Sixty-six studies observing the effects of different forms of reiki, therapeutic touch, and other forms of hands-on healing were reviewed for a new article just published in the International Journal of Behavioral Medicine.
This area of study, which is named Biofield therapies, has been researched since the 1970s, and relies on the premise that the body's energy field can be manipulated to induce healing. Each person's energy field can be seen using cameras which work outside of the visible light spectrum.
Some of the medical conditions examined by the meta-analysis were:
- interventions for reducing the intensity of pain in a number of conditions;
- reducing anxiety for hospitalized patients;
- reducing agitated behaviors in dementia.
Here were the authors' findings:
"Of the 66 studies reviewed, 85% reported psychological or self-report outcomes, 54% reported biological or objective functional outcomes, and 9% examined qualitative reports." The word 'outcome' in this context means 'benefits'. Therefore biofield therapies produce physical and psychological benefits.
The authors noticed there was strong evidence that biofield therapies reduce pain intensity, and moderate evidence that they are effective at lowering pain in hospitalized patients as well as in patients with cancer. There is also moderate-strength evidence that these therapies ease agitated behaviors in dementia and moderate evidence that they reduce anxiety in hospitalized patients.
The authors recommended that a greater number of well-designed studies be conducted to add further evidence to the present findings.
Source: Jain S., & Mills P. J. (2009). Biofield therapies: Helpful or full of hype? A best-evidence synthesis. International Journal of Behavorial Medicine; DOI 10.1007/s12529-009-9062-4
Comments
The studies "...rely on the premise that the body's energy field can be manipulated to induce healing." That's a big assumption. A bigger assumption is that "human energy fields" exist. The photography of "auras" has a simple scientific explanation that has nothing to do with such fields.
The unique claim by nurses is that they can FEEL the human energy field. This was tested ten years ago by Colorado schoolgirl Emily Rosa. In her experiment, 21 TT nurses demonstrated that they could not sense an energy field when they weren't looking. None of these practitioners have bothered to replicate this simple and inexpensive study. This is basic research that needs to be done first, before clinical trials. The clinical trials often test "soft" symptoms, such as headaches. Let's see them grow back hair or cure an infection.
This is just old fashion quackery in new duds.
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