Are healing ceremonies useful for enhancing quality of life?
OBJECTIVE
In line with the growing interest in integrated health care approaches, both nonindigenous (e.g., Western) and indigenous people are participating in healing ceremonies. However, little is known about the potential health-related benefit of healing ceremonies. Thus, the current study sought to close this gap in the literature by exploring the effect of healing ceremonies on participant's self-rated quality of life.


METHODS
Data were gathered at three time points (T1: 4 weeks before ceremony; T2: 2 days before ceremony; T3: 4 weeks after ceremony).


METHODS
25 persons with various diseases participated in the healing ceremony.


METHODS
A 6-hour healing ceremony was conducted.


METHODS
Mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual quality of life were assessed.


RESULTS
Participation in a healing ceremony increased mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual quality of life.


CONCLUSIONS
As part of integrative health care, healing ceremonies are potentially useful for fostering participants' quality of life.
1 TU Dortmund University , Center for Higher Education, Dortmund, Germany .
Paul
P
Hewson
Jens
J
Rowold
Conrad
C
Sichler
Wiltrud
W
Walter
D002562:Ceremonial Behavior; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D006694:Holistic Health; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D026441:Mind-Body Therapies; D011788:Quality of Life; D029181:Spirituality