The document discusses spirituality and its relationship to health. It defines spirituality as a sense of connection beyond the physical world, including practices like meditation and prayer. It discusses how spirituality can play an anchoring role in disease by improving stress response, controlling inflammation, and affecting gene expression. Regular spiritual practices like meditation have been shown to change the structure of the brain and expression of hundreds of genes involved in processes like inflammation. The approach is to use spiritual grounding, nutrition, movement and helping others to cultivate inner peace and positively impact health.

1. Spirituality in HealthSpirituality in Health
(-deconstructed)(-deconstructed)
Enrique Saguil, MDEnrique Saguil, MD

2. Disclosure:Disclosure:
• I am one with the universeI am one with the universe

12. What is spirituality?What is spirituality?
The spiritual is contrasted with theThe spiritual is contrasted with the physicalphysical,, mattermatter
and theand the temporarytemporary. A sense of. A sense of connectionconnection isis
central of spirituality — connection to a realitycentral of spirituality — connection to a reality
beyond than thebeyond than the physical worldphysical world andand oneselfoneself,,
which may include anwhich may include an emotional experienceemotional experience ofof
awe and reverence. Spirituality may also includeawe and reverence. Spirituality may also include
the development of the individual's inner lifethe development of the individual's inner life
through practices such as meditation and prayer,through practices such as meditation and prayer,
including the search for God, the supernatural, aincluding the search for God, the supernatural, a
divine influence, or information about thedivine influence, or information about the
afterlife.afterlife.

13. Advanced theoriesAdvanced theories
• PhilosophyPhilosophy
• EthicsEthics
• Quantum spiritualityQuantum spirituality
• Bla bla blaBla bla bla
• Stop! Kiss! Still the mind..Stop! Kiss! Still the mind..
…….personalize it!.personalize it!

14. How to get thereHow to get there
In english, the word spirit comes from the LatinIn english, the word spirit comes from the Latin
SpiritusSpiritus (breath)(breath)
My “non-offensive”, religion-neutral intro toMy “non-offensive”, religion-neutral intro to
spirituality is the art of breathing……spirituality is the art of breathing……
-pranayama-pranayama
-tai chi-tai chi
-abdominal breathing-abdominal breathing
-4-7-8 (Andrew Weil)-4-7-8 (Andrew Weil)

15. Concentrate on un-concentrating!Concentrate on un-concentrating!
Focus!Focus!
Repetition!Repetition!
““Deflect” distraction!Deflect” distraction!
Clear your mind of everything happeningClear your mind of everything happening
now around you to keep on breathing!now around you to keep on breathing!
Enjoy the calm!Enjoy the calm!
Got Ya!Got Ya!

16. Spirituality exposureSpirituality exposure
• School (diluted)School (diluted)
• TextsTexts
• Seminary, synagogue, mosque, monastery,Seminary, synagogue, mosque, monastery,
churchchurch
• Lectures (theosophical society)Lectures (theosophical society)
……..making spirituality a science…..+/-?..making spirituality a science…..+/-?
look what happened with healing!look what happened with healing!

17. What is healthy?What is healthy?
• Disease freeDisease free
• Drug freeDrug free
• Physically independentPhysically independent
• Intellectually up to dateIntellectually up to date
• Family/socially centeredFamily/socially centered
• Spiritually centeredSpiritually centered
• Financially independent (with health ins)Financially independent (with health ins)

18. Reality:Reality:
• 1-3 medical problems1-3 medical problems
• 1-6 scripts1-6 scripts
• Physically Independent (-obese slides)Physically Independent (-obese slides)
• Intellectually acceptableIntellectually acceptable
• Family and social status variesFamily and social status varies
• Spirituality ignorant (Spirituality ignorant (two tiers developing)two tiers developing)
• Current economy requires dependenceCurrent economy requires dependence

19. The long versionThe long version
• Spirituality plays an “Spirituality plays an “anchoringanchoring” role in” role in
dis-ease modification – healingdis-ease modification – healing
• Spirituality improvesSpirituality improves medicationmedication responseresponse
• Spirituality controlsSpirituality controls inflammationinflammation
• Spirituality improves theSpirituality improves the stress responsestress response
• Spirituality effectsSpirituality effects gene expressiongene expression

20. -the anchor-the anchor
• Cancer chemo (series taxing)Cancer chemo (series taxing)
• Arthritic disability (disability is defeating)Arthritic disability (disability is defeating)
• Chronic pain (fms,ibs,failed back,migraine-Chronic pain (fms,ibs,failed back,migraine-Meds areMeds are
addictive and meant to be temporaryaddictive and meant to be temporary ))
• Depression/anxiety (too many meds no time!)Depression/anxiety (too many meds no time!)
• Diabetes weight control (hormonal urges)Diabetes weight control (hormonal urges)
• Hypertension anger/stress control (unlearningHypertension anger/stress control (unlearning
old habits)old habits)
-poor grounding leads to failure-poor grounding leads to failure

21. -the prescription response-the prescription response
• Lower bpLower bp
• Lower cravingLower craving
• Better sleepBetter sleep
• Better sexBetter sex
• Less hot flashesLess hot flashes
• Less stomach acidLess stomach acid

22. -the inflammatory response-the inflammatory response
• Allergic reaction (HIS) and relaxation responseAllergic reaction (HIS) and relaxation response
• IBD response improved with spiritualityIBD response improved with spirituality
• Atopic dermatitis controlled withAtopic dermatitis controlled with stress-managingstress-managing
psychotherapy, relaxation tech, habit reversal.psychotherapy, relaxation tech, habit reversal.
The effects of psychological intervention on atopic dermatitis.The effects of psychological intervention on atopic dermatitis.
• Abuse in childhood (ace)=crp, wbc, fibrinogenAbuse in childhood (ace)=crp, wbc, fibrinogen
Cumulative Childhood Stress and Autoimmune Diseases in Adults 2009Cumulative Childhood Stress and Autoimmune Diseases in Adults 2009

23. Brain inflammation inc. ALZ/Brain inflammation inc. ALZ/
meditation inc. brain functionmeditation inc. brain function
• Long-term meditation seems not only to alter brain-waveLong-term meditation seems not only to alter brain-wave
patterns: early research suggests that it may also resultpatterns: early research suggests that it may also result
in changes in the actual structure of the cortex, the outerin changes in the actual structure of the cortex, the outer
parts of our brains. “We have found that brain regionsparts of our brains. “We have found that brain regions
associated with attention and sensory processing wereassociated with attention and sensory processing were
thicker in meditators than in the controls,” says Dr Sarathicker in meditators than in the controls,” says Dr Sara
Lazar, an assistant in psychology at MassachusettsLazar, an assistant in psychology at Massachusetts
General Hospital.-General Hospital.-2006 report by ScienCentral2006 report by ScienCentral
• A PET scan measuring blood flow was taken in these
three conditions and the results show that there were a
number of changes specific to the experience of religious
feelings.- Azari et al. (2001)

24. -stress response-stress response
• ““Fight or flight”Fight or flight”
• Adrenalin, cortisol, tachicardia,Adrenalin, cortisol, tachicardia,
hyperventilation, hyperacusis, tremor,hyperventilation, hyperacusis, tremor,
hypertension, poor digestion, no sexhypertension, poor digestion, no sex (can be(can be
sustained but not without sequela)sustained but not without sequela)

25. -gene expression-gene expression
• Herb Benson “Relaxation response”Herb Benson “Relaxation response”
35+yrs ago35+yrs ago
• 2008 PLoS One report:2008 PLoS One report:

26. MM
• The researchers recruited three groups ofThe researchers recruited three groups of
people. In the first group (called the Mpeople. In the first group (called the M
group) there were 19 long termgroup) there were 19 long term
practitioners who had been practicingpractitioners who had been practicing
various ways of producing the relaxationvarious ways of producing the relaxation
response every day for a long time (forresponse every day for a long time (for
instance with daily yoga, repeated prayerinstance with daily yoga, repeated prayer
or meditation practice).or meditation practice).

27. N1 + N2N1 + N2
• In the second group were another 19In the second group were another 19
people who they called the "healthypeople who they called the "healthy
controls" (group N1), who were not dailycontrols" (group N1), who were not daily
practitioners, and the third group was likepractitioners, and the third group was like
the healthy controls group, except thesethe healthy controls group, except these
20 people completed 8 weeks of20 people completed 8 weeks of
relaxation response training (this grouprelaxation response training (this group
was N2).was N2).

28. resultsresults
• They found the expressions of a total ofThey found the expressions of a total of
2,209 genes were significantly different2,209 genes were significantly different
between groups M and N1, and a total ofbetween groups M and N1, and a total of
1,561 genes were similarly significantly1,561 genes were similarly significantly
different between groups N2 and N1different between groups N2 and N1

29. Spirituality changes geneSpirituality changes gene
expression.expression.
• More importantly, however, was the factMore importantly, however, was the fact
433 of the genes were common to both433 of the genes were common to both
sets of comparisons: the same ones weresets of comparisons: the same ones were
different between M and N1 and betweendifferent between M and N1 and between
M and N2, so even short term practice ofM and N2, so even short term practice of
the relaxation response appeared tothe relaxation response appeared to
produce changes in these 433 geneproduce changes in these 433 gene
expressions.expressions.

30. Spirituality no longer “soft science”Spirituality no longer “soft science”
• "This is the first comprehensive study of"This is the first comprehensive study of
how the mind can affect gene expression,how the mind can affect gene expression,
linking what has been looked on as a 'soft'linking what has been looked on as a 'soft'
science with the 'hard' science ofscience with the 'hard' science of
genomics."genomics."

31. The Saguil Approach to Spirituality is -The Saguil Approach to Spirituality is -
-it reverses cell damage-it reverses cell damage
• The authors said their study showed thatThe authors said their study showed that
the relaxation response changed thethe relaxation response changed the
expression of genes involved withexpression of genes involved with
inflammation, programmed cell death andinflammation, programmed cell death and
the handling of free radicals. Free radicalsthe handling of free radicals. Free radicals
are normal byproducts of metabolism thatare normal byproducts of metabolism that
the body neutralizes in order to stopthe body neutralizes in order to stop
damage to cells and tissues.damage to cells and tissues.
He’s Controversial!!

32. The goal

33. 1st
leg

34. 2nd
leg

35. “Bandaid”

36. 3rd
leg

37. The Saguil Approach:The Saguil Approach:
• ““Bandaid therapy”Bandaid therapy”
• Spiritual groundingSpiritual grounding
• Nutrition review/Herbal supplementsNutrition review/Herbal supplements
• Movement therapyMovement therapy
• Help others with their “bandaids”Help others with their “bandaids”

38. …………self cultivation will bring about peace inself cultivation will bring about peace in
society.society.
-Tao Te Ching-Tao Te Ching

39. ……be the change you want to see in thebe the change you want to see in the
world.world.
--Mahatma GandhiMahatma Gandhi

40. • In everyone’s life, at some time, our innerIn everyone’s life, at some time, our inner
fire goes out. It is then burst into flame byfire goes out. It is then burst into flame by
encounter with another human being. Weencounter with another human being. We
should all be thankful for those peopleshould all be thankful for those people
who rekindle the inner spirit.who rekindle the inner spirit.
-Albert Schweitzer-Albert Schweitzer

41. Labyrinths in ILLINOIS:Labyrinths in ILLINOIS:
• http://www.relax4life.com/labfinder.htmlhttp://www.relax4life.com/labfinder.html
Available evidence does not suggest that labyrinthAvailable evidence does not suggest that labyrinth
walking can be used to prevent or treat cancerwalking can be used to prevent or treat cancer
or other serious diseases.or other serious diseases.
People walk through labyrinths to reach anyPeople walk through labyrinths to reach any
number of goals, such as inner peace,number of goals, such as inner peace,
heightened spirituality, personal insight, prayer,heightened spirituality, personal insight, prayer,
relaxation, stress relief, or just "letting go."relaxation, stress relief, or just "letting go."

42. Mind body classesMind body classes
• Benson-Henry Institute for Mind-Body MedicineBenson-Henry Institute for Mind-Body Medicine
(617) 643-6090(617) 643-6090
• Dr Keshavarzian Rush (312) 942-3466Dr Keshavarzian Rush (312) 942-3466
-say GI trials-say GI trials
• Infinity Foundation (847) 831-8828Infinity Foundation (847) 831-8828
• Theosophical society (630) 668-1571Theosophical society (630) 668-1571

43. Thanks!Thanks!
Enrique Saguil, MDEnrique Saguil, MD
www.herbal411.comwww.herbal411.com