Happy New Year!

We’re over one week in, so I hope everyone’s resolutions are off to a good start! :)

I thought it might be helpful to organize a quick cheat-sheat of mind-body-spirit resources – that way, if you have questions about a new health goal, you won’t have to spend a ton of time searching the internet for answers :)

Enjoy! And if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask in the comments section! :)

One of the most difficult parts of looking for a doctor who embraces the same mind-body-spirit approach as you is finding a common language to discuss your needs. Since the feild is relatively new, there are a lot of different terms floating around – but one thing’s for certain: calling your local operator and asking for the best “mind-body-spirit specialist” isn’t gonna get ya too far.

Your best bet? If you’re searching for treatment plans that embrace a more holistic approach to wellness, jot down this phrase: “Complementary and Alternative Medicine.” (According to the National Institutes of Health: “complementary medicine” pairs a non-mainstream approach with more traditional techniques, while “alternative medicine” sidesteps convential practices altogether.) Ask your physician if he/she is open to “complementary health approaches”.

Not getting anywhere with CAM? Try searching for health facilities that favor “integrative medicince”.

The following links should get you started:

• American Association of Naturopathic Physicians*
• American College for the Advancement of Medicine*
• Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine
• Credentialing CAM Providers: Understanding CAM Education, Training, Regulation, and Licensing
• The Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine

*Found via the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Directory of Health Organizations

For more advice on talking to your doctor about medical approaches that incorporate the mind, body and spirit, check out these tips from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM).

(Please note: This article is intended to serve only as a directory of information. Inclusion in this post does not equal an endorsement of any particular physician/hospital or medical approach.)

The easiest answer to this question? Grab some kale chips, pull up the Duke University Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health website and get comfy!

I’m currently working on indexing all of Duke’s featured studies (as of 2/10/14: I’m about halfway through the G’s- whew! that’s a ton of research!!) so you can also try searching for answers in the Prayers and Apples database :)

Short on time? Check out these posts for highlights:

• Faith and Healing: Time Magazine
• How Scientists View the Relationship Between Science and Religion
• Religion Acts as Buffer for High Risk Depression

And for a super comprehensive overview, you can’t beat Harold G. Koenig’s 2012 article: Religion, Spirituality and Health: The Research and Clinical Implications.

If you’re interested in happiness and health, the University of Pennsylvania’s Positive Psychology Center is probably your best jumping-off point. Scanning research articles? Search for the center’s director, Martin E.P. Seligman. Other sources of interest:

• Authentic Happiness (Dr. Seligman’s website)
• Happy People Live Longer: Subjective Well-Being Contributes to Health and Longevity (a 2011 review of 160 studies – click here for a summary)

This particular topic is near and dear to my heart, as the first article I ever published on Prayers and Apples was Childhood Nutrition and Acamdeic Achievement (still one of my favorites!). Similar posts include:

• Benefits of Eating Breakfast
• Exercise and Cognitive Function Studies
• Food’s Effect on Memory
• Mind Brain Health and Education: ACTION Magazine

If you’re looking for more information, I recommend checking out the International Mind, Brain and Education Society – their peer-reviewed journal, Mind, Brain, and Education is an invaluable resource!

(Side-note: If you’re interested in exercise, you’ve gotta look into the The Institute of Lifestyle Medicine!)

And last but not least (hehe): if you really want to dig into all of the super science-y stuff , head on over to the Prayers and Apples database :) You can search over 400 scientific studies on the mind-body-spirit connection by topic, researcher or study title!

I hope this information was helpful! Like I said: if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask! :) And if you’d like to receive updates on new developments in the field, just click the picture above to subscribe! :)

Here’s to a healthy new year!