, placebos, social relationships, and "energy medicine." This column highlights clinical applications of cogent studies from these arenas of holistic medicine in the new millennium.
Travel Health and Treating Emergencies in the Woods
Psychoneuroimmunoendocrinological principles seem to relate to this topic only with a long stretch. I submit the following possibilities.
Stress in Challenging Circumstances
In this review, the authors discuss the compromise of immune function secondary to acute and chronic stress that increases vulnerability to viral infections, triggers aggravation of episodes of asthma, accelerates clotting risk for myocardial infarction, and accelerates deterioration of blood sugar control in diabetes.
McEwen BS, Stellar E. Stress and the individual. Mechanisms leading to disease. Arch Intern Med. 1993 Sep 27; 153(18): 2093-2101.
Comment: Travel is stressful. Driving long distances is known to add to our load of stress. Air travel becomes more stressful by the year: cancelled flights, concern about adequate safety inspections, recycled dry air with deficiency of negative air ions, solar radiation exposure, sedentary deep venous thrombosis risk, and dehydration can be listed as acute stressful hazards. As these authors suggest, any acute stress or uptick in chronic stress potentially deteriorates health and may precipitate an acute deterioration in pre-existing disease states such as coronary artery insufficiency, asthma, and diabetes.
Stress and Immunity
In 45 first-time parachutists, the psychological stress increased sympathetic adrenal hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine, cortisol, heart rate, respiratory rate, and fear ratings (p<.001) at the time of jumping. Significant immediate increases in T-cell counts ([CD.sup.2+], [CD.sup.3+], [CD.sup.8+] [p=.001], and [CD.sup.4+] [p = .01]) and a doubling of NK (16) and NK (56) cell counts (p = 001) were found. Twenty minutes after the jump, epinephrine and norepinephrine were at baseline levels, and all immune cellular parameters were significantly below baselines (p = .001). Cortisol returned to baseline one hour following the jump. Experienced jumpers had much smaller and mostly insignificant changes.
Schedlowski M, et al. Psychophysiological, neuroendocrine and cellular immune reactions under psychological stress. Neuropsychobiology. 1993; 28(1-2):87-90. I Clin Immunol. Mar 1993; 13(2): 119-29.
Comment: Experience reduces the impact of stressful experience, and stress effects tend to be short term in the young and fit. This information would particularly relate to alpine hikers, mountain climbers, icefall climbers, rock climbers, and participants in related extreme sports. The autonomic nervous system reacts with sharp increases in the hormonal and biochemical agents, which temporarily erode the responsiveness of the immune system. Marathon runners experience a very high incidence of respiratory infections within days of their competitive runs.
More on Stress and Immunity
Ninety-five randomly selected 18-year-olds from a pool of 583 consenting first-year West Point cadets had blood drawn at registration into the academy program, at the end of the first six weeks of cadet basic training, following winter holidays on return to the academy, and during second year final examinations. A battery of five psychological instruments was completed and repeated one year later. Antibody levels remained essentially unchanged until the fourth blood drawing at final examination time, at which time there was a very significant rise in Epstein Barr virus titers (p<.001), with no significant increases in herpes-virus-1 and human herpesvirus-6 antibody levels. There were also no significant correlations with psychological data from the completed test instruments.
Glaser R, et al. The differential impact of training stress and final examination stress on herpesvirus latency at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Brain Behav Immunity. 1999 Sep; 13(3):240-51.
Comment: In these West Point cadets, the academic stress of final examinations, but not the physical and psychosocial stress of basic training, significantly reactivated latent mononucleosis virus activity, but not that of HSV-1 or HHV-6. These three herpes viruses, causing mononucleosis, gingivostomatitis, and exanthem subitum, respectively, remain in a steady state held at bay by cell- mediated immunity. Reactivation at final examination time, implying compromise of the immune system with consequent secondary rise in antibody titers, gives testimony to the intensity of the mental stress involved in academic competitive testing. The very significant rise in EBV antibodies confirms previous work showing this stress response of the immune system.
The point here is that we experience mental stress that may exceed physical and psychosocial stress when we tend to get out of our comfort zone. Hiking in the mountains can press us into that zone. Three summers ago, while hiking in a downpour on the Cascade Crest trail in the state of Washington, I met a lone hiker walking the opposite direction. He asked if I had encountered his hiking partner walking ahead of him. I said no. He hiked on past, and then a half-hour later, caught up with me after he turned around to go in my direction. His hiking partner had apparently taken a different direction at a fork in the trail; his partner had their tent! He looked ashen and anxious. I think he was stressed much more by his anxiety and mental alarm than he was by being cold and wet.
Immunity, Stress, and the Adrenal Cortex
In this review, the authors highlight the important role played by corticosteroids in trafficking immune cells. Glucocorticoid-induced shifts include changes in absolute numbers of white blood cells, with a marked increase in neutrophils; marked decrease in eosinophils, basophils, monocytes, lymphocytes, T-lymphocytes; and a moderate decrease in B-lymphocytes. Decreases are seen in T-suppressor cells (B-cell effect), serum immunoglobulin G, pokeweed mitogen-stimulated cell responses, and anti-SRBC (sheep cell) suppressor activity. No effects are seen for concanavalin-A-, sarcoid-, and Epstein Barr virus-generated suppressor cells.
Cupps TR, Fauci TS. Corticosteroid-mediated immunoregulation in man. Immunol Rev. 1982; 65: 133-40.
Comment: This commentary emphasizes the participation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system producing higher corticosteroid production in stress-related biochemistry. Stress can result from any process that excessively challenges the body's systems, regardless of whether the source of the stress is microbiological, physical, or psychosocial. So, long days of challenging hiking in alpine country, difficult sleeping conditions while mountain climbing, and anxiety-producing risks of climbing an icefall all raise corticosteroid levels that depress many mediators of immune responsiveness.
Immunity, Stress, and the Adrenal Medulla
The author in this review points out that stress increases circulating catecholamines, which in turn inhibit both magnesium-calcium and sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase, leading to rises in cellular calcium and sodium and renal loss of potassium and magnesium. And, perhaps more importantly, metabolism of catecholamines increases populations of free radicals. Targets of this free radical activity include potential damage to neuronal receptors, atherosclerosis, oncogenic deterioration, and a variety of other organ tissue damage.
Demopoulos HB, et al. The development of secondary pathology with free radical reactions as a threshold mechanism. I Am Coll Toxicol. 1983; 3(2): 173-84.
Comment: Microbiological, physical, and psychosocial stress all appear to lead to an activation of the autonomic-adrenal-medulla system as well as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-cortex system. Elevated catecholamine metabolites increase free radical levels, reeking havoc in any number of pathological processes. The immune system is included in the array of targets. Acute exacerbations of chronic stress include travel and coping with emergencies in the wilds of nature. The better we cope with chronic stress, the better we cope with the acute exacerbations.
The Stress of Control Issues While Traveling
In 104 student subjects completing psychological tests separating them into those needing power/control and those needing affiliation/support, the former encountering high "power stress" or inhibition had by far the highest mean severity of illness score compared to all other subgroups (p<.01). Statistical trials against all other subjects were even more significant (p<.001).
McClelland DC, Jemmott JB. Power motivation, stress and physical illness. J Human Stress. 1980 Dec; 6(4): 6-15
Comment: In the discussion of this study, the authors interpret their conclusions to mean that those with significant high power stresses have high sympathetic activity and immunosuppression. I recently observed a glaring example in the experience of a close acquaintance who became ill with a viral respiratory infection a week before a long-scheduled two-week Hawaiian vacation with his wife and daughter. Almost recovered by their day of departure, he and the family were met with a canceled flight and the need to stay overnight in a hotel and catch a crowded and delayed next-day flight with separated airplane seats. My friend's wife, a high power/control person, had no control over these events. In mid-flight, she became symptomatic with respiratory viral symptoms, with which she remained totally ill and confined to their condo facility for the entire vacation. The daughter also became ill but recovered quickly. The daughter clearly has none of the mother's control issues. I know that one case doth not a theory prove. However, this observation only confirmed my decades-long observation that illness tends to stalk persons with high control needs when that control is frustrated by unavoidable circumstances. There is a high degree of association linking illness and vacations (Holmes T, Rahe R. The social readjustment rating scale. J Psychocom Res. 1967 Aug; 11(2):213-18).
Robert Anderson is a retired family physician who has authored several major books: Stress Power!, Wellness Medicine, Clinician's Guide to Holistic Medicine (McGraw Hill, 2001) and The Scientific Basis for Holistic Medicine, (6th edition 2004), available from American Health Press, holos@charter.net. Anderson founded the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine, is a past president of the AHMA and a former Assistant Clinical Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Washington, and he teaches The Art of Primary Care at Bastyr University.
by Robert A. Anderson, MD, FAAFP, FACPM, ABHM
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