Mind Body Medicine — Spirituality and Prayer

Prayer and spirituality have been used by people for their own and other’s health concerns for thousands of years. Although classifying prayer and spirituality as complementary medicine is controversial, prayer interacts at the levels of both mind and body and therefore health and disease. Prayer is one of the most common CAM therapies used by the general population as well as by children with cancer.

Potential Application for Children with Cancer

Although additional research on prayer and spirituality and children with cancer is needed to better understand the therapeutic effectiveness of these practices for this population, prayer often provides families and children with helpful coping strategies and promotes a sense of peace during periods of potential spiritual crisis.

Last updated: October 13, 2009