Healings Research Articles

Magico-religious Beliefs Stigma and Help-seeking Behaviour among the Caregivers of Persons with Schizophrenia

Background: The cultural and traditional aspects of caregivers of people with mental illness have been seen widely, where the faith healers are the immediate source for treatment. Due to poor understanding of mental illness and stigma among caregivers, people often seek traditional help than modern medical treatment. Aim: To assess the Magico-religious beliefs, stigma and help seeking behaviour among the caregivers of persons with schizophrenia. Methods and Materials: Descriptive research design was used. Seventy caregivers of persons with schizophrenia attending the outpatient department of LGBRIMH, Tezpur, Assam were purposefully taken for the study. Socio-demographic datasheet, Family Interview Schedule (stigma section), Super Natural Attitude Questionnaire and General Help Seeking Questionnaire were administered. Results: Prevalence of the stigma was 100%. The majority (80%) of care giver's locality and community believe in Jadu Tona, 75.7% have performed puja/ritual/jhad-phook, 72.9% visited or consulted faith healer, 67.1% talk about or believe in bhoot pret, Jadu Tona (65.7%), Opari kasar (64.3%), 68.6% believed that performing puja/rituals/jhad-phook can change patient's behaviour. Majority 57.6% care giver showed high help-seeking behaviour while 42.4% showed low help-seeking behaviour. Majority of the caregivers seek help from the parents (5.47±1.20). Conclusion: Supernatural beliefs and stigma found to be common among the caregivers of persons with schizophrenia. Caregivers have higher help-seeking behaviour from informal groups than formal groups.

The majestic power of prayer in moral healing and physical rebirth (according to the materials of the UGCC clergy)

"Prayer is a sacrament that transcends the boundaries of our consciousness and our subconscious," the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains the concept of prayer. Prayer is something special for everyone. Prayer can express requests, be filled with love and gratitude.

마테오 리치와 대순사상의 관계성에 대한 연구

In Daesoon Thought, Matteo Ricci is regarded highly as a Jongjang, ‘religious leader,’ (of Christianity). This paper deals with the life and philosophical/theological thought of Matteo Ricci as homo-religiosus from the perspective of phenomenology of religion. Examining his historical background and biographical sketch, I will analyze Ricci’s understanding of God, humanity, and salvation and re-evaluate his relationship with Daesoon Thought. Matteo Ricci, born in Italy, became a Jesuit missionary to China and transmitted various products of western civilization. Accepting the pro-cultural approach of Jesuit mission, he applied it to Chinese culture and language by learning the Chinese language and regarding Chinese people as his friends. This was a sympathetic way to transmit Western religion and culture while on Chinese soil. He suggested eight reasons to look towards the future of China with optimism and taught Chinese people his Christian message through his indirect means of understanding and persuasion. In China, Jesuit missionaries called the Christian God ‘Tianzhu (Cheonju in Sino-Korean),’ meaning Lord of Heaven. Ricci identified the Confucian notion of ‘Shangdi (Sangje in Sino-Korean),’ meaning Supreme Emperor (or God) with Tianzhu. While translating Confucian scriptures, he found the common ground between Confucianism and Christianity to be the monotheism of ancient Confucianism. He criticized the concepts of God in Buddhism and Daoism, and justified the Christian doctrine of God by way of a Confucian understanding of deity. Ricci’s understanding of humanity was based on his Christian faith in creation, and he criticized the Buddhist concept of transmigration. He proposed Christian ethics and doctrine of salvation by using discourse on the afterlife and in particular, the concepts of heaven and hell. Concerning the relationship between Daesoon Thought and Ricci, the following aspects should be examined: 1.) Ricci’s contribution to the cultural exchanges between East and West, 2.) his peaceful approach to his mission based on dialogue and persuasion, 3.) the various activities conducted by Ricci as a Christian leader, and 4.) his belief in miraculous healings. His influence on Korea will likewise be explored. Ricci’s ultimate aim was to communicate with Asian people and unify East and West under a singular worldview by emphasizing the similarities between the Christian and Confucian concepts of God.

Religion, Gullibility, Health and Well-being: The Paradox of Faith Healing in Zimbabwe with Insights from the Levitical Priestly Code

Religion, Gullibility, Health and Well-being: The Paradox of Faith Healing in Zimbabwe with Insights from the Levitical Priestly Code

Pathways to care and duration of untreated illness in patients attending a state psychiatric hospital

Background: In India, due to various factors, mentally ill often turn to a variety of carers for treatment. It results in a longer duration of untreated illness (DUI) with poor long term prognosis. Studies on pathways to care, seek to find out predictors of mentally ill person’s help-seeking behaviour. There is a dearth of literature in this subject in Kerala setting. Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted on 250 consecutive first-time outpatients. The diagnosis was made according to DSM 5. A pilot-tested, semi-structured proforma was used for socio-demographic details and Encounter form by WHO for pathways to care. The analysis was done using Epi Info software. Results and discussion: Four gateways to care identified: Psychiatrist- 71.2%, faith healers – 14.8%, non-psychiatrist modern medicine doctors- 9.2%, alternate systems of medicine- 4.8%. Median DUI was seven months. Faith healers as first carers were more in BPL compared to APL families (p=0.004). Substance use disorders had longer median DUI than psychotic and anxiety disorders and mental retardation. Major neurocognitive disorder had more delays than the schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders and mental retardation (p=0.000). Among first carers, longer DUI was with faith healers and alternate systems of medicine when compared to psychiatrists. (p=0.000). Those from higher socioeconomic status and a diagnosis of substance use disorder more often have a psychiatrist as the first carer. Being male was associated with lengthier pathways. Conclusion: Faith healers & alternate systems of medicine practitioners form the first portal of psychiatric care for a small yet significant proportion of the patients. Reduction in DUI in case of psychiatric disorders needs attention to this aspect also.

Significance of Early Recognition of Somatic Symptoms of Depression in General Practice: A Case Report

In primary health care centers somatic symptoms of depression usually dominates over psychological presentation. In Pakistan, before seeking help of a proper qualified medical doctors, people living in rural areas generally get advice from faith healers and local hakims (Unani medicine man in East). We have presented the case of a 37-year-old housewife with medically unexplained symptoms. The case highlights the contribution of GPs in managing the psychiatric disorders under limited resources. Moreover the impact of locally devised methods of treatment on the outcome of mental disorders.
 Method of Collecting the Case Information: This information has been based on general practice at outpatient setting of a 25-bed hospital situated at rural Punjab, Pakistan.

Negotiating pathways for the continuation of chhaupadi system in remote parts of Nepal

Chhaupadi system, the practice of menstrual segregation of women in separate sheds called chhaugoths, is rooted deeply in Mid-western and Far-western parts of Nepal since long ago. In spite of its evil status identified in society menstrual segregation has been witnessed continuing in traditional society. This study has been carried out in order to investigate negotiating pathways for the continuation of the evil practice, focusing the study to one of the representative traditionalist society called Patala in Kalikot district of Nepal. The respondents were comprised of 150 sample sizes consisting of menstruating women from various age group, religious persons, faith healers, activists, and aged people. The data collected showed the low literacy rate in this study site and all the families observed have made menstrual huts (chhaupadi goths). The main reason for the continuation of this evil practice of chhaupadi is it becomes a tradition for this area and the second most reason is the widespread illiteracy as found in this area shown by the data collected. God will get angry if they try to get rid of this practice, some of the respondents answered. Untouchability, restrictions, taboos, segregation resulting in humiliation, health risks, crimes and injustice have often been observed as violation in physical and mental health of women. The people of this area are fed up with this evil tradition. They are trying to get rid of this system but they cannot.

African Christianity and the Intersection of Faith, Traditional, and Biomedical Healing

Africa has witnessed an increase of clergy who favor faith healing but have little appreciation for modern medicine. The intersection between African traditional healing and faith healing remains unclear, with most curricula in theological and Bible schools failing to address these fundamental issues. Research was conducted to establish the intersection between faith, traditional, and biomedical healing. The findings show that faith healing is practiced by nearly three-fourths of the respondents and that African Instituted Churches give relatively more attention to practices of faith healing than do other denominations.

Knowledge, attitude, and practice among healthcare workers towards COVID-19 outbreak in Nigeria

BackgroundSevere acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is a global pandemic. Healthcare workers' (HCWs) role in patient management is predisposing and can serve as means of hospitals and community transmission. This study evaluated HCWs' knowledge, attitude, and practice towards COVID-19 in Nigeria. Methodswe carried out a cross-sectional survey among HCWs during the COVID-19 outbreak in Nigeria from March to June 2020. The study assessed 346 HCWs for Knowledge, attitude, and practice by using an online (Google form) self-administered questionnaire, based on a convinience sampling technique Data were retrieved and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Chi-Square and one-way ANOVA were used to measure association and difference among demographic variables. The relationship between knowledge, attitude, and practice was measured using Spearman's rho correlation test. Resultsthe mean knowledge score of the HCWs was 7.1 on a scale of 0–8. The correct overall rate of the knowledge questionnaire was 88.75%. Knowledge was gained mainly from television (35.0%) and social media (35.0%). The mean attitude score on a scale of 0–6 was 5.31 ± 0.39. Most (92.5%) participants were confident that Nigerian medical scientists would win the war against COVID-19. The majority (92.2%) of the respondents thought that SARS-CoV-2 was not a biological weapon. About 1 out of 5 respondents held that faith healing or prayer is the only cure for COVID-19. A vast majority of the HCWs were taking precautionary measures such as avoiding crowded places (94.2%), washing of hands (96.0%), and the use of personal protective equipment (91.6%) against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nevertheless, only 3 out of 5 HCWs used a face mask when leaving home. There was a significant (p = 0.046) positive correlation (0.584) between knowledge and attitude. Conclusionour results showed that HCWs in Nigeria had excellent knowledge and possessed a positive attitude and good practice towards COVID-19. However; there were areas where poor knowledge, negative attitudes and unacceptable practices were observed. We recommend continuous public health education of HCWs on SARS-COV-2 infection control and prevention.

Reinscribing the Lived Body: A Qualitative Study of Extraordinary Religious Healing Experiences in Norwegian Contexts

Poor health often motivates people to engage in religious and spiritual approaches to healing. However, there is limited research on such experiences from a northern European perspective. This article investigates healing experiences related to Christian faith and practices in Norway by thematic analysis of 25 semi-structured interviews with individuals who have experienced healing of different ailments. In so doing, healing events across diverse contexts are characterised, and the results show that such experiences not only feature practices in which other people are present in prayer, preaching, and the laying on of hands, but also spontaneous extraordinary encounters with a divine being through visions and voices. The healing events are further described as experiences of transformational, powerful touch. In light of the lived body theory, these transformational experiences can be understood as re-inscriptions of health that are manifested in the intertwined bio–psycho–social–spiritual aspects of the body.

Christian Medical Mission from the Perspective of Batswana Faith Healers

This article examines views of Batswana faith healers on medication and Christian medical mission in a context where official health policy generally does not recognize alternative health systems. It is based on fieldwork among Batswana designed to establish the impact of religion on those who seek healing and on health providers. Overall, the study established that faith healers do not discourage their clients from taking modern medication. They strongly believe, however, that faith healing contributes significantly to healing and health and needs to be recognized in the country’s health policy; they support and encourage collaboration between themselves and modern medical practitioners.

‘A disoriented vision of … fact’: Brian Friel, Francis Bacon, and Faith Healer

The Brian Friel Papers at the NLI reveal a long and relatively unexplored history of major and minor influences on Friel's plays. As the archive attests, these influences manifest themselves in ways that range from the superficial to the deeply structural. In this article, I draw on original archival research into the composition process of Friel's genre-defining play Faith Healer (1979) to bring to light a model of influence that operates at the level of artistic practice. Specifically, I examine the extent to which Friel's officially unacknowledged encounter with a book of interviews with painter Francis Bacon influenced the play in terms of character, language, and form. I suggest that Bacon's creative process – incorporating his ideas on the role of the artist, the workings of chance, and the extent to which art does violence to fact – may have had a major influence on both the play's development and on Friel's development as an artist.

In Vitro Anticancer Potential of Berberis lycium Royle Extracts against Human Hepatocarcinoma (HepG2) Cells.

Human liver cancer has emerged as a serious health concern in the world, associated with poorly available therapies. The Berberis genus contains vital medicinal plants with miraculous healing properties and a wide range of bioactivities. In this study, different crude extracts of B. lycium Royle were prepared and screened against Human Hepatocarcinoma (HepG2) cell lines. The water/ethanolic extract of B. lycium Royle (BLE) exhibited significant antiproliferative activity against the HepG2 cancer cell line with an IC50 value of 47 μg/mL. The extract decreased the clonogenic potential of HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. It induced apoptotic cell death in HepG2 cells that were confirmed by cytometric analysis and microscopic examination of cellular morphology through DAPI-stained cells. Biochemical evidence of apoptosis came from elevating the intracellular ROS level that was accompanied by the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. The mechanism of apoptosis was further confirmed by gene expression analysis using RT-qPCR that revealed the decline in Bcl-2 independent of p53 mRNA and a rise in CDK1 while downregulating CDK5, CDK9, and CDK10 mRNA levels at 48 h of BLE treatment. The most active fraction was subjected to HPLC which indicated the presence of berberine (48 μg/mL) and benzoic acid (15.8 μg/mL) as major compounds in BLE and a trace amount of luteolin, rutin, and gallic acid. Our study highlighted the importance of the most active BLE extract as an excellent source of nutraceuticals against Human Hepatocarcinoma that can serve as an herbal natural cure against liver cancer.

Anti-inflammatory properties of methanolic extract of "sikari laharo" (Periploca calophylla)

Inflammation, orchestrated in a series of cardinal signs is a pathophysiological condition that occurs during various clinical presentations. Periploca calophylla is a herbal plant which is used traditionally as an anti-inflammatory agent for a myriad of malaises in Nepalese countryside. The scientific research on the anti-inflammatory property of this plant is scanty, and if available elsewhere, its properties are not proven scientifically, except sporadic empirical evidence reported by the traditional faith healers. The main objective of this research was to establish a proof of concept on the anti-inflammatory property of P. calophylla based on the results obtained from a scientific experiment. Accordingly, Adult albino mice animal model was used for in vivo assessment of its property. Three different doses of 80% methanolic extract of the vine of P. calophylla (1.5 mg/ kg, 2 mg/kg, and 2.5 mg/kg) were administered intra-peritoneally to the animals of the test groups. Indomethacin (25 mg/ kg) and distilled water (3 mL/kg) were used as positive and negative controls, via the same route of administration. The anti-inflammatory property was evaluated by the Carrageenan-induced hind paw oedema model test, fresh egg albumin induced paw oedema test, formalin-induced paw oedema test, and haematology. Extract of P. calophylla (1.5 mg/kg) significantly (p<0.01) inhibited inflammatory responses in all the evaluated tests in the animal model. The data obtained from this study indicated that the phyto-extract of P. calophylla possessed a significant amount of anti-inflammatory property. This justifies the empirical and traditional use of this plant as an anti-inflammatory agent. Isolation of the particular compound related to this property needs further experimentation and scientific investigation.

Innovation or Competition? A Critical Analysis of Contemporary Divine Healing Practices of Pentecostal Africans in Africa and the Diaspora

This article examines current practices of divine healing of Pentecostal Africans. It provides insights into current developments by using the explanatory concepts of innovation, competition, and agency. The article draws on data obtained through an interdisciplinary, transnational, and multisite investigation of eight Pentecostal churches in Kampala, Nairobi, Cape Town, and London. Methods used included ethnographic observation, visual ethnography, and semistructured interviews. Pentecostal Africans in Africa and the diaspora, this article argues, are simultaneously reenacting centuries-old faith-informed healing practices and creatively reinventing aspects of these practices to assert their relevance in a postmodern world characterized by religious plurality, competition, and secularism.

Mu’jizatu Yasû’ ‘n al-‘Ilâj al-Jismâniy fî al-Kâtûlîkiyyah

This article aims to examine non-medical healing as a miracle of Jesus. According to Christianity, non-medical healing is always being associate with miracles, also called divine healing which consists of healing physical and spiritual illness. Both are important parts of Christ's ministry. Jesus' ministry on earth, marked by healing, miracles, and miraculous signs. With descriptive and analysis methods, this study concludes that healing is a renewal of the body's condition to restore the strength of disease, and miracles are events that are difficult to reach by human reason. The relationship between Jesus' miracles and healing services in the Church is that there are several miracles of Jesus that have shown that faith and physical healing are interrelated. Healing from Jesus is not always instant because faith is a significant factor in getting healthy. One form of Jesus' healing is the law of touch and transmission, which is the means to make miracles. Not only that, but prayer is also a way to get healing from a distance. God wants the Church to fully operate on this earth as the empowered body of Jesus. For this to achieve, the gift and anointing of the Holy Spirit in believers must be activated. So that divine healing services can work in the Church along with traditional medicine while still being inseparable from the Christian faith.

موجهات سياقية في مدارسة ظاهرة السحر

اعتنى البحث بدراسة الموجهات السياقية في ظاهرة السحر، وهي موجهات باحثة في الأسباب والملابسات، والظروف المحيطة، والآثار المترتبة على ظاهرة السحر، وهي بالتالي فصلت في ما داخل السحر من أعمال ومصطلحات كالشعوذة والدجل والحيل والتوهم، واستقرأت واقع الحل الجامع بين الرقية الشرعية، وبين إكساب المريض مهارات نفسية وعقلية تجعل منه شخصية متزنة مستوعبة لمعاني التوكل، والإبتلاء والصبر..الخ، والأهداف المنشودة من البحث هي: التعريف بحقيقة السحر وواقعيته، والتفريق بين السحر والشعوذة والتخيل والتوهم، وطرق الوقاية والعلاج حسيا ومعنويا. ومن ثم النظر في نتائج الدراسة والتوصيات المستفادة. فقضية السحر أصبحت ضرورة مجتمعية في حاجة لألية تتواكب مع وجودها وانتشارها وأثرها لدى المجتمعات، استخدم البحث المنهج الاستقرائي في جمع المادة العلمية من مصادر التراث الإسلامي، والبحوث والدراسات المعاصرة ذات الصلة بالمضوع، والمنهج التحليلي وذلك بتحليل ما جمع من مادة علمية في ظاهرة السحر وما ترتب على ذلك من أثر في واقع المجتمع، فالبحث يسهم في بصير كثير من الحيارى ومن ضعفت أنفسهم وتحينوا الفرص لإيذاء المجتمع المسلم وغير المسلم من المشعوذين والدجالين. كلمات مفتاحية: موجهات سايقية السحر التوهم الشعوذة والدجل ABSTRACT The research deals with studying the contextual guidelines in the phenomenon of Black Magic. It deals with the causes and circumstances, the surroundings, and the effects of the phenomenon of magic. It explains the related actions and terms such as sorcery, quackery, tricks and delusions, and tries to reach a comprehensive solution between the Shari`ah (religious) healing and the psychological and mental skills that the patient may develop which will make him a balanced personality to follow the real meanings of Tawakkul (reliance on Allah swt), trials and patience etc. The intended objectives of the research are: introducing the truth of black magic and its reality, and differentiating between magic, sorcery, imagination and delusion, methods of prevention and treatment, physically and morally, and then, investigate the outcomes of the study and the recommendations. The issue of black magic has urged to a serious need for a mechanism to cope with its existence, spread and impact on societies. The research used the inductive approach to collect scientific material from the sources of Islamic heritage, and contemporary research and studies related to the topic. It also used the analytical method through analyzing the scientific materials on the phenomenon of magic and its impacts on society. The research contributes to the insight of many confused and weak people, such as the demons and the charlatans who await opportunities to harm the Muslim and non-Muslim communities. Keywords: directions, contextual, black magic, delusion, sorcery, quackery

The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Based Intervention: Prayer Open Hearts Against Depression in HIV/ AIDS Patients

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a group of symptoms that arise due to damage to the human immune system due to infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). People with HIV will cause stigma in society so that psychosocial problems will arise, one of which is depression. Treatment of depressed patients can be done by non-pharmacological therapy, one of which is Mindfulness-Based Intervention. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of Mindfulness Based Intervention: Open Heart Prayer Against Changes in Depression Levels in HIV / AIDS Patients at RSUD X Tangerang Regency. The research method was a quasy experiment with non-equivalent control group pre- posttest design on 117 samples divided by the control group with 29 samples and the intervention group for 88 samples. Open Heart Prayer Therapy is given 2 times a day for 6 weeks. The independent variables were age, gender, education level, length of diagnosis, stigma and family support. Statistical tests used Wilcoxon, Mann Whitney, and Ordinal Logistic Regression. The results showed that there was a difference in the mean level of depression after being given Mindfulness Based Intervention: Prayer to Open Heart in the intervention and control groups with a significance level of 0.000 <0.05. And there are differences in the level of depression before and after being given Mindfulness Based Intervention: Open Heart Prayer in the intervention group with a significance level of 0.000 <0.05. There is an effect of Mindfulness Based Intervention: Open Heart Prayer on the level of depression with a P Value of 0.040 <0.05. However, there was no significant effect on the level of depression partially with gender p. Value 0.926, education level p value 0.696, long time diagnosed with HIV / AIDS p value 0.076, stigma p value 0.057 and significant effect on family support with p value 0.039. Mindfulness Based Intervention Therapy: Open Heart Prayer is influential and useful in reducing depression levels in HIV / AIDS patients. Keywords: HIV / AIDS; MBI (Prayer of Open Heart); Depression

The power of the divine: religion, rituals, and healing in Greece

ABSTRACT The present critical review examines the role of religious healing in mental health in Greece. After describing the history of psychiatry in Greece, and the close links between medicine and religion, we discuss the role of various ritual contexts in healing mental distress. Findings suggest that supernatural explanatory models of mental illness, such as the evil eye and spirit possession still appear to be prevalent in many parts of Greece. Despite the availability of mainstream psychology, patients and their families commonly resort to religious healers. The perception is that ritual healing is effective in alleviating symptoms of mental distress. While studies suggest that ritual participation can be efficacious, there is a need for future research to examine the efficacy of religious healing for mental disorders. Ethnographic methods will play a significant role in understanding how ritual attendees perceive healing and biomedical assessments elucidate physiological changes.

Quality of life among patients with common mental disorders attending monk healers and primary care clinics in Thailand

PurposeCommon mental disorders are not only highly prevalent in primary health-care settings but also negatively affect patients’ quality of life (QoL). This study aims to assess the levels of QoL among patients with common mental disorders seeking care from a monk healer or primary care setting and to determine the comparative QoL of users in two different types of care settings in Thailand.Design/methodology/approachConsecutively attending clients or patients (N = 1251) of three faith healing or three health centres were assessed with measures of depression, anxiety and somatization disorder and QoL.FindingsThe overall QoL was 67.8 and among the four QoL domains, social QoL was the highest (72.3), followed by physical QoL (69.4), environmental QoL (64.8) and psychological QoL (64.6). In adjusted linear regression analyses, sociodemographic factors, such as higher educational level, being employed, having high debt and consulting a health centre, were associated with higher overall QoL. Compared to being a client with a monk healer, patients at a health centre had a higher overall QoL, environmental and psychological QoL. Having a general anxiety or major depressive disorder was negatively associated with overall QoL and all four QoL sub-domains, whereas somatization disorder was not associated with any QoL sub-domains.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to investigate QoL in common mental disorder attenders with a monk healer in comparison with primary care patients. Primary care patients with a common mental disorder had significantly higher overall QoL (p<0.01), higher psychological QoL (p<0.001) and higher environmental QoL (p<0.001) than clients with a common mental disorder attending monk healers. This study extends previous research showing a negative association between anxiety and depressive disorders and QoL calling for integration of QoL in the management of common mental disorders in both complementary and public primary care in Thailand.