There's a new prescription out called "centeredness." It's easy to get, but hard to hold on to.

But if you do get it, researchers believe it might lower your blood pressure, ease stress on the heart, and help you rebound faster when you get ill.

What is it and where do you get it? Science Specialist Ed Yeates explains.

For the first time, experiments are showing that people who believe in something other than themselves seem to heal faster and experience better health. But it may depend on how you believe, not what you believe.

For the first time in a Utah hospital, Chaplain Michael Jackson will soon wash and oil the hands of health care providers.

MICHAEL JACKSON, CHAPLAIN: "THIS IS SOMETHING THAT TRANSCENDS ANY PARTICULAR RELIGION BUT SEEKS TO BE A SPIRITUAL MATTER - A SPIRITUAL RITUAL, IF YOU WILL, WHICH OFFERS A BLESSING."

Registered nurse Irish Dogherty believes this ceremony gives him a sense of confidence and calmness, using his hands as tools to heal and comfort.

IRISH DOUGHERTY, R.N. NURSE, PRIMARY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL: "I THINK OF THE THINGS MY HANDS DO AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT THEY TOUCH - NOT ONLY PHYSICALLY, BUT SPIRITUALLY. AND I THINK A RITUAL LIKE THIS IS A GRAND GESTURE. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL GESTURE."

Spirituality and its connection with wellness and recovery is gaining widespread popularity. That's because universities, including the Harvard Medical School, are publishing new data which shows "religiosity" is therapy.

DR. KEVIN MASTERS, PSYCHOLOGY, UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY: "OKAY THERE IS SOMETHING TO THIS. SCIENTIFICALLY SPEAKING, WE CAN SAY THERE IS SOMETHING TO THIS RELIGIOSITY VARIABLE AND IT APPEARS TO BE MOSTLY GOOD AND BENEFICIAL."

ED YEATES, SCIENCE SPECIALIST: "SEVERAL STUDIES SO FAR SUGGEST THERE IS A LINK BETWEEN BEING FAITHFUL AND BEING HEALTHY. NOW THIS NEW UTAH STUDY MAY SUBSTANTIATE THAT LINK EVEN MORE."

For these scientists, "faith" has a very broad definition. In fact, they prefer the word "centeredness" - an individual's practice of focusing trust on something beyond themselves. It's not so much what you believe but how you believe.

In a combined study at Utah State and the University of Utah, researchers will test a wide range of people who practice many forms of "religiosity."

KEVIN MASTERS: "PEOPLE WATCHING THIS INTERVIEW MIGHT THINK OF THEMSELVES AS RELIGIOUS. THEY MIGHT NOT THINK 0F THEMSELVES AS RELIGIOUS AT ALL - AND THEY COULD ALL POTENTIALLY QUALIFY FOR THE STUDY."

In these rooms, the Utah team will monitor volunteers to see if their blood pressure and heart rates remain low when they're subjected to minor stress.

If they do, it could be a sign they're so-called inner "calmness" gives them a more relaxed posture in handling stress.

They might be members of a church or not go to church at all. In fact, they may center their belief in Nature, meditation or something else.

DR. ROBERT HILL / PSYCHOLOGY / UNIVERISITY OF UTAH: "I REMEMBER ONE OF THE PARTICIPANTS FOR THIS STUDY AND SHE SAID TO ME, 'RELIGION IS IN MY HOME.' SHE ACTUALLY HAD HER WHOLE HOME DECORATED. IT WAS HER SANCTUARY."

Sondra Schumann was in a coma and almost died. But she believes her faith in something spiritual gave her strength.

SONDRA SCHUMANN: "THAT I KNEW THAT I HAD FRIENDS THAT WERE PRAYING FOR ME. I KNEW THAT MY FAMILY WAS AND I KNEW THAT I WAS, AND I JUST HAD THAT VERY CALM FEELING."

SUSAN JACKSON, CHAPLAIN: "THIS HELPS THEM PHYSICALLY AS WELL AS EMOTIONALLY AND SPIRITUALLY TO BE IN TOUCH WITH THEIR BODY AND THEIR SOUL. THEY JUST HAVE A SENSE OF WELL-BEING."

One unique part of the Utah study involves measuring two groups of believers.

The first includes those who feel pressured to go to a church because if they don't they'll be punished in some way.

The second are those who believe and go because they really want to. The theory?

KEVIN MASTERS: "WE WOULD EXPECT THAT THE FORMER GROUP - THE MORE PRESSURED GROUP WOULD NOT SHOW THE BENEFICIAL RESPONSES, I GUESS WE WOULD SAY, WE WOULD FIND IN THE OTHER GROUP."

The Utah research team is looking for volunteers age 60 and above for this new study. If you're interested call:

• In Logan: 435-797-3401

• In Salt Lake: 801-581-6212 or 801-581-7148