Prayer is an address to an entity thought to be greater than everything. The word prayer derives from the Latin root precarious, which means obtained by begging. The practice is rooted in the belief that there is a power larger and wiser than our human selves that can influence our lives.

Prayer is probably as old as mankind and is part of virtually every religion in the world. Although it is often linked to religion, prayer can be practiced outside the realm of a specific religion. Many people feel a deep sense of calm after praying. Like meditation, prayer has been found to promote a feeling of relaxation that is conducive to both mental and physical health.

Classification

Prayer can be expressed out loud or in thought, alone or in a group. It typically consists of praise, thanksgiving, a request or a confession. Most types of prayer can be divided into four categories: meditative prayer; ritualistic prayer; petitioner prayer and conversational prayer. These types can be explained as follows:

1. Meditative prayer: This type of prayer focuses on a particular topic, word, sound or phrase in order to induce a state of relaxation. It may also create a receptive state in which one is able to hear God.
2. Ritualistic prayer: This type of prayer involves reciting texts that have been learned as part of a particular religious tradition or training.
3. Petitioner prayer: This prayer type consists of addressing a divine being directly to request something, such as guidance or physical healing for oneself or another person. This latter type is known as intercessory prayer and is a form of what is known in alternative medicine as non-local or distant healing.
4. Conversational prayer: This type of prayer involves speaking on a very personal level with God or Supreme Being about feelings, thoughts and needs.

The polls show that most people around the world believe that faith and prayer can benefit health. More than 60 medical schools are now teaching courses on religious and spiritual issues and many hospitals and clinics have set up centers for spirituality and healing.

Line of Action

Like many aspects of spirituality, exactly how prayer works is a mystery. Several theories exist. The easiest physiologic explanation is that prayer helps people handle stress more effectively. During any tense or anxiety-producing situation, the adrenal glands of the body release chemicals that raise the heart rate and blood pressure and lower immunity. Praying helps people maintain lower stress levels thus enhancing immunity and promoting health in general. In addition, people who pray tend to have a sense of purpose and to find meaning in life. Such a positive outlook also may promote health and well-being.

In recent years, many studies have appeared about the efficacy of distant healing for various medical conditions. Just how prayer can help people across vast distances continues to evade conventional or physical explanation.

Procedure

There is no correct or incorrect way of praying. Ones conception of the deity or entity one prays to and how one chooses to talk to that entity are very personal decisions. One can use any of the formal prayers created through the ages, which are available in countless sources or one can make up his own prayers or incantations.

Some people prefer to pray in a church, temple, synagogue or mosque. Others feel more comfortable praying at home. Some pray silently while working or doing their household tasks. Many people, especially Christians, kneel when they pray, but one can also sit, walk or lie down. One can pray using song and dance as well as words. As long as one is honest and earnest, there is no form or topic of prayer that is taboo.

Benefits

Numerous scientific studies have evaluated the therapeutic effects of prayer. The research has shown that people who pray regularly are less likely to become ill and that when they do, they tend to recover faster. Not only does prayer seem to have healing effects upon the people who pray but also it appears to benefit those who are prayed for by others.

Studies have also yielded findings in the area of distant healing which includes intercessory prayer for someone who is ill, although many of these reports have appeared only in peer-reviewed parapsychology journals.

Though prayers are widely used for healing purposes and as mentioned show some effectiveness, in some case studies it has been stated that there are no significant difference in the conditions of the patients being tried the therapy of distant healing through the process like prayers and those without such help as well.

Cautions

There are no cautions associated with Prayer.