Here’s what’s happening:  a lowering of the threshold of indicators when tests are called for.  In fact, some tests are being administered at the onset of some general risk factors that everyone will experience at some point in their life, such as their age.

Examining this issue carefully in her book Overtreated,  Why Too Much Medicine is Making Us Sicker and Poorer, Shannon Brownlee points out that:

Today, the number of tests has exploded, and doctors no longer just treat the sick but instead go looking for disease among the well. (p. 200)

Why? Looking for disease so you can catch it before it becomes a big problem.  At least that’s the argument. But it’s not the end of the story.

The increase in testing has caused another phenomenon.  In his Op-Ed piece in the L.A. Times (May 6, 2011) Dr. H. Gilbert Welch argues that, not only testing but “treatment thresholds are too low.”  He goes on:

We look harder for things to be wrong.  We test more often, we are more likely to test people who have no symptoms, and we have changed the rules about what degree of abnormality constitutes disease.

Diagnostic thresholds that are set too low lead in turn to a bigger problem: treatment thresholds that are set too low.

This means we are treating as disease conditions which we used to consider normal.  This triggers a whole host of problems for our medical system which are now coming to light.  But more importantly, Brownlee points out:

…many other tests, which have their place if a patient has symptoms, have had the perverse effect of benefiting only a small minority when they are given routinely to apparently healthy people in the name of prevention — while exposing the majority to invasive, often dangerous treatment they don’t necessarily need. (p. 200)

Even the humorous comment, “Now I can do all the things I did before, but with the assurance that I am doing them while medicated,” is offset by the serious claim that health is not benefited by over treatment.

Simply put by Welch, “low thresholds have a way of leading to treatments that are worse than the disease.”

These revelations might well be disconcerting to those relying on multiple medical tests for reassurance that they are healthy.  There is an alternative worth considering.

Richard Schiffman writes in the Huffington Post (January 18, 2012) that …

“regular prayer and meditation has been shown in numerous scientific studies to be an important factor in living longer and staying healthy.” Schiffman discusses the underlying research and surveys that support this conclusion.

I’ve found that to be true. Regular prayer, along with well balanced living, has been invaluable in maintaining my health without a host of low-threshold medical tests.  Mary Baker Eddy figured this out over 140 years ago and wrote about it in her book Science and Health.  I daily use prayer and her system of health maintenance.

The test that I’ve found to be essential is an examination of my consciousness.  I look to see what unhealthy attitudes are lurking there, and treat those–with dismissal. There are no negative side effects from finding and eliminating unhealthy thoughts. This process doesn’t result in a cure worse than the disease.

This form of health care can effectively achieve and maintain health.  That’s been my experience for many years.

Yes, there is danger in lowering the threshold for medical tests and treatment.  But I’ve yet to find that there can be too much prayer and reflection as long as it leads to real change in my thinking and my life.

Take for instance young people. The CDC reports that:

“Youth violence results in considerable physical, emotional, social, and economic consequences. Although rates of youth homicide have declined substantially during recent years, much work remains in reducing this public health burden. Homicide is the second leading cause of death among youth aged 10–24 years in the United States.  Violence is also a major cause of nonfatal injuries among youth. In 2009, a total of 650,843 young people aged 10–24 years were treated in emergency departments for nonfatal injuries sustained from assaults.”

Children are not the only vulnerable group, however.  Those in intimate relationships are another group that suffer at the hands of others in significant numbers. The CDC goes on:

“On average, 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States, according to new findings released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Over the course of a year, that equals more than 12 million women and men. Those numbers only tell part of the story – more than 1 million women are raped in a year, and over 6 million women and men are victims of stalking. These findings emphasize that sexual violence, stalking, and intimate partner violence are major public health problems in the United States.”

At what point does a neighborhood begin to acquiesce to violence? When does apathy, fear, or futility cause us to accept crime as inevitable? On the other hand, what galvanizes individuals, neighbors, or community members to protest against rising violence and decay?

Well-intentioned  efforts such as  installing home security systems and taking personal safety training can make people feel safer.  But what turns the tide for a whole community? It has to come from a mental protest against violence in our midst, followed by effective action. Even before my retirement from a law enforcement career, prayer has been the catalyst that strengthens my resolve to challenge a violent status quo. What could the heartfelt prayers of many accomplish? Prayer provides a resolve that can be a tipping point toward safety and well-being for every member of our community, especially the more vulnerable and least represented.  This can bring measurable improvement to community health. It might include beefing up law enforcement and improving public policy, or providing youth centers and safe, affordable childcare.

As a Captain in the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, I often prayed about my work. One day a wanted suspect, who was known to be violent and have firearms, was located in a house where children were also living. All the ingredients for a bad situation were in place. I needed to be there when he was taken into custody. Complicating the situation, I also needed to be in church in two hours to conduct a church service. Because SWAT events are volatile and unpredictable, I had some heavy-duty praying to do.

While driving to the suspect’s location, I prayed that God’s wisdom and care were present with the Team AND with the suspect. I prayed to know that I was led by God to the position I was in with these tremendous responsibilities, both in law enforcement and church, because Spirit wanted me there, to serve my community in both capacities. I was put there to give. I prayed to be willing to receive divine direction and control, to listen and follow God’s direction guidance even if I was tempted to feel stressed or unable to fulfill my responsibilities.

I did not allow myself to take in anything but God’s calm and loving presence. As we approached the location, we rounded a curve in a rural road. Under standard procedures, we would quickly exit our vehicles, take cover, and assault the building with noise from explosive diversionary devices and shouting. But instead, sitting on the split rail fence enjoying the sunshine, was our suspect. With no resistance, he allowed himself to be taken into custody.

You can imagine my heartfelt gratitude for God’s grace and control. I couldn’t have planned this any better. I feel that God’s timing and wisdom guided us, allowing this to unfold the way it did. And, yes, I was at my post in church that night, continuing to give in God’s appointed way.

So, to renew my question, could many prayers specifically for safety make this kind of outcome more common and even prevent what causes violence?  I believe it is time we address violence in a new, more universal and effective way. And prayer is my starting point.

As a child I was clueless about the sometimes unfortunate backstory of the magic. Stress, lack of money to buy gifts (or even to eat), being alone when you’re supposed to be with family and friends, broken relationships, overindulgence in alcohol and so on. This special time of year turns out to be the most dreaded for some. It doesn’t have to be the case, though, even in the most dire circumstances.

A different perspective on this season has emerged gently in my thought, and it continues to grow. You might think that my Christian affiliation means Christmas to me is a celebration of the birth of Jesus. But really, that is only the most familiar symbol of what Christmas has to offer.

A passage in the Bible in the book of Isaiah really tells the whole story of Christmas. It is the promise of hope fulfilled. In Isaiah it says that..

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. ( Isaiah 9:2)

What do we hope for? It can mean repaired relationships, finding companionship, financial needs being met, and health restored. Restoring and maintaining health perhaps has been the biggest quest of mankind. The human race has devoted untold resources to alleviating pain and suffering, and prolonging life.

Modern medicine makes the headlines, but the ability to heal one’s self and others through prayer has been around for thousands of years. Christ Jesus taught how to change thought in order to bring healing, and this power is still available for everyone. The promise is for all time and there is current evidence that the promise is being fulfilled.

I found the story of Gabrielle Giffords’ remarkable recovery this year to be a great example of the power of the right mental atmosphere in healing. Not only is Gabby someone who never gives up, but her husband, Mark Kelly, and mother, Gloria, also knew that Gabby would recover as well. They saw that she was surrounded by love and a positive and unlimited attitude. This is a story of strength and courage, living out the fulfillment of the promise.

The backstory of Christmas isn’t hopelessness and despair. It’s fulfillment of the promise. Health is the best gift, and we all have more resources than we know to achieve it. Better than seasonal magic is the hope that Jesus brought to 2000 years ago. And the promise is being fulfilled.

I’m sure there are many examples of people selflessly helping others. What comes to mind for you? Perhaps someone who is well known, like Mother Teresa.

Or perhaps there is someone you personally know who is a selfless giver, not expecting anything in return.

I think immediately of incidents like:

Hundreds of boat owners and ferry pilots converging on the Manhattan shoreline to evacuate stranded New Yorkers after the World Trade Center towers collapsed.

People in my community working at food banks and soup kitchens for the homeless.

Victor Frankl helping fellow prisoners of war cope through simple acts of sharing and encouragement

These are people engaging in helping acts with no expectation of anything in return.

Where does this desire to help others come from? Not only is history full of people helping people, but the stories of different cultures are full of these examples as a way of conveying a virtue or a moral, like Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan. Why do we do it if there’s no expectation of reciprocal acts of kindness or money?

In examining my own impulses along this line I can’t find a clear answer. As a Christian, The Golden Rule could be a motivator out of obedience. And for those of other faith traditions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Zoroastrianism, and Judaism there are similar guiding principles. But is this really what motivates adherents of any tradition to act for the benefit or others?

Perhaps we do this simply because that’s who we are. It’s part of the very fabric of our being to help others. From my perspective, it’s how God made us. Mankind is basically good at the very core. And perhaps that’s what impels us to help each other.

There’s a twist to this good samaritan attitude, however, that I hadn’t thought of before. It’s good for your health.

Stephen G. Post, PhD. has been researching this notion that helping others is actually beneficial to the helper. In his report It’s Good to be Good: 2011 Fifth Annual Scientific Report on Health, Happiness and Helping Others, Post makes these observations.

“My working hypothesis is that one of the healthiest things a person can do is to step back from self-preoccupation and self-worry, as well as from hostile and bitter emotions; there is no more obvious way of doing this than focusing attention on helping others.

“…we can no longer afford to believe that we will find happiness and health through self-obsession. Selfishness and greed are not a good way to care for the self, while compassion and doing “unto others” seem to be the successful strategy…

“There is solid evidence to support the perennial hypothesis that benevolent emotions, attitudes, and actions centered on the good of others contribute to the giver’s happiness, health, and even longevity. Although genuine benevolence must be chiefly motivated by concern for others, it has the side effect of nourishing the giver.”

He cites a number of case studies showing a link between better health, more happiness and helping others.

Thinking about this a little deeper, what if more of us worked harder to love and help out our fellow women and men? I mean really love them with compassion, forgiveness, and a longing for their well being that impels us to act when they need our help. Not only would we feel better, but we would live in healthier communities.

The implications are profound. I’ve often held to the axiom that I could never be harmed by doing for others. I certainly feel good about helping others. Now, I see it actually helps my health, too. How about you?

This headline in an Oregon newspaper isn’t particularly remarkable. Everyday the news carries stories of crime and punishment. Here the defendant illegally provided marijuana to people.

If we peel back the layers of this headline we begin to see a different issue than what’s on the surface. It really isn’t just about crime and punishment. It’s about humanity’s yearning to relieve pain and suffering.

Sixteen states and D.C. have legalized the use of marijuana for medical reasons. Oregon followed California, the first in the country, by passing its own law in 1998 along with Alaska and Washington.  The prescribing physician and the  patient must be registered with the state. And,  its use is limited to treating  suffering caused by debilitating medical conditions.

I used to think that the number of people using medical marijuana was relatively small, comprised mostly of hippies and the fringes of society. That’s until I looked up the numbers. In Oregon over 55,000 people have a medical marijuana card, and over 1,900 physicians supervise these patients. These numbers aren’t small potatoes.

When I was a young man marijuana was used exclusively for recreation. Somewhere along the way, however, it joined the ranks of pharmaceutical drugs. For some, it’s the medicine of choice for addressing symptoms caused by medical conditions that haven’t been healed. Some might consider this form of health care to be radical and groundbreaking.

Here’s the rub, though. This isn’t a paradigm shift. What was once exclusively an illegal drug has simply been moved into the realm of conventional medicine. Patients not achieving their health through conventional pharmaceuticals are just turning to another familiar drug with a different history to relieve their suffering.

Isn’t there a better way? Has marijuana permanently improved the quality of life for its users? I suspect not, given the number of people continuing to seek relief. But doesn’t the use of a consciousness-changing drug hint at some inner understanding that a change of consciousness is needed to be truly free of pain and remain healthy?

A growing trend in mainstream medicine is showing glimmers of hope that the medical establishment does recognize there are non-pharmaceutical alternatives for achieving health.

In Oregon, Dr.Barry Oken of the Oregon Health and Sciences University is a physician that conducts research on alternative health care. He’s director of the Oregon Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine In Neurological Disorders (ORCCAMIND). Though his research is narrowly focused, his work is making progress in the area of alternatives to conventional health care practices. It was his interest in yoga that originally got him to look at alternative health care.

Another physician, Mitchell Krucoff, MD tells Web MD that he has been studying prayer and spirituality since 1996 – and practicing it much longer in his patient care. He says that “…we’re seeing systematic investigations – clinical research – as well as position statements from professional societies supporting this research, federal subsidies from the NIH, funding from Congress”. “All of these studies, all the reports, are remarkably consistent in suggesting the potential measurable health benefit associated with prayer or spiritual interventions.”

Even though  prayer might be seen as “medicine nouveau” by some in the medical establishment, it’s been around for along time. I’ve practiced it, as have many others, with  great success in permanent pain relief. When systematically used, the results are  consistent, avoiding invasive procedures, huge medical bills, and nasty side effects.

Legalizing marijuana use for medical purposes really isn’t breaking new ground. If I could tell those holding marijuana cards one thing,  it would be this: There is a better way to relieve pain and suffering, and there’s a better way to  achieve health. Look toward mind and away from matter.

About a year ago, not long before Thanksgiving, I was invited to participate on an Oregon Public Broadcasting live panel discussion focused on the theme “…how people hold on to their faith when it is tested.” It was an interesting discussion with lively audience participation.

“Lively” for sure. More than half the audience, and it was open to the public, was made up of various anti-religion groups self-identified as “humanist” or “rationalist”. More generally we know them as atheist.

At the end of the program I was given the opportunity to make a closing remark. I was praying during that moment to know what would be the most helpful thing to say. Something that would connect with everyone in the room, and yet stay true to my own convictions as a Christian Scientist. In an instant I was inspired to share the idea of gratitude.

Just what is gratitude? We might think of it as being thankful for something we received, a readiness to show appreciation in return of kindness. Perhaps we are thankful for a particular situation that meets our need. 

I often feel gratitude for occurrences that have benefited me. More than that, however, I think of gratitude as an outcome of my relationship with God. It’s a recognition of the totality of all good in my life. This has a profound impact on how I feel and what happens to me. But, regardless of whether or not one  believes in God or worships a higher Being, everyone can feel and express gratitude, including atheists.

Scientists are also finding that gratitude has a positive effect on one’s experience. A year ago Melinda Beck, a columnist who writes for the Wall Street Journal, wrote about research highlighting the outcomes of gratitude such as a greater sense of well-being and better health. I too have these results when gratitude is the greater portion of my attitude and prayers.

I’m glad that a flash of inspiration impelled me to share the  blessing of gratitude with the OPB audience last year. Even those who don’t believe in a higher Being can experience the benefits of being grateful. Beyond a sense of well-being and better health, gratitude opens one’s thought to the wonder of life, the good in humanity, and a sense that we’re part of a larger and grander scheme.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

By Keith Wommack, Christian Science Committee on Publication for Texas

I respect the great heart, the motive, of every physician and healer. For, I believe, they yearn to improve their patients’ quality of life and care. Yet, is this what’s taking place? Perhaps not — because when it comes to health care, we are learning more is not always better. Sometimes more means that quality of life suffers.

For example, many American primary care physicians believe that their own patients are receiving too much medical care. This was the take-away from a survey of primary-care doctors conducted in 2009.

The most important factors physicians identified as leading them to practice more aggressively were malpractice concerns (76%), clinical performance measures (52%), and inadequate time to spend with patients (40%). Physicians also believe that financial incentives encourage aggressive practice: 62% said diagnostic testing would be reduced if it did not generate revenue for medical subspecialists (39% for primary care physicians). – Archives of Internal Medicine

My heart goes out to the physicians facing this dilemma. I know they want to help and heal.

Where does the patient stand in all this? According to over one hundred new articles recently released, excessive medical testing is a problem. Excessive testing can lead to diagnosing conditions that never would have caused problems. This leads to more treatment with its own special side effects and complications. The cycle continues with even more tests and drugs prescribed. No wonder quality of life is declining and health care expenses are ballooning.

However, there is a method of care that has no side effects, and its costs are minimal. This care is spiritual in nature. This responsible, spiritual care may be viewed as just another short-lived alternative method; yet, it was successfully practiced 2,000 years ago.

I believe Jesus knew what he was doing. He knew how to supply others with real quality of life. He knew how to heal. He didn’t over-treat. And he taught others to heal.

Many are beginning to recognize that Jesus utilized specific, spiritual laws in order to heal. This is why he could teach others. His healing ministry was not a one-shot divine wonder. He told everyone who would listen, “Follow me. Heal the sick.”

I have found, in my own practice, that this type of spiritual care physically restores without undermining quality of life. For example: Glen collapsed in his home. After a friend found him, he was rushed to a hospital, where he lay in a coma for two weeks. Doctors believed he would never revive. Yet, Glen’s family and I prayed.

To the surprise of the medical staff, Glen awoke. He was told that he had a serious kidney problem and would require regular dialysis and medication for the rest of his life.

Doctors wanted to begin treatment immediately, but Glen was used to using prayer as an effective treatment. So, he called me and wanted my continued spiritual care. I assured him that God was in complete control and nothing could impede his progress. I knew God would inspire Glen spiritually and restore him physically.

The next day there were already signs of improvement, and the doctors were willing to give him three days to gain even more significant progress. He, his family, and I continued to pray for his health. Glen told me that he had never prayed so diligently and sincerely. The doctors commented on the remarkable recovery taking place.

On the third day, the healing was complete. The kidney was fine. There was no need for dialysis or medication. Glen was released from the hospital.

Again, the motive of every healer, I believe, is to improve his patients’ quality of life and care. Quality of life and care are essential. Is this what you are experiencing?

While many people face over-the-top testing and costs, I have found that there is a method that can be practiced where more is always better.

By Bob Clark, Christian Science Committee on Publication for Florida

I live in an area with a lot of wonderful older people, “seniors” as they’re often called. I love seeing seniors walking on the beach, fishing off the piers, driving convertibles, playing golf and generally enjoying life in their later years. These are the true “senior moments”.

So it bothers me deeply when I read about Alzheimer’s disease threatening to demote seniors from their well-earned place and status to a lower level where their “senior-hood” can become a curse rather than a blessing.

Here are some startling statistics from American Family Physician, “The financial and social costs of Alzheimer’s disease are staggering. In the United States, the disease accounts for about $100 billion per year in medical and custodial expenses, with the average patient requiring an expenditure of about $27,000 per year for medical and nursing care. In addition, 80 percent of caregivers report stress, and about 50 percent report depression.”

Is there an alternative to the unjust sentence this disease imposes on our seniors and their families? Is there a way to control or even avoid its collateral costs and damage? Yes. Fortunately for all of us, there is.

As health care reform lumbers forward and costs spiral upward we are seeing increased coverage of alternative approaches to health and healing. The number one alternative, according to NIH, the National Institutes of Health, is prayer. Surprised?

Well, prayer, as it turns out, actually works, even for incurable, degenerative diseases that baffle medical experts. Below is an outstanding and inspiring example of how prayer was used to completely overcome Alzheimer’s. In this case, after a medical diagnosis, every conceivable remedy was applied: Chinese herbalism, homeopathy, ayurvedic medicine, and yoga, all in addition to the most up to date pharmaceutical remedies. After all else failed, this woman found prayer to be the only effective and permanent alternative. Hers is a must read story.

Alzheimer’s Disease Reversed

Her prayer-based triumph over Alzheimer’s is just one example of thousands, offering proof that medical diagnoses are not always final and that there is a practical spiritual alternative to forfeiting the joys of senior-hood.

“The End of the Future.”

Really now. That’s the title, and argument, of Peter Thiel’s recent article in National Review.  His basic premise is this.  The pace of scientific discovery and innovation in the last twenty to thirty years is not keeping pace with what’s been accomplished previously.  The dominant consequence in Thiel’s article is a slowdown in economic growth.  The only sectors where innovation appears to be still fast-paced is personal computing and robotics.

This month Neal Stephenson makes a similar argument in his World Policy Journal article “Innovation Starvation”.  His concern isn’t so much about what this means for our future, but that it’s happening at all. He argues that scientists, government, corporate America, and science fiction writers (which he is) have lost their ability to be big picture thinkers.  Our world is so complex that we have gotten mired in detail that consumes our thinking and research. And, they both add, there isn’t enough “culture clash” to force us to innovate.

In David Brooks’ discussion of these trends proffered by Theil and Stephenson, he makes an important point:

The roots of great innovation are never just in the technology itself.  They are always in the wider historical context. They require new ways of seeing.

While economists tend to measure the value of innovation in terms of products and dollars, shouldn’t it be to improve life for all humanity? Isn’t it to solve the problems that have persistently prevented humankind from reaching its highest ideals?  The achievement of a sense of wellbeing and satisfaction would seem like an even greater goal for innovation.

One area cited as evidence of the scientific sluggishness by Thiel is the number of pharmaceutical research centers that have been shuttered.  He concludes that this is caused by a number of factors. My take is that we’re beginning to realize that more drugs don’t necessarily translate into better health. Innovation in health care is beginning to gain momentum in another direction.

Over 140 years ago the discovery that consciousness affects one’s health was a watershed event. Research is building which highlights the importance of this discovery.  Take for instance the voluminous research of Herbert Benson or Larry Dossey over the last thirty years.  Or recent surveys by the Pew Research Institute which show that the public is turning increasingly to alternative sources for their health care because it brings results.  At the core of this innovation is consciousness and spirituality.

Medical practitioners and researchers no longer dismiss the role consciousness and spirituality play in achieving and maintaining health.  Research has also shown that regular church attendance maintains health and prolongs life. Now prayer and meditation are accepted forms of medical therapy.

These trends don’t sound like the end of the future to me.  Rather, they show that innovation in health care is in the midst of a paradigm shift.  This isn’t science fiction.  It’s real.

By John D. Clague, Christian Science Committee on Publication for Oregon

This month Baylor University published the results of their religion survey taken in 2009, “The Values and Beliefs of The American Public”.  Two previous surveys were taken in 2005 and 2007.  Most of the findings of the survey were interesting.  Two in particular, however, resonate with me and my relationship with God.

They report that those who have a “warm relationship with God” report the fewest “mental health issues”.  These are self reports, so it’s impossible to concisely determine what a mental health issue is.  For me it doesn’t matter.  The point is that I’m happy and feel that my life is enriched because I have a very personal and warm relationship with God.  God expresses Himself through His creation. God is love, and I am an expression of God.  Thus, Love is part of my being. I can’t think of a more intimate relationship than being an expression of my creator which is Love.

The other noteworthy point of the survey is that those who believe in an “engaged God” report far less anxiety in the areas of generalized anxiety, social anxiety, paranoia, obsession, and compulsion. God is very engaged in my life and I don’t experience anxiety, just like many of the participants in the survey.

This data begs the question “how is God engaged in my life”?  As God’s expression, every moment of my day is a prayer or mental communion with my maker. I hold in thought the perfection that I know to be God and identify my highest qualities as an expression of that perfection.  This requires a great deal of effort on my part, to keep my thought focused on the Love that is God, and to put this into practice every day, but the benefits are clearly described in the survey.

There are other benefits I derive from my relationship with God not described in the survey, which is really an experience in consciousness that plays itself out in my human life.  My relationship with God directly affects the health of my body.

Dr. Herbert Benson, MD, a renowned researcher and writer on the effects of consciousness on the body, has written several books on this subject (1). His research adds to a growing list of physical conditions which can be improved or healed through the use of mental techniques.  The value of Benson’s research is not that he has found the ultimate consciousness-based solution to our physical and mental problems, but rather it provides further evidence that consciousness is an indisputable factor in one’s mental and physical health. Beyond the mind-body relationship, spirituality embraced in consciousness is the next level of establishing and maintaining our well-being.

A hundred years ago, Mary Baker Eddy explored this new/old understanding of the power of Spirit to heal the body, at the same time Freud was delving into the human psyche and Einstein into the nature of matter. As she described it, she was looking into the unsearchable realm of the divine Mind, while Freud plumbed the depths of the human mind, and Einstein the very nature of energy, mass, and time.Today’s researchers build on the work of all three of these pioneers, but for me, the greatest of these is the one that links well being to divine Love.

(1)  This is not an exhaustive list:
* Timeless Healing, 1997, Simon & Schuster
* The Relaxation Response, 2000, Harper Paperbacks (with Miriam Z. Klipper)
* Relaxation Revolution, 2010, Scribner (with William Proctor, JD)
* Beyond the Relaxation Response, 1985, Berkley (with William Proctor)
* The mind/body effect: How behavioral medicine can show you the way to better health by Herbert Benson, 1979, Simon and Schuster