DATE: Sunday, June 15, 1997                 TAG: 9706130069

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E12  EDITION: FINAL 

COLUMN: IMPERFECT NAVIGATOR

SOURCE: ALEXANDRIA BERGER

                                            LENGTH:   69 lines

MEDICINAL POWER OF PRAYER IS FINDING SUPPORT AMONG DOCTORS

GIVE ME your hand. Please. Just place it gently on this page. I know you feel silly. But, it's okay. No one's watching.

Now, imagine: The year is prehistoric.

You discover fire. But something occurs when you rub those two sticks together, igniting flame for the first time. The miracle of the fire's light frightens, yet pulls you to it. Could this power have come from some greater force?

You name it God. The Fire God's presence is there to warm you. Cook raw meat. Keep predators away.

In great respect, you bow to the Fire God. . . and you call it ``prayer.'' It gives you strength, energy.

Thousands of years pass.

The time is 1997 A.D. Fire Gods have been replaced by what we call ``religions.'' No matter our spirituality, we humans still find solace and strength in prayer.

But does prayer really make a difference in our well-being?

Dr. Jeff Levin knows so. As senior research fellow of the National Institute for Healthcare Research, he pioneered the scientific study of religion's interaction with health. Levin calls it the ``epidemiology of religion.''

``Beginning in 1982, I found over 200 studies which dated back to the last century. It was an amazing find. It proved one of my theories,'' Levin said. ``Prayer is universally powerful.''

``In the early '80s, the University of Michigan conducted a study of the Afro-American community and discovered the strongest predictor of emotional well-being was religious participation, not health, income, family or educational level.''

Next, I called the guru Larry Dossey, M.D., originally trained as an internist at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas. Former co-chairman on Mind/Body Interventions, Office of Alternative Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Dossey gave up the practice of medicine to study prayer.

Dossey has authored seven books. ``Healing Words,'' a New York Times best seller, put his name on the map. His latest book, ``Prayer is Good Medicine,'' is a must read.

Initially, Dossey seemed to be dabbling in an area looked at skeptically by his own medical colleagues. He changed that, quickly. ``In one recent study, 75 percent of patients surveyed believed their doctors should discuss spirituality with them. Fifty percent believed their doctors should actually pray with them. Now there are 11 medical schools with programs in spirituality,'' said Dossey, who is in demand as a consultant.

According to Dossey, Dr. Randolph Byrd, a cardiologist, conducted the most famous study published in 1988. He randomly assigned 393 patients at the coronary care unit of San Francisco General Hospital to two prayer groups.

``One group prayed for patients by name,'' Dossey said. ``The other group didn't pray for patients at all. The prayed-for patients were two and one half times less likely to suffer congestive heart failure and cardiac arrest.''

Curious, I asked Dr. Dossey his definition of prayer.

``Prayer is communication with the absolute . . . in whatever form you choose,'' he responded. ``I pass no judgment.''

Then he added, ``Prayer is no guarantee of your desire's outcome, any more than traditional medical intervention. Prayer should be part of anything that works. It's really no alternative to it, nor is it a substitute. There is too much convincing data of its benefits. We're studying the existence of a universal consciousness. An energy that transcends space and time. It's an incredible time to be alive.''

``I'll just place my hand on the cover of your new book, and touch the energy of your words,'' I replied, feeling his strength.

Or perhaps you think that sounds silly? You may remove your hand now and turn the page.

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