Is prayer linked to lower inflammation in the body? Some research points to yes, especially through stress reduction and immune system changes.
Inflammation happens when the body reacts to stress, injury, or illness, often raising markers like C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and white blood cells. These can harm health over time, leading to issues like heart disease or poor mobility in older people. Prayer, as a spiritual practice, might help calm this response.
One study on advanced cancer patients found that those who prayed more often had lower levels of white blood cells and CRP. Lower inflammation like this was tied to better survival rates. For more details, see https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12731188/.
Older adults who attended religious services frequently showed less IL-6, a key inflammation marker. They also had fewer limits in daily tasks like walking or self-care, plus better blood clotting measures. This suggests regular prayer or worship routines could protect against inflammation buildup. Again, check https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12731188/.
Prayer may work by easing emotional stress, which fuels inflammation. Brain scans from researcher Andrew Newberg show that just 12 minutes of daily prayer boosts brain activity and white matter growth. This could help regulate emotions and lower stress hormones like cortisol, indirectly cutting inflammation. Learn more at https://relevantmagazine.com/current/science/the-neuroscience-of-worship/.
Related practices like yoga or mindfulness, often paired with prayer, also drop markers such as IL-6, TNF-alpha, and CRP. They seem to tweak immune pathways and calm the body’s fight-or-flight response. Source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12731188/.
Not all studies focus only on prayer, and results vary by person, frequency, and health status. Still, the pattern hints that simple prayer habits might offer a natural way to fight inflammation.
Sources
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12731188/
https://relevantmagazine.com/current/science/the-neuroscience-of-worship/
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2511006122
