An exploratory investigation of human biofield responses to encountering a sacred object.

CONTEXT: While advances in the Western sciences have increased our understanding of the human biofield, few studies have examined the potential effects of sacred objects on its functioning. DESIGN AND STUDY PARTICIPANTS: This exploratory study examined the effects of a sacred object called the Sri Yantra / Durga Stone on the human biofield. Twelve women and five men were studied on three separate occasions using the Bio-Well device, which purportedly measures aspects of the biofield: baseline (the day before exposure to the sacred object), pre-exposure (immediately prior to exposure to the sacred object), and post-exposure (immediately following exposure to the sacred object). A set of a priori hypotheses examined outcome effects on a set of variables, including multiple physiological systems. RESULTS: The overall Bio-Well energy state (Bio-Well variables are in units of joules) was significantly changed following exposure to the sacred object (p = 0.001). In addition, the cardiovascular, endocrine, musculoskeletal, digestive, urinogenital, and immune system readings showed significant changes (p's<0.003) while the nervous and respiratory system assessments were unchanged. Chakra (defined as a center of vital prana) energy was changed following exposure to the stone (p = 0.001), while chakra alignment was not (p = 0.145). CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this exploratory study suggest that short-term human exposure to this particular sacred object had significant effects on aspects of the human biofield.

Recent Science and Clinical Application of Nutrition to Coronary Heart Disease.

One of the greatest threats to mortality in industrialized societies continues to be coronary heart disease (CHD). Moreover, the ability to decrease the incidence of CHD has reached a limit utilizing traditional diagnostic evaluations and prevention and treatment strategies for the top five cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, obesity, and smoking). It is well known that about 80% of CHD can be prevented with optimal nutrition, coupled with exercise, weight management, mild alcohol intake, and smoking cessation. Among all of these factors, optimal nutrition provides the basic foundation for prevention and treatment of CHD. Numerous prospective nutrition clinical trials have shown dramatic reductions in the incidence of CHD. As nutritional science and nutrigenomics research continues, our ability to adjust the best nutrition with an individualized approach is emerging. This article reviews the role of nutrition in the prevention and treatment of CHD and myocardial infarction (MI).

Integrative approaches for cardiovascular disease.

In the United States, $2.5 trillion is spent on healthcare annually. Seven chronic diseases account for half of all this expense. Of these 7, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke, and diabetes mellitus are largely preventable. Integrative cardiology programs that focus on risk-factor modification through lifestyle change combined with early detection and advanced lipid management offer a new paradigm to the prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Practicing whole-patient cardiology: An interview with Mimi Guarneri, MD. Interview by Sheldon Lewis.

Mimi Guarneri, MD, is medical director and co-founder of Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine in San Diego, California. She received her medical degree from SUNY Medical Center in New York and served an internship and residency at Cornell Medical Center, where she later became chief medical resident. Dr Guarneri and Rauni King, RN, in 1997 founded the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine to address the emotional and spiritual needs of patients as well as their physical needs. Dr Guarneri is a member of the American College of Cardiology, Alpha Omega Alpha, and the American Medical Women's Association. She is a diplomate of the American Holistic Medical Association and has keynoted numerous integrative medicine conferences, authored the best-selling book The Heart Speaks, and appeared on NBC's Today show. Dr Guarneri was interviewed earlier this year by Sheldon Lewis, former editor in chief of Advances.

Music, imagery, touch, and prayer as adjuncts to interventional cardiac care: the Monitoring and Actualisation of Noetic Trainings (MANTRA) II randomised study.

BACKGROUND: Data from a pilot study suggested that noetic therapies-healing practices that are not mediated by tangible elements-can reduce preprocedural distress and might affect outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. We undertook a multicentre, prospective trial of two such practices: intercessory prayer and music, imagery, and touch (MIT) therapy. METHODS: 748 patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention or elective catheterisation in nine USA centres were assigned in a 2x2 factorial randomisation either off-site prayer by established congregations of various religions or no off-site prayer (double-blinded) and MIT therapy or none (unmasked). The primary endpoint was combined in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events and 6-month readmission or death. Prespecified secondary endpoints were 6-month major adverse cardiovascular events, 6 month death or readmission, and 6-month mortality. FINDINGS: 371 patients were assigned prayer and 377 no prayer; 374 were assigned MIT therapy and 374 no MIT therapy. The factorial distribution was: standard care only, 192; prayer only, 182; MIT therapy only, 185; and both prayer and MIT therapy, 189. No significant difference was found for the primary composite endpoint in any treatment comparison. Mortality at 6 months was lower with MIT therapy than with no MIT therapy (hazard ratio 0.35 (95% CI 0.15-0.82, p=0.016). INTERPRETATION: Neither masked prayer nor MIT therapy significantly improved clinical outcome after elective catheterisation or percutaneous coronary intervention.