**1. Introduction**

COVID-19 is only one recent example of a factor influencing planet Earth's contexts of chaos, incoherence, illness, and violence. In addition, endemic struggles for survival and subsistence stresses consume human energy, distort consciousness, and exacerbate inhumanity and disorder. All of this occurs within a planet in desperate need of healing. The compound word healthcare combines the quintessentially human notion of care with that of healing, in all its meanings: making whole, transferring from illness to health, and various forms of illness prevention and health promotion. At quantum information level, healthcare translates into dynamic human, social, and environmental energy patterns [1,2]. At a global level, healthcare needs to represent all inhabitants of planet Earth in their considerable diversity [1,2].

The HeartMath system has revealed various coherent, interconnected energetic patterns within and between human persons and populations [2]. As a concept, HeartMath may be operationally defined as the math of heart rate variability [HRV], particularly, heart rhythm variability, which varies coherently in optimal health and becomes disordered under stress as well as in various disorders and forms of illness [3]. HRV is recognized as key to unlocking the profound significance and meaning of the Morse-code-like information patterns communicated by the heart in its interactions with other bodily systems, particularly the brain. Healthcare information transfer is optimally facilitated during states of psychophysiological, personal, social, and global coherence, associated with stable, regular, rhythmic heart rate activity. In simple terms, independent of fast or slow heart rate, optimal heart rate variability and coherent heart rhythms indicate health and performance [2,3].

The HeartMath system was specifically created and developed by Doc Childre, a stress researcher who gathered an expert, interdisciplinary, multi-professional research team to reduce stress through the study and development of heart intelligence [1,3]. The special vision and mission of the HeartMath system is to promote personal, social, and global coherence and health [3]. Pioneering research has revealed profound patterns of heart communication

involving human, energetic, electromagnetic, neurochemical, biophysical, and hormonal information [2,4,5]. Other studies have developed practical methods and techniques for stress reduction, health promotion, and performance enhancement [6], as well as biofeedback technology for heart rate variability (HRV) coherence training [3,7–9]. ods and techniques for stress reduction, health promotion, and performance enhancement [6], as well as biofeedback technology for heart rate variability (HRV) coherence training [3,7–9]. An overview follows of HeartMath as a scientific, coherent, integral heart-based, healthcare system that postulates and promotes planetary interconnectedness [10–13].

special vision and mission of the HeartMath system is to promote personal, social, and global coherence and health [3]. Pioneering research has revealed profound patterns of heart communication involving human, energetic, electromagnetic, neurochemical, biophysical, and hormonal information [2,4,5]. Other studies have developed practical meth-

An overview follows of HeartMath as a scientific, coherent, integral heart-based, healthcare system that postulates and promotes planetary interconnectedness [10–13]. This system, its model, and perspectives are in line with some of the phenomenological insights of the ancient sages, meditative and contemplative traditions, as well as with integral theory [14,15] in a creatively evolving cosmos [7,13,16,17]. This system, its model, and perspectives are in line with some of the phenomenological insights of the ancient sages, meditative and contemplative traditions, as well as with integral theory [14,15] in a creatively evolving cosmos [7,13,16,17]. *Goal of This Study* 

#### *Goal of This Study* This article was specifically motivated by the theoretical considerations and consid-

This article was specifically motivated by the theoretical considerations and considerable evidence-based studies available in the HeartMath research library as to the scientific foundations and effectiveness of the HeartMath Institute in promoting coherent personal, social, and global healthcare. It is intended as an updated overview for instructional purposes. erable evidence-based studies available in the HeartMath research library as to the scientific foundations and effectiveness of the HeartMath Institute in promoting coherent personal, social, and global healthcare. It is intended as an updated overview for instructional purposes. **2. The Math behind Heart Rate/Rhythm Variability Patterns** 

#### **2. The Math behind Heart Rate/Rhythm Variability Patterns** Figure 1 graphically illustrates the HeartMath method of heart rhythm calculation.

*Healthcare* **2022**, *10*, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 10

Figure 1 graphically illustrates the HeartMath method of heart rhythm calculation. Figure 2 indicates synchronized entrainment, a healthcare intervention that can be brought about in minutes by the HeartMath Quick Coherence Technique [1–9]. Figure 2 indicates synchronized entrainment, a healthcare intervention that can be brought about in minutes by the HeartMath Quick Coherence Technique [1–9].

**Figure 1.** indicates the HeartMath method of heart rhythm calculation [9]. The maximum peak is identified in the 0.04–0.26 Hz range in which coherence occurs. Peak power is determined by calculating the integral in a window that is 0.030 Hz wide. The total power of the entire spectrum is then **Figure 1.** Indicates the HeartMath method of heart rhythm calculation [9]. The maximum peak is identified in the 0.04–0.26 Hz range in which coherence occurs. Peak power is determined by calculating the integral in a window that is 0.030 Hz wide. The total power of the entire spectrum is then calculated. The coherence ratio is formulated as: (Peak Power/(Total Power—Peak Power)) [2].

calculated. The coherence ratio is formulated as: (Peak Power/(Total Power—Peak Power)) [2].

**Figure 2.** The Coherent State as reflected in synchronized entrainment of respiration, heart rate variability, and blood pressure rhythms brought about by the Quick Coherence technique. **Figure 2.** The Coherent State as reflected in synchronized entrainment of respiration, heart rate variability, and blood pressure rhythms brought about by the Quick Coherence technique.

#### **3. The HeartMath System Is Unique in Its Recognition of the Integral Heart in All Its Physical, Emotional, Mental, Social, Ecological, and Spiritual Relatedness 3. The HeartMath System Is Unique in Its Recognition of the Integral Heart in All Its Physical, Emotional, Mental, Social, Ecological, and Spiritual Relatedness**

From a transcultural perspective, the heart has received perennial recognition as the font of sentience, awareness, and consciousness; it is considered to be the center of the spiritual, intellectual, and emotional life. Various scientific disciplines provide evidence [18] that heart wisdom has developed over many millennia in central and southern Africa, predating the migrations of Homo sapiens through Asia and the subsequent development of the Vedanta, Yoga, and Chakra systems. From a transcultural perspective, the heart has received perennial recognition as the font of sentience, awareness, and consciousness; it is considered to be the center of the spiritual, intellectual, and emotional life. Various scientific disciplines provide evidence [18] that heart wisdom has developed over many millennia in central and southern Africa, predating the migrations of Homo sapiens through Asia and the subsequent development of the Vedanta, Yoga, and Chakra systems.

The integral heart appears to have dimensions of increasing depth: physical, emotional, transpersonal, and transcultural [3]. For example, in isiZulu, meanings of the heart include the physical organ, the seat of emotions, and the conscience [19]. Yoga views lifeenergy as flowing up and down the spine in three main pathways: the Ida, Pingala, and the Sushumna. These chakras are associated with particular anatomical locations of the nervous, endocrine, and other human functional systems [20,21]. The heart chakra expresses love and compassion [20,22]. Traditional Chinese medicine, especially Taoist chigung, is based on subtle consciousness/breath/energy work related to oscillating pacemaker cell rhythms that can be altered intentionally [21]. The Buddhist term for heart, sutra, is associated with ultimate enlightenment through the union of form and emptiness. Judaic energy centers (sefirot) include the harmony of the heart (tiferet). In the Kabbalah, the heart forms the central sphere [3]. In Christian Hesychastic and Sufi traditions, the Prayer of the Heart, which consists of the repetition of a phrase or the name of a deity, is intentionally accompanied by breath-paced heart focus. Centering prayer refers to a contemporary form of the Prayer of the Heart, which is very similar to the HeartMath Lock-In technique. In this context, Bourgeault [23] (p. 5) refers to the integral heart as a "homing magnetic center", which is associated with a neurological shift in the mechanics of perception towards a unified field, where one becomes enabled to "see from wholeness"; this The integral heart appears to have dimensions of increasing depth: physical, emotional, transpersonal, and transcultural [3]. For example, in isiZulu, meanings of the heart include the physical organ, the seat of emotions, and the conscience [19]. Yoga views life-energy as flowing up and down the spine in three main pathways: the Ida, Pingala, and the Sushumna. These chakras are associated with particular anatomical locations of the nervous, endocrine, and other human functional systems [20,21]. The heart chakra expresses love and compassion [20,22]. Traditional Chinese medicine, especially Taoist chi-gung, is based on subtle consciousness/breath/energy work related to oscillating pacemaker cell rhythms that can be altered intentionally [21]. The Buddhist term for heart, sutra, is associated with ultimate enlightenment through the union of form and emptiness. Judaic energy centers (sefirot) include the harmony of the heart (tiferet). In the Kabbalah, the heart forms the central sphere [3]. In Christian Hesychastic and Sufi traditions, the Prayer of the Heart, which consists of the repetition of a phrase or the name of a deity, is intentionally accompanied by breath-paced heart focus. Centering prayer refers to a contemporary form of the Prayer of the Heart, which is very similar to the HeartMath Lock-In technique. In this context, Bourgeault [23] (p. 5) refers to the integral heart as a "homing magnetic center", which is associated with a neurological shift in the mechanics of perception towards a unified field, where one becomes enabled to "see from wholeness"; this is discussed further in Section 7.

is discussed further in Section 7. For millennia, the major great wisdom traditions, including Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, and ancestral reverence [13,24,25], have espoused heart love. However, meaningful planetary effects have been slow, as the traditions have been engaged in continual disputes amongst themselves. Although many wisdom traditions ad-For millennia, the major great wisdom traditions, including Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, and ancestral reverence [13,24,25], have espoused heart love. However, meaningful planetary effects have been slow, as the traditions have been engaged in continual disputes amongst themselves. Although many wisdom traditions advocate love, the practice of respect may be a more realistic goal for temporary transformation;

Native American and many other indigenous traditions teach respect for all one's relatives, namely, all of creation, as a primary duty. However, predictably endemic human destructiveness, greed, and power motivations will probably continue, especially since most people are still struggling to survive and satisfy their basic needs, let alone care for other, higher needs such as belongingness, love, and connection to greater Being [26].

Improved healthcare innovations concerning coherent, heartfelt intentions and actions are in short supply.
