Religious belief 'is aid to healing'

FAITH in God may be good for your health, according to a doctor speaking at Harvard's National Institute of Health.

Assembled scientists heard that belief in a higher force might have the capacity to alter body chemistry and bolster the healing process.

Harvard Professor Dr Anne Harrington said the religion or force that a person believed in was of little consequence compared to the "psychological state of faith" itself, which was believed to be enough to affect a patient's prognosis or life expectancy.

She described this as a "super-charged placebo effect", and suggested humans might be "wired" to be religious because "believing in God is good for your health".

Californian researchers last year found that women were far more likely than men to take a religious or spiritual approach to illness.

Dr Harrington said: "Women seem to be more open to a spiritual approach alongside medical treatment. This is not to say that traditional treatment is invalid, but entrusting yourself to another power can reduce stress and help you cope."