A story from the Guardian about the practitioners of energy medicine and faith healing questions studies that claim to show this stuff works. The writer treats New Age therapies like Reiki, some forms of Asian traditional medicine, and prayer as different versions of faith healing and that's a reasonable approach. They all "work" by mysterious mechanisms.
The story is directed at specific and direct healing claims. I think there are other general claims for faith-based health care which may have some merit. Some studies show that religious people (I included the devotees of non-organized Alternative and New Age movements) have less health problems, especially the ones connected to alcohol, drugs and diet. I would think that's a side effect of following a moral program that promotes a healthy lifestyle, being part of a supportive community, and holding beliefs that help an individual to react well to stress.
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