The Healing Power of Kindness

[UglyGreed]

By Lloyd Dean & James Doty, M.D.

We've all heard the old adage that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but what about a smile?

An extensive scientific literature review sponsored by Dignity Health and conducted by the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE) at Stanford University reveals a growing body of scientific evidence that indicates kindness holds the power to heal. We now know that this often overlooked, virtually cost-free remedy has a statistically significant impact on our physical health. For example, the positive effect of kindness is even greater than that of taking aspirin to reduce the risk of a heart attack or the influence of smoking on male mortality. And it doesn't even require a trip to the pharmacy.

Those of us who work in the health care profession and study medicine have long believed in the value of a kind, compassionate bedside manner. But now, this belief isn't just a nice notion - it's sound science. The Dignity Health/CCARE scientific literature review shows that when patients are treated with kindness -- when there is an effort made to get to know them, empathize with them, communicate with them, listen to them and respond to their needs -- it can lead to the following outcomes:


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/project-compassion-stanford/the-healing-power-of-kindness_b_6136272.html

[840high]

1. Good read.

[jwirr]

2. And I suspect that the benefits are to both the giver and the one recieving the action.

[UglyGreed]

3. All I know it helps

me a great deal when the people who control my health have some sort empathy and kindeness. It sucks if they only care about the paycheck.

[jwirr]

4. As a life long care giver for my daughter and other children like her I can tell you that it makes

the care giver feel positive about themselves also.

[UglyGreed]

5. I'm sure it does

and please don't think I feel this way about everyone in the health care field. I'm sure you have seen my rants these last few weeks. It only takes one doctor who does not care to put someone into a tailspin.

[jwirr]

6. Absolutely. For years I took my daughter to see doctors who were either greedy (pushing all the new

pills) or so clinical that they did not see her as a person. I got very good at finding the good ones. And she was a girl who was only supposed to live to 30 - today she is 56 years old because I learned to find the ones who did care.

[UglyGreed]

7. we have to take care of

our loved ones and ourselves by being our own advocates. So glad you were able to find help for your daughter, never in and never give up!!!

[KT2000]

8. healing began for me

when I really started to "see" people and feel kindness for them. Still working on the crazy RWers though.

[UglyGreed]

9. I used to get a great deal of

satisfaction helping others. I can't do it physically anymore, but I did enjoy it. Now try to help in other ways.

[KT2000]

10. I think that gentleness

and consideration of people who are often "invisible" goes a long way.

[UglyGreed]

11. +1000 N/T