The Ordinary Magic Girls

Abstract

"Reports on religious and spiritual beliefs pertaining to health and healing have increased in the health care literature over the past ten years. Much of the published research has been based on biomedical and nursing models, mind-body medicine, surveys of selected treatment methods or disease processes, and experiences of biomedical practitioners (Benson and Proctor; Masters and Spielmans; Miller and Thoreson; Sobo). However, respondents to the Pew Research survey reported use of non-biomedical, preventive and therapeutic healing practices such as prayer, breathing exercises and/or meditation, relaxation techniques, tai chi and yoga, massage therapy, and various kinds of “energy work.” These therapies or approaches are often described as holistic health (HH) practices (integrating mind-bodyspirit) to optimize the health of people in their lived environments (American Holistic Health Association). Many of them originated in ancient and non-western healing traditions and have been syncretically adapted. Within biomedicine, which tends to have a disease and body-systems approach, they are often referred to as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and considered scientifically questionable."(pg 263)