Healing Helpers
From:
Laci Chiodo
13 days 11 hours 54 minutes ago
If the thought of growing old with only your pet for company makes you cringe, consider this: A study conducted at UCLA found that dog owners required much less medical attention for pains caused by stress than non–dog owners. In fact, a significant amount of research has been conducted to prove that animals are natural healers.
Besides being good companions, our furry friends can help people cope with Alzheimer’s disease, ADD, cancer, depression, and mental illness. Animal volunteer organizations such as the
Delta Society and
Rim of the World Comfort Pets train animals and then bring them to hospitals, nursing homes, and schools to help those in need.
Pet a Pooch, Meditate on a FishAccording to James J. Lynch, Ph.D., our blood pressure rises the moment we begin to talk and then lowers once we stop. Lynch tracked his daughter’s blood pressure when she spoke and then when she spoke while petting her dog and noticed that her blood pressure decreased when she had the dog in her lap. Similarly, Dr. Aaron Katcher monitored the blood pressure of a group of patients who he’d put through a variety of traditional meditation techniques and compared the findings with their blood pressure after they’d gazed at an aquarium of swimming fish. He found fish-watching to be far more effective than any of the other
meditation practices he had them try.
Can Your Pet Help? The Delta Society is the leading volunteer organization for therapeutic pets. Established in 1977, Delta works to incorporate pets into the lives of people who are ill to improve
healing, people with disabilities to improve independence, and the general population to improve
overall health. Delta believes having pets in our lives can help us to develop more empathy, home in on our nurturing skills, and improve our communication. Studies show that children who grow up in a home with a pet that’s considered to be a family member are more empathetic than children who grow up without pets. If you’re interested in training your pet to help others, visit the Delta
website and check out its list of certification classes offered.
If you’re looking for some natural healing and affection but not sure where to go, visit the
Humane Society and look into its pet adoption program. The society provides a full list of animal shelters as well as a list of important facts you should know about adoption and information to help you decide which pet is best for you.
When it comes to healing, each animal has something unique to offer. Choose an animal that speaks to you, one you feel a special bond with. The closer you are with your pet, the greater the therapeutic effect. So the next time you’re feeling stressed and need a natural fix, curl up with a kitty or chat with a bird. Don’t worry—they’ll listen, and you’ll feel better. Just remember that animals are here to help us heal. Maybe those crazy cat ladies aren’t so crazy after all.
—Laci Chiodo
