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been found to influence heal- ing in cardiovascular dis- ease.  A study examining individuals who described their parents as providing loving support during their childhood in the 1950s found that these individuals devel- oped less hypertension and heart disease, as well as fewer other noncardiac con- ditions later in life (37). Therapeutic touch, which was developed in the United States in the 1970s, draws much of its premise from ancient Chinese medicine, in addition to modern medicine. At the root of therapeutic touch is the belief in a com- mon "life force" or energy field.  By interacting with this energy field, it is believed that a person can influence the healing of another.   Therapeutic touch does not actually involve touching a person.  Providers hold their hands a short distance from the person receiving the care and move their hands throughout the person's per- ceived energy field.  These techniques have been widely embraced by nursing schools and are now being taught throughout the United States. In a 1984 study, therapeutic touch was provided to patients in a cardiovascular unit, and patients receiving such treatments showed a marked reduction in anxiety, which is important to the reduction of blood pressure and heart rate (38). Religious belief is a part of the American fabric.  In fact, 96 percent of Americans believe in God or a univer- sal spirit (39).  These beliefs impact healing.  In a study conducted at Georgetown University School of Medicine in 1995, religion was found to be beneficial to healing 81% of the time, neutral 15% of the time and harmful 4% of the time (40).   In cardiovascular disease, older religious adults have been shown to have lower blood pressure and lower death rates from coronary heart disease than their nonreligious peers (41). While not specifically identi- fied as treating cardiovascu- lar disease, faith, hope and forgiveness, which are tenets of most religions, have also been identified as important to a person's healing response.   Prayer, which is a part of most American religions, also has healing power.  A 1986 poll by MD magazine found that one-half of doc- tors believe that prayer helps patients, and two- thirds reported praying for patients (42).  Praying induces a relaxed state in which breathing, heart rate and metabolism slow, blood   pressure drops and brain waves become less active. PET THERAPY Perhaps a pet is what you need? Pet therapy could have been included in the Mind/Body or Spirituality sections, because it encompasses so many facets of holistic therapy. Pets are loved by their human companions and in return can be powerful stimu- lators of health:   • In a study at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, pet owners had significantly lower blood pressure when they were greeting their pet than when they were reading neutral text (43).   • A study of the therapeutic benefit of pet therapy on the elderly was conducted by the Visiting Nurses Association of Eastern Montgomery County in Pennsylvania (44). Retirement home residents demonstrated a significant reduction in blood pressure and pulse rate following a visit from a pet, a reduction which did not occur following a visit from a human. NATUROPATHY The body and nature as healing partners.   Naturopathy focuses on the body's ability to heal itself.  

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