home // Religion and Spirituality // Spirituality
Humor, Spirituality, and Well-Being
Source: www.asa3.org
File Size: 97.98 KB
Category: Religion and Spirituality
Last Download : 34 days 22 hours 59 minutes ago
Share this info:
Click Image to enlarge
Short Description: The areas of humor and spirituality, as each relates to well-being and quality ... tific community are the areas of spirituality and humor. ...
Content Inside: Article Humor, Spirituality, and Well-Being Humor, Spirituality, and Well-Being The National Institute of Health has created a National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) with five major sections for research, including a mind-body section. Mind-body research is included under the umbrella of psychoneuroimmunology (PNI). Significant progress is being made in mind-body research around the world with the field of psychoneuroimmunology expanding at a rapid rate. The areas of humor and spirituality, as each relates to well-being and quality of life, are the focal point of this paper. "Every year, more and more studies hypnosis, psychotherapy, prayer, art, demonstrate that your thoughts, moods, music, humor, and dance. emotions, and belief system have a funda- � Alternative medical systems, which may mental impact on some of the body's basic include traditional and ethnomedicine: health and healing mechanisms."1 The basis acupuncture, herbal medicine, ayurveda, for this assumption is a growing body of sci- homeopathy, natural products, Native entific evidence that corroborates the health American approaches, and Oriental benefits of mind-body activities as diverse as medicine. laughter, prayer, meditation, play, imagery, "A merry heart � Manipulative and body-based methods: biofeedback, hypnosis, acupuncture, mas- acupressure, massage, chiropractic, re- sage, and spiritual quests. Complimentary flexology, Rolfing, and therapeutic touch. doeth good, like and alternative medicine is being taken � more seriously as patients and physicians Biological-based therapies: anti-oxidiz- a medicine." alike are becoming more aware of the heal- ing agents, chelation, cell treatments, and ing possibilities. metabolic therapy. � Energy therapies: electromagnetic fields, The National Institutes of Health (NIH) biofields, Qi gon, Reiki, and therapeutic created a National Center for Complemen- touch. tary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) dedicated to exploring complementary and Mind-body interventions fit well under alternative medicine (CAM) healing prac- the umbrella of psychoneuroimmunology tices in the context of rigorous science; (PNI). PNI is the study of the complex inter- training CAM researchers; and disseminat- relationships between the immune system, ing authoritative information. By taking the central nervous system, hormones, and CAM seriously, NIH is adding its support to one's psychological make-up. This growing research into the effectiveness of alternative field is concerned with the interactions healing methods. The major domains for between the brain and the immune system NCCAM include the following: at the molecular, cellular, and organismic � Mind/body interventions: meditation, levels, and encompasses mind-body interac- biofeedback, distant or psychic healing, tions in a variety of ways. In an interview with Psychiatric Times, Ronald Glaser, a Jep Hostetler received his Ph.D. in anatomy from The Ohio State University. noted authority in the field, defined PNI as He holds the title of Associate Professor Emeritus from The Ohio State follows: University, since he retired after nearly thirty years of teaching courses in a field that studies the interactions anatomy, doctor-patient relationships, and substance abuse prevention. He is in between the central nervous system, demand as a magician and humorist in church and civic groups, conventions, the endocrine system and the immune and conferences. He remains active as a marathon runner, church worker in system; the impact of behavior/stress the Columbus Mennonite Church, and executive secretary of the Mennonite Medical Association. His e-mail address is hostetler.2@osu.edu. 108 Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith
Sponsored Links
Related Search Terms: