Who is Deepak Chopra and is Quantum Healing Real?
To Deepak Chopra, the mind, body, and spirit are inextricably connected. Tending to each of them is essential for good health and is part of a kind of trivium of wellbeing.
But who is he?
For starters, he's been featured in Time Magazine, he's a darling of Oprah, and he's written a myriad of New York Times Best Sellers.
To many, Chopra is a spiritual leader and medical pioneer. To others, he is simply a money-making guru and pseudo scientist.
Whether you’ve heard his name and are now trying to learn more, or you're trying to determine if his ideas hold any merit, we work here to shed some light on who he is, discuss what quantum healing is all about, and explore if there is any proof behind his approach.
Who Is Deepak Chopra?
Deepak Chopra is a best-selling author, teacher, spiritual guru, and Doctor of Medicine. He is also the Founder and Director of Education of The Chopra Center of Wellbeing, the "premier provider of experiences, education, teacher trainings, and products that improve the health and well-being of body, mind, and spirit."
Chopra was practicing endocrinology before exploring mind-body medicine. He often weaves theories of quantum physics and religion into his teachings of mind-body medicine. For many people who believe in holistic medicine, Chopra is the leading pioneer in integrative medicine.
He is also one of the most prolific writers in the holistic healing space. Chopra has written over 90 books, some of the most popular being:
- The Third Jesus: The Christ We Cannot Ignore
- War of Worldviews
- Super Brain
- Peace Is the Way
- The Soul of Leadership
- The 13th Disciple: A Spiritual Adventure
But his credentials don't end there. Chopra also has an impressive list of honorariums, some of them being the:
- 2012 Police Athletic League Humanitarian Award
- 2012 Mandala Award for Humanitarian Achievement – Rubin Museum of Art
- 2012 Asian American Arts Alliance Honoree
- 2010 GOI Peace Award
- 2010 Starlite Humanitarian Award
- 2010 Art for Life Honoree
What's clear is that he obviously resonates with a vast audience. TIME magazine even praised Chopra for his contribution, stating, "Chopra may have done more than anyone else in the U.S. to create a vocabulary for the intersection of faith and medicine." One of his most significant contributions to the mind-body medicine trend is his idea of quantum healing.
What is Quantum Healing?
Quantum healing was first defined by Deepak Chopra when he published his book Quantum Healing: Exploring the Frontiers of Mind/Body Medicine in 1989. In it, Chopra explains quantum healing as "healing the bodymind from a level which is not manifest at a sensory level [visible or tactile] ... a shift takes place in the fields of energy information, to bring about a correction to something that is out of balance." For example, when the mind experiences stress, one might feel nauseated or have a headache. Quantum healing asserts that, in this scenario, the mind has the capability to heal the body through shifts of energy. It may also be referred to as spiritual healing.
Above all else, quantum healing values one's belief in themselves. In order for a specific outcome to come to fruition, one must first believe in it. However, this should not be confused with religion or religious practices. Mainly, quantum healing relies on the production and release of endorphins to promote wellness.
Is Quantum Healing Real?
It's important to start with the term "pseudoscience," which refers to practices that are mistakenly believed to be based on the scientific method. Moreover, pseudosciences are claims that still require evidence, while science is primarily based on looking for evidence to disprove a claim that already holds truth. Because just about anyone can refer to themselves as a 'quantum healer' or 'energy healer,' even though you can become certified, the practice becomes murky and ripe with skepticism.
Darren Starwynn, Doctor of Oriental Medicine, goes as far as to claim that he has “helped clients release chronic pain, relieve long-term phobias, improve sleep, boost energy levels, get clear mentally, and significantly reduce anxiety and depression” with quantum healing practices.
But can quantum healing cure both mind and body illnesses? Does the practice hold some truth to it?
In What Everyone Should Know About Energy Healing, Marci Baron, a contributing writer for MBG Mindfulness, asserts that:
- We've already been studying the body's energy centers for thousands of years.
- Energy healing is based on scientific principles.
- Anyone can benefit from energy healing.
- There are many types of accessible energy healing modalities.
- You can maintain your energetic health from home.
Baron's claims were reviewed and approved by Roxanna Namavar, psychiatrist and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine.
While quantum healing does require more evidence before it may become an approved scientific method, there are cases in which the practice has worked. At the same time, quantum healing could be a form of the placebo effect, where the individual believes a treatment or substance to have an impact when it does not. The positive impact that quantum healing has remains depends on the individual taking part in the practice. For now, quantum healing has no real studies, statistics, or scientific basis to prove that it is capable of curing terminal and mental illnesses. Yet, the audience for it continues to remain engaged -- even in new, 21st century ways.
Chopra's App
Chopra has taken on a multimedia approach to his teachings. From books and music to television programming and social media content, there aren't many mediums he hasn't tapped into. Most recently, he developed the 21-Day Meditation Experience app.
The app features a massive library of self-care resources, including meditation exercises, health and wellness tools, scientific research, and audio content from the world’s leading well-being pioneers.
Chopra's Sound Healing for Sleep
In conjunction with his other resources, Chopra has created a variety of sound healing recordings that aim to help you sleep. His 1-Hour Deep Sleep Meditation on YouTube is excellent for minimizing stress before bed. If you're experiencing difficulty sleeping, consider listening to his resources in combination with comfortable headphones specifically designed for sleep.
There is evidence that suggests that pleasing music and sound release dopamine and serotonin, two essential neurotransmitters responsible for regulating mood, food, and sleep. His tracks closely relate to brainwave entrainment, wherein one stimulates the brain with sound that has frequencies associated with relaxation, happiness, and sleep.
Sleeping with SleepPhones®
Whether you're listening to sound healing tracks or Chopra's meditations, SleepPhones can be an exceptional choice when using these resources for better sleep. If you're interested in learning more about SleepPhones, browse our shop, and visit our blog to read more about sleep hygiene and good health.
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