Abstract
Many alternative health practices have their origins in spiritual traditions and practices. Through the research and clinical uses of meditation, biofeedback, prayer, imagery, music, relaxation, therapeutic touch, yoga, and other methods, the alternative health practitioner is discovering which practices actually alleviate human suffering and promote healing. In doing so, the practitioner is participating in a sociocultural event with as yet unknown implications: the emergence of a practical new American spiritual practice with the health professional as teacher.
The alternative health movement is unknowingly creating a new American spiritual practice. Innovative health professionals are freely drawing upon the world's spiritual wisdom and testing it out with that pragmatic, action-oriented American attitude to find out what works. In utilizing spiritual practices to help alleviate suffering, the American alternative health professional is doing what the spiritual teachers in all cultures and in all times have always done. Carried out with the scientific influence of research and clinical outcomes, new health-based spiritual practices are being tested and refined for the benefit of us all.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.