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We have included a spectrum of reports in our list. The type of report is indicated at the end of each study:
CASE
DISC = discussion
META = meta analysis
MAR = marginal value (to save researchers the trouble of hunting these down)
MAR METHODS = a formal research study with seriously flawed methodology
OBS = Observational report (series of cases)
P = popular article
Q = qualitative study
RES = research
SUR = survey
A
Abbot, Neil C/ Harkness, Elaine F/ Stevinson, Clare/ Marshall, F. Paul/ Conn, David A/ Ernst, Edzard. Spiritual Healing as a Therapy for Chronic Pain: A Randomized, Clinical Trial, International Association for the Study of Pain, 2001, 91, 79-89. META
Spiritual healing is a popular complementary and alternative therapy; in the UK almost 13 000 members are registered in nine separate healing organizations. The present randomized clinical trial was designed to investigate the efficacy of healing in the treatment of chronic pain. One hundred and twenty patients suffering from chronic pain, predominantly of neuropathic and nociceptive origin resistant to conventional treatments, were recruited from a Pain Management Clinic. The trial had two parts: face-to-face healing or simulated face-to-face healing for 30 min per week for 8 weeks (part D; and distant healing or no healing for 30 min per week for 8 weeks (part II). The McGill Pain Questionnaire was pre-defined as the primary outcome measure, and sample size was calculated to detect a difference of 8 units on the total pain rating index of this instrument after 8 weeks of healing. VASs for pain, SF36, HAD scale, MYMOP and patient subjective experiences at week 8 were employed as secondary outcome measures. Data from all patients who reached the pre-defined mid-point of 4 weeks (50 subjects in part I and 55 subjects in part IT) were included in the analysis. Two baseline measurements of outcome measures were made, 3 weeks apart, and no significant differences were observed between them. After eight sessions there were significant decreases from baseline in McGill Pain Questionaire total pain rating index score for both groups in part I and for the control group in part II. However, there were no statistically significant differences between healing and control groups in either part. In part I the primary outcome measure decreased from 32.8 (95% CI 28.5-37.0) to 23.3 (16.8"2907) in the healing group and from 33.1 (27.2-38.9) to 26.1 (19.3-32.9) in the simulated healing group. In part II it changed from 29.6 (24.8-34.4) to 24.0 (18.7-29.4) in the distant healing gronp and from 31.0 (25.836.2) to 21.0 (15.7-26.2) in the no healing gronp. Subjects in healiug groups in both parts I and II reported significantly more 'unusual experiences' during the sessions, but the clinical relevance of this is unclear. It was concluded that a specific effect of face-to-face or distant healing on chronic pain could not be demonstrated over eight treatment sessions in these patients.
Achterberg, Jeanne/ Cooke, Karin/ Richards, Todd / Standish, Leanna/ Kozak, Leila / Lake, James. Evidence for Correlations Between Distant Intentionality and Brain Function in Recipients: A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Analysis, JAlternative and Complementary Medicine, 2005, 11(6), 965-971. RES
“This study, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technology, demonstrated that distant intentionality (DI), defined as sending thoughts at a distance, is correlated with an activation of certain brain functions in the recipients. Eleven healers who espoused some form for connecting or healing at a distance were recruited from the island of Hawaii. Each healer selected a person with whom they felt a special connection as a recipient for DI. The recipient was placed in the MRI scanner and isolated from all forms of sensory contact from the healer. The healers sent forms of DI that related to their own healing practices at random 2-minute intervals that were unknown to the recipient. Significant differences between experimental (send) and control (no send) procedures were found (p _ 0.000127). Areas activated during the experimental procedures included the anterior and middle cingulate area, precuneus, and frontal area. It was concluded that instructions to a healer to make an intentional connection with a sensory isolated person can be correlated to changes in brain function of that individual. “
Adams, A. Healing Touch therapies offered at local hospitals, Houston Chronicle,Health Care Professional Update 2002, IX(7), 11-12. P
Alvarez, T. Their healing hands: Nurses’ coalition rediscovers the restorative arts,Hinduism Today, 2000, 40-41. P
Arom, K/ MacIntyre, B. The Effect of Healing Touch on coronary artery bypass surgery patients, Paper presented at Healing Touch International 6th Annual Conference, Denver, Colorado, January, 2002 (Data based). RES
Healing Touch research summaries of Diane Wardell
This was an experimental randomized control trIal of approximately 400 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery at Health East St. Joseph’s in St. Paul, MN. There were three groups, Healing Touch, visit, or control. It was found that Healing Touch participants had a shorter hospital stay.
Astin, J. A./ Harkness, E. / Ernst, E. The efficacy of distant healing: Systematic review of randomized trials. Annals of Internal Medicine, 2000. 132(11), 903-910. META
PURPOSE: To conduct a systematic review of the available data on the efficacy of any form of "distant healing" (prayer, mental healing, Therapeutic Touch, or spiritual healing) as treatment for any medical condition.
DATA SOURCES: Studies were identified by an electronic search of the MEDLINE, Psych LIT, EMBASE, CISCOM, and Cochrane Library databases from their inception to the end of 1999 and by contact with researchers in the field.
Study selection: Studies with the following features were included: random assignment, placebo or other adequate control, publication in peer-reviewed journals, clinical (rather than experimental) investigations, and use of human participants.
DATA EXTRACTION: Two investigators independently extracted data on study design, sample size, type of intervention, type of control, direction of effect (supporting or refuting the hypothesis), and nature of the outcomes.
DATA SYNTHESIS: A total of 23 trials involving 2774 patients met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Heterogeneity of the studies precluded a formal meta~analysis. Of the trials,5 examined prayer as the distant healing intervention, 11 assessed noncontact Therapeutic Touch, and 7 examined other forms of distant healing. Of the 23 studies, 13 (57%) yielded statistically significant treatment effects. 9 showed no effect over control interventions, and 1 showed a negative effect.
Conclusions: The methodologic limitations of several studies make it difficult to draw definitive conclusions about the efficacy of distant healing. However, given that approximately 57% of trials showed a positive treatment effect. the evidence thus far merits further study.
Attevelt, J.T.M. Research into Paranormal Healing (Doctoral dissertation) State University of Utrecht, The Netherlands 1988. Asthma, bronchitis. RES SURV
Aviles, Jennifer M/ Whelan, Ellen/ Hernke, Debra A/ Williams, Brent A/ Kenny, Kathleen E/ O’Fallon, W. Michael/ Kopecky, Stephen L. Intercessory Prayer and Cardiovascular Disease Progression in a Coronary Care Unit Population: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Mayo Clinic Proc, 2001, 76, 1192-1198. RES
Mayo Physician Alliance for Clinical Trials Coordinating Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. 55902, USA
OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of intercessory prayer, a widely practiced complementary therapy, on cardiovascular disease progression after hospital discharge.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this randomized controlled trial conducted between 1997 and 1999, a total of 799 coronary care unit patients were randomized at hospital discharge to the intercessory prayer group or to the control group. Intercessory prayer, ie, prayer by 1 or more persons on behalf of another, was administered at least once a week for 26 weeks by 5 intercessors per patient. The primary end point after 26 weeks was any of the following: death, cardiac arrest, rehospitalization for cardiovascular disease, coronary revascularization, or an emergency department visit for cardiovascular disease. Patients were divided into a high-risk group based on the presence of any of 5 risk factors (age = or >70 years, diabetes mellitus, prior myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular disease, or peripheral vascular disease) or a low-risk group (absence of risk factors) for subsequent primary events.
RESULTS: At 26 weeks, a primary end point had occurred in 25.6% of the intercessory prayer group and 29.3% of the control group (odds ratio [OR], 0.83 [95% confidence interval (CI)0.60-1.14]; P=.25). Among high-risk patients, 31.0% in the prayer group vs 33.3% in the control group (OR, 0.90 [95% CI, 0.60-1.34]; P=.60) experienced a primary end point. Among low-risk patients, a primary end point occurred in 17.0% in the prayer group vs 24.1% in the control group (OR, 0.65 [95% CI, 0.20-1.36]; P=.12).
CONCLUSIONS: As delivered in this study, intercessory prayer had no significant effect on medical outcomes after hospitalization in a coronary care unit.
B
Bacon, Mary Margarita. Nurse practitioners’ views and knowledge of herbal medicine and alternative healing methods. MS. dissertation, University of Massachusetts Lowell 1997. RES
Bair, Christine Caldwell. The heart field effect: synchronization of healer-subject heart rates in energy therapy, Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Holos University Graduate Seminary, Springfield, MO, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Theology 2006. R
Study shows significant effects of WHEE and HeartMath intervention
Wholistic Hybrid derived from EMDR and EFT, AKA Whole Healing – Easily and Effectively
Editor’s summary – eZine of IJHC and WHR sites:
I am pleased to share that the first of several studies including WHEE has been completed. Christine Caldwell Bair found that significant synchronizations were demonstrated between heart rates of healer and healees – the primary focus of the study. The volunteer healees came in response to an advertisement to learn a self-relaxation and healing technique that was part of a study. Both the control and treatment groups were also taught WHEE (Wholistic Hybrid derived from EMDR and EFT). The control group demonstrated a significant decrease in Subjective Units of Distress (SUDS) from before to after their practice of WHEE (p < .04), which was taught to all 41 participants simultaneously.
Subjects in the treatment group who received the WHEE plus a HeartMath intervention demonstrated additional significant effects compared to the control group who only practiced WHEE. “The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of the healer's heart field upon subjects during energy healing, as measured by synchronization of heart rates and scores on a Subjective Units of Distress (SUD) scale and Profile of Mood States (POMS) inventory. A nonequivalent pretest posttest design was used based on heart rate comparison of healer and subject, and correlated with pre-and post-test SUDs and Profiles of Mood States scores. The subjects included two populations: N = 50 who sat within the 3-4 foot “strong” range of the healer's heart field, the independent variable, while using self application of the WHEE energy healing technique, and N = 41 who completed the same process beyond the 15-18 foot range of the healer's heart field. The dependent measures were heart rate, Subjective Units of Distress, and Profile of Mood States inventory. All subjects completed these measures within one hour. Statistically significant heart rate synchronization [p < .001] was found in the intervention population. Subjective Units of Distress and Profile of Mood States scores demonstrated more improvement than the control population, indicating additional benefit beyond the WHEE effect alone [p < .003].”
The researcher notes in private communications about WHEE: “Anecdotally, I can report that almost all the folks I've had opportunity to teach it to actually USE IT because of it's ease, unobtrusiveness, and effectiveness--very different than other techniques which work fine, but no one uses them because they can't get off alone and find 15-20 minutes to do them, so they just don't bother.”
Baldwin, Ann L/ Schwartz, Gary E. Personal interaction with a Reiki practitioner decreases noise-induced microvascular damage in an animal model, The Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine, 2006, 12(1). RES
Baldwin, C. The Effects of Healing Touch on Stress in College Students, unpublished master’s thesis, West Chester University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2002 (Data based). RES
Healing Touch research summaries of Diane Wardell
A randomized control test of 56 students who volunteered from West Chester University received Healing Touch or sham Healing Touch. There was no statistically significant difference between the treatment group and the control group. All students that participated in this study said that they felt less stress. All but three students from the control group, whether they thought they were in the control group or the treatment group, said that the relaxation did not last throughout the week. However, most of the students in the treatment group, whether they thought they were in the treatment group or the control group expressed how the sessions had a lasting effect for them throughout the weeks.
Baller, B. The power of touch, Arizona Star, 2001, E1. P
Baranger, P./ Filer, M. K. Amulets: The protective action of collars in avian malaria, Mind and Matter, Oxford, England: Radionics Centre 1967 (Mar) [Excerpt from Acta Tropica 1953, 10(1)]. Not a controlled study. RES
Barrington, R. A naturalistic inquiry of post-operative pain after therapeutic touch. NLN PUBL, 1994, 14-2607. Q
Barrington, Mary Rose, Bean growth promotion pilot experiment, Proceedings of the Society for Psychical Research 1982, 56, 302-304. RES
Barros, Alberto, et al. Methodology for research on psychokinetic influence over the growth of plants, Psi Communicacion 1977, 3(5/6), 9-30. (Summary, translated from Spanish, from: Parapsychology Abstracts International 1984, 1(2), 80, Abstr. No. 662). RES
Barry, J. General and comparative study of the psychokinetic effect on a fungus culture, Journal of Parapsychology 1968, 32, 237-243. RES
Baumann, S./ Lagle, J./ Roll, W. Preliminary results from the use of two novel detectors for psychokinesis, In: Weiner, Debra H./ Radin, Dean I. (Eds) Research in Parapsychology 1985, Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow 1986, 59-62. Nerve conduction. RES
Becker, NB. Healing journeys spans high-tech, high-touch at Hawaiian hospital,Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine 2000, 6(2), 99-100. P
Bengston, William F. Follow-up study to “The effect of the “laying on of hands” on transplanted breast cancer in mice, 2002. Rhttp://www.emergentmind.org/Research%20Leads/_resleads/00000027.htm
Benson, H/ Dusek, JA/ Sherwood, JB/ Lam, P/ Bethea, CF/ Carpenter, W/ Levitsky, S/ Hill, PC/ Clem, DW/ Jain, MK/ Drumel, D/ Kopecky, SL/ Mueller, PS/ Marek, D/ Rollins, S/ Hibberd, PL. Study of the therapeutic effects of intercessory prayer (STEP) in cardiac bypass patients: a multicenter randomized trial of uncertainty and certainty of receiving intercessory prayer. American Heart J. 2006, 151(4), 934-42 RES
ABSTRACT: Mind/Body Medical Institute, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
BACKGROUND: Intercessory prayer is widely believed to influence recovery from illness, but claims of benefits are not supported by well-controlled clinical trials. Prior studies have not addressed whether prayer itself or knowledge/certainty that prayer is being provided may influence outcome. We evaluated whether (1) receiving intercessory prayer or (2) being certain of receiving intercessory prayer was associated with uncomplicated recovery after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.
METHODS: Patients at 6 US hospitals were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: 604 received intercessory prayer after being informed that they may or may not receive prayer; 597 did not receive intercessory prayer also after being informed that they may or may not receive prayer; and 601 received intercessory prayer after being informed they would receive prayer. Intercessory prayer was provided for 14 days, starting the night before CABG. The primary outcome was presence of any complication within 30 days of CABG. Secondary outcomes were any major event and mortality.
RESULTS: In the 2 groups uncertain about receiving intercessory prayer, complications occurred in 52% (315/604) of patients who received intercessory prayer versus 51% (304/597) of those who did not (relative risk 1.02, 95% CI 0.92-1.15). Complications occurred in 59% (352/601) of patients certain of receiving intercessory prayer compared with the 52% (315/604) of those uncertain of receiving intercessory prayer (relative risk 1.14, 95% CI 1.02-1.28). Major events and 30-day mortality were similar across the 3 groups.
CONCLUSIONS: Intercessory prayer itself had no effect on complication-free recovery from CABG, but certainty of receiving intercessory prayer was associated with a higher incidence of complications.
Bentwich, Zvi/ Kreitler, S./ Pfeffermann/ R./ Benor, D. J. - Effect of distant healing on recovery from surgery, Presentation at 2nd International Dead Sea Conference on the Anatomy of Well-Being, Tiberias, Israel 1993. RES
Berland, Warren R. Ph.D., Unexpected Cancer Recovery: Patient Attributions Regarding Survival (Spontaneous Remissions), Saybrook Institute 1994. Q
Bernardi, Luciano/ Sleight, Peter/ Bandinelli, Gabriele/ Cencetti, Simone/ Fattorini, Lamberto/ Wdowczyc-Szulc, Johanna/ Lagi, Alfonso, Effect of rosary prayer and yoga mantras on autonomic cardiovascular rhythms: comparative study, Beyond Science?, 2001, 323, 1446-1449. RES
ABSTRACT:
OBJECTIVE: To test whether rhythmic formulas such as the rosary and yoga mantras can synchronise and reinforce inherent cardiovascular rhythms and modify baroreflex sensitivity.
DESIGN: Comparison of effects of recitation of the Ave Maria (in Latin) or of a mantra, during spontaneous and metronome controlled breathing, on breathing rate and on spontaneous oscillations is RR interval, and on blood pressure and cerebral circulation.
SETTING: Florence and Pavia, Italy. Participants 23 healthy adults.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Breathing rate, regularity of breathing, baroreflex sensitivity, frequency of cardiovascular oscillations.
RESULTS: Both prayer and mantra caused striking, powerful, and synchronous increases in existing cardiovascular rhythms when recited six times a minute. Baroreflex sensitivity also increased significantly, from 9.5 (SD 4.6) to 11.5 (4.9) ms/mm Hg.P<O.05.
CONCLUSION: Rhythm formulas that involve breathing at six breaths per minute induce favourable psychological and possibly physiological effects
Beutler, Jaap J/ Attevelt, J.T.M. et al. Paranormal healing and hypertension,British Medical Journal 1988, 296, 1491-1494. RES
Blankfield, Robert P/Sulzmann,Cathy/ Goetz Fradley, Linda/Artim Tapolyai, Amy/ Zyzanski, Stephen J, Therapeutic Touch in the Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Journal Am Board Family Pract 2001,14, 335– 342. RES
BACKGROUND: Alternative medical therapies are widely utilized, but there are few objective data to evaluate the effectiveness of these techniques. The purpose of this study was to determine whether one alternative therapy, Therapeutic Touch (TI), can improve objective indices of median nerve function in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome.
METHODS: Participants with eledrodiagnostically confirmed carpal tunnel syndrome were randomly assigned in single-blind fashion to receive either IT or sham therapeutic touch once weekly for 6 consecutive weeks. The distal latency of the median motor nerve along with visual analog assessments of pain and relaxation were measured before and after each treatment session.
RESULTS: Twenty-one participants completed the study. Changes in median motor nerve distal latencies, pain scores, and relaxation scores did not differ between participants in the IT group and participants in the sham treatment group, either immediately after each treatment session or cumulatively. Immediately after each treatment session, however, there were improvements from baseline among all the outcome variables in both groups.
CONCLUSIONS: In this small study, IT was no better than placebo in influencing median motor nerve distal latencies, pain scores, and relaxation scores. lhe changes in the outcome variables from baseline in both groups suggest a possible physiologic basis for the placebo effect.
Borg, Elizabeth W. The Experience of Healing During Non-Ordinary States of Consciousness: An Heuristic Investigation, Doctoral dissertation, Uunion Institute 1994. Q
Boucher, Faith Katherine, The Cadences of Healing: Perceived Benefits from Treatment Among the Clientele of Psychic Healers, Doctoral dissertation, University of California, Davis 1980. SURV
Bowers, Diane Patricia. The effects of Therapeutic Touch on state anxiety and physiological measurements in preoperative clients, MS, San Jose State University, 1992. RES
This quasi- experimental pretest-posttest design study examined the effects of Therapeutic Touch and a mimic control treatment on measurements of blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, peripheral skin temperature, and perceived feelings of anxiety in clients having surgery performed within 1 hour of hospital admission. The purpose of this study was to quantify the effects of Therapeutic Touch as a relaxation intervention. The STAI-Y State Anxiety questionnaire was used with 12 experimental group clients and 8 control group clients. Both groups experienced significant (p <.05) positive changes in physiologic measurements and state anxiety indicative of relaxation. The hypotheses, however, were not supported. The degree of relaxation responses were not significantly greater in the experimental group. Results of the Therapeutic Touch Practitioner Self-Inventory showed a positive correlation (p <.01) in the experimental group between clients’ peripheral skin temperatures and the practitioner’s perceived bonding with clients.
Bradway, C. The effects of Healing Touch on depression, Healing Touch Newsletter: Research Edition 1998, 8(3), 2. (Data based). RES
Brannon, J. A Patient Satisfaction Survey for Cancer Patients Experiencing Healing Touch at the Cancer Wellness Center, Healing Touch International Research Survey, June, Lakewood Co: Healing Touch International, Inc., 2002, (Data based). SUR
Healing Touch research summaries of Diane Wardell
Surveys were sent to 92 participants with 43 responses. Participants' responses to Healing Touch treatments include the following (agree or strongly agree): improved relaxation, 98%; improved sense of control, 75%; positive change in energy, 87%; improved interpersonal relationships, 63%; improved sense of well-being, 92%; decreased pain, 85%; and decreased side effects of cancer treatments, 77%.
Braud, William. Conformance behavior involving living systems, In: Roll, W.G. et. al (Eds), Research in Parapsychology 1978, Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow 1979, 111-115. Electrodermal activity. RES
Braud, William G. Distant mental influence of rate of hemolysis of human red blood cells, Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research 1990(b), 84, 1-24. RES
Braud, William/ Davis, Gary/ Wood, Robert, Experiments with Matthew Manning,Journal of the Society for Psychical Research 1979, 50, 199-223. Gifted healer. RES
Braud, William/ Schlitz, Marilyn, Psychokinetic influence on electrodermal activity, Journal of Parapsychology 1983, 47(2), 95-119. RES
Braud, William/ Schlitz, Marilyn, Possible role of intuitive data sorting in electrodermal biological psychokinesis (bio-PK), Research in Parapsychology1987, 1988, 5-9. RES
Braud, William/ Schlitz, Marilyn. A methodology for the objective study of transpersonal imagery, Journal of Scientific Exploration 1989, 3(1), 43-63. Electrodermal activity. RES
Braud, William, et al. Further studies of the bio-PK effect: feedback, blocking, specificity/ generality, Research in Parapsychology 1984, 1985 Electrodermal response. RES
Braud, William/ Schlitz, Marilyn/ Collins, John / Klitch, Helen, Further studies of the bio-PK effects: Feedback, blocking, specificity/generality, Research in Parapsychology 1984, 1985 Electrodermal response. RES
Braun, C/ Layton, J/ Braun J. Therapeutic Touch improves residents’ sleep,American Health Care Association, 1986, 12(1) 48-49. RES?
Braxil, C. Bethel congregational adds healing touch. Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, 1999, September 4, 120, 1. P
Broich, William. Interest in holistic, alternative, and complementary therapies and services by disabled persons. SUR
Healing Touch research summaries of Diane Wardell
The objective of this study was to assess the interest in complementary, alternative, and holistic therapies and services of people in Polk County, Iowa who have a work disability and to identify possible barriers of access to these therapies and services. Disabled persons completed questionnaires about their transportation and payment options, and their interests in receiving the services offered by the Holistic Wellness Program. This study considered proximity, employment status, and transportation options as possible barriers to health care services. Of the 35 disabled respondents, 24 responded yes when asked if they had access to the city bus. Insurance does not cover any of these services. Healing Touch received the most interest with approximately 25% of the respondents stating they would pay cash for treatments.
Brown, C. The EEG in meditation and Therapeutic Touch healing. Journal of AlteredStates of Consciousness, 1977, 3, 169-180 RES?
Brown, Patricia Ricciuti. The Effects of Therapeutic Touch on Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting: A Pilot Study, MS, University of Nevada, Reno, 1981. RES
Bruce, E. Effects of Therapeutic Touch and healing prayer on the serenity level of terminally ill oncology patients. (Master’s Thesis). D’Youville College 2004. RES
This study explored whether therapeutic touch, combined with healing prayer (TTHP), resulted in terminal oncology patients achieving a greater state of serenity as compared to those receiving only healing prayer (HP) or therapeutic touch (TT), and a significantly greater serenity level when compared to the control group (CG). Descriptive statistics preceded the interventions to determine whether differences existed between the T group's level of serenity than the TT, HP, and CG's serenity levels. Administration of the Serenity Scale (Roberts & Aspy 1993) to a sample of 40 terminal oncology patients provided statistical results that patients who received HP and TT achieved greater serenity levels post intervention, and significantly greater levels of serenity than those patients assigned to the CG.
Bryant, JP. Therapeutic Touch in home healthcare: one nurse’s experience, Home Health Nurse, 1996, 14, 580-596. MAR
ABSTRACT: Therapeutic Touch is an alternative healing modality that is gaining acceptance. Home healthcare nurses have a unique opportunity to use this nursing intervention in their practice while working in the comfort of the patient’s environment. A nurse describes how it has affected her patients’ and her own well-being.
Bucholtz, Randi Anderson, The use of Reiki therapy in the treatment of pain in rheumatoid arthritis, University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh: M.S. in Nursing-Family Nurse Practitioner 1996. RES
Bunnell, Toni. The Effect of hands-on healing on enzyme activity, Research in Complementary Medicine, 1996, 3(265-340), 309. RES
ABSTRACT: “This study was conducted in an attempt to determine whether “healing with intent” could be shown to exert an effect on pepsin enzyme activity which, if proven, might serve to raise the credibility of healing as a bona fied therapy. The ability of healing to influence enzyme activity was chosen as a method of assessment as it eliminated the possibility of the placebo effect, which is often encountered when using human subjects. The rate of breakdown of egg albumen by a 1% pepsin solution was followed…Across 20 separate trials the reaction rate of the enzyme sample “healed with intent” was found to be significantly greater than the unhealed sample (P = 0.03).”
The healing intent was provided by a NFSH (UK) trained, Reiki healer, holding the test tubes in the hand.
Bunnell, Toni. The effect of “healing with intent” on peak expiratory flow rates in asthmatics, Subtle Energies, 2002, 13(1), 75-89. RES
ABSTRACT: This study was conducted in order to determine whether “healing with intent” (HWI) could be demonstrated to exert a beneficial effect on peak expiratory flow rates (PEFR) in diagnosed asthmatics. In 22 asthmatics who received HWI, for a ten-minute period, their PEFR was found to improve significantly (p = 0.009), while 18 of these sub jects who returned a week after the first session showed still further improvement (p = 0.003). No significant changes was observed in the 26 non-asthmatics that received HWI following either the treatment or control sessionl. These results sugges that the delivery of HWI, for ten minutes, to people with asthma, produces a significant improvement in breathing efficiency, using peak expiratory flow rate as an indication of lung function…
Bunnell, Toni. The effect of “healing with intent” on pepsin enzyme activity,Journal of Scientific Exploration, 1999, 13(2), 139-148. RES
Burgie-Van Ostran, L. Balancing the chakras through therapeutic touch.
(MA) 2004, Medical College Ohio. AAT 1420651RES
This study explored the use of Therapeutic Touch (TT) as a method to rebalance and restore harmony to the chakras. The characteristics of TT, chakras, and energy healing are discussed within the literature. Twenty-two women volunteered to participate in measurement of the direction, amplitude, and shape of their chakras with a bobber pendu1mn before and after TT intervention. Measurement variables were recorded on the chakra flowchart. Results from the direction measurement were analyzed using the McNemar statistical test. Amplitude and shape measurement results were compared using the Wilcoxon Matched Pairs test. All statistical tests were analyzed using SPSS software.
Constant comparison was used to explore the qualitative data. Results were clinically significant, as all participants had one or more chakra measurement change towards a healthier balanced chakra state. This was consistent with Rogers' Science of Unitary Human Beings conceptual framework.
Bush, A/ Geist, C. Geophysical variables and behavior: Testing electromagnetic explanations for a possible psychokinetic effect of Therapeutic Touch on germinating corn seed. Psychological Reports, 1992, 70, 891-896. RES
Byrd, Randolph C. Positive therapeutic effects of intercessory prayer in a coronary care population, Southern Medical Journal 1988, 81(7), 826-829. RES
C
Cabico, Lucila Levardo, A Phenomenological Study of the Experiences of Nurses Practicing Therapeutic Touch (Master's thesis), Buffalo, NY: D'Youville College 1993. Q
Cahn, H./ Muscle, N. Towards standardization of "laying-on" of hands investigation, Psychoenergetic Systems 1976, 1, 115-118. Yeast. RES
Callahan, S. Pekin nurse has the healing touch. Journal Star, Peoria, Ill, 1996, March 21. POP
Canning, Barry F. Spiritual concepts in therapeutic touch. M.A. dissertation, University of Newfoundland (Canada) 2002, MAl 41/03, p. 680, Jun 2003DISC
This work examines the partial acceptance by the Western medical establishment of Therapeutic Touch as a form of medical treatment in Western orthodox medicine. The primary focus of this thesis is on how Dolores Krieger, founder of TT, was able to successfully introduce this healing practice into Western medical establishments such as nursing schools, medical clinics, and hospitals, despite its basis in Eastern philosophical, metaphysical, and medical concepts such as prana, ch'i , chakras, and the theory of yin-yang . Therapeutic Touch emphasizes the concept of "human energy" transference, an idea borrowed from Eastern belief systems that suggest that humans are energy systems, interconnected with all things in the cosmos. Within Indian cultural context, for example, the concept of "human energy" has historically been known asprana. Within the cultural context of China, the term ch'i has been used to refer to human energy systems. Krieger borrows these concepts of "energy" to explain her own system of healing. By examining and comparing the work of Dolores Krieger with these Eastern concepts in their historical, philosophical and spiritual contexts, this work will illustrate how Dolores Krieger minimized, Westernized, and medicalized these concepts in order for the practice ofTherapeutic Touch to gain partial acceptance in the field of Western, allopathic medicine.
Cannon Ranch. Touching the spirit: The gentle power of Healing Touch. Cannon Ranch Connection 2005, 24(1), 12. POP
Casdorph, H. Richard, The Miracles, Plainfield, NJ, Logos International 1976.
This is the best published series of case studies of healing, mostly by the late Katherine Kuhlman, reviewed by a physician. OBS
Cassady, D. A descriptive, qualitative study on why registered nurses learn Healing Touch. Unpublished nursing research project, University of Phoenix, Arizona 2000. Q
Healing Touch research summaries of Diane Wardell
This qualitative, study describes why nine RN’s learn Healing Touch, in order to determine if it would be conducive to teach Healing Touch as part of the nursing curriculum to reduce stress and burnout, and promote self-care and professional development. The study did not find a strong correlation between RN’s taking Healing Touch due to stress and burnout and lack of self-care. There was a correlation between RN’s taking Healing Touch and professional development, however, the transformational process that occurs after taking Healing Touch seems to be more important than the why of wanting to learn it.
Castronova, Jerri/ Oleson, Terri: A comparison of supportive psychotherapy and laying-on-of-hands healing for chronic back pain patients, Alternative Medicine1991, 3(4), 217-226. RES
Chan, PS/ Wong, MM. Physicians and complementary-alternative medicine: Training, attitudes and practices in Hawaii. Hawaii Medical Journal, 2004, 63(6), 176-181 DISC
Chapman, C. Energy-Based Psychotherapy in the Context of the Theories of Caroline Myss. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Union Graduate School, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1998, (Data based). MAR
Healing Touch research summaries of Diane Wardell
In this dissertation research a multi-faceted eight-session case study examined the use of Spiritual-Energetic Psychotherapy from Myss’ theoretical system (medical intuition). Included in the case study were energetic assessments of the client, treatment modalities used, and explication of assessment and results based upon Myss’ theories and the clinician’s interpretive evaluation. The active participation of the client as well as her relationship to the divine and to her spiritual guides on the inner plane were integral to her healing.
Chen K/ He B. Preliminary studies of the effect of Qigong therapy on
cancer. J Non-Locality and Remote Mental Interactions. 2001, Vol 1, no. 1 URL:
www.emergentmind.org/chen.htm . RES
Chen, Kevin W/ Shiflett, Samuel C/ Ponzio, Nicholas M/ He, Binhui/ Elliott, Deborah K/ Keller, Steven E. A preliminary study of the effect of external qigong on lymphoma growth in mice, The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2002, 8(5), 615-621. RES
OBJECTIVE: To examine the effectiveness of external qigong on the in vivo growth of transplantable murine lymphoma cells in mice.
BACKGROUND: Qigong is a traditional Chinese health practice that is believed by many to have special preventive and healing power. Underlying the system is the belief in the existence of a subtle energy (qi), which circulates throughout the body, and when strengthened or balanced, can improve health and ward off or slow the progress of disease. To date, much of the literature showing the effects of qi are presented in the non-Western literature, and as such are viewed with considerable skepticism. In an attempt to demonstrate qi in a controlled setting, the effect of external qigong emission from a qigong healer on the in vivo growth of transplantable murine lymphoma cells in mice was explored in two pilot studies.
METHODS: In study 1, 30 SJL/J mice were injected intravenously with lymphoma cells that localize and exhibit aggressive growth in the lymphoid tissues of untreated syngeneic recipients. These tumor-injected mice were divided into 3 groups: (1) qigongtreatment (administered by a qigong healer); (2) sham treatment; and (3) no-treatment control. The sham group received the same number of treatments from a person without training in qigong, who imitated the motions of the qigong healer. The control group received no treatment at all. In study 1, the mice were sacrificed on the 9th or 11th days after tumor-cell injection, and in study 2, the mice were sacrificed on the 10th and 13th days. Tumor growth in lymph nodes (LN) was estimated by LN weight expressed as a percentage of total body weight.
RESULTS: In study 1, LNs from mice in the qigong-treated group were significantly smaller than LN from mice in either the control group or in the sham treatment group (p< 0.05), suggesting that there was less tumor growth in the qigong-treated mice. In study 2, using the same design as study 1, the same pattern of difference found in study 1 emerged: LN ratio from mice in the qigong-treated group was smaller than that in either the control group or in the sham group. However, these results did not reach statistical significance, partially as a result of larger variances in all groups in this study.
CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary results, while still inconclusive, suggest that qigongtreatment from one particular qigong practitioner might influence the growth of lymphoma cells negatively. Further studies with different practitioners, more repeated trials, and/or different tumor models are needed to further investigate the effects of external qigong on tumor growth in mice.
Christian, L. M. Therapeutic Touch for treatment of chronic pain related to fibromyalgia, Grand Valley State University 1999. RES
Therapeutic touch (TT) has been used to treat persons with many different illnesses, especially those with chronic pain. The purpose of this study was to determine if TT reduces fibromyalgia pain. In this study five TT treatments were given to each of 10 female subjects with fibromyalgia from 36 to 59 years old using a quasi-experimental single-subject design.
Using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) to measure the subject's pain before and after each of 5 TT treatments, a repeated measures ANOV A was employed to analyze the data. A significant difference in pain levels was found between the pre and posttest scores F(9,1) = 9.35, P = 0.01, supporting the hypothesis that TT decreased pain for fibromyalgia sufferers. No significant change was noted in consecutive pre-test pain levels, F(36,4) = 1.71, P = 0.17, showing no long term benefit from each TT treatment.
Christiano, C. The Lived Experience of Healing Touch with Cancer Patients. Unpublished master’s thesis, Florida International University, Miami, 1997, (Data based). QAL
Healing Touch research summaries of Diane Wardell
A distinct pattern of interactions that were nonlinear and permeated throughout the session was found between the Healing Touch Practitioner and the cancer participants in this phenomenological study. The patterns indicated that there was caring (for each other), connecting (to each other and themselves), opening (trust, receptibility, intuition), co-creating, and being-one-with (sense of bonding, being as one with each other).
Class, P. Holistic nursing touches patients. The Nursing Spectrum 1994, November 14. POP
Coakley, Amanda Bulette. Exploration of euergy expenditure between provider and recipient during a therapeutic touch (TT) treatment and the response to (TT) on healthy individuals. Ph.D.,2001, DAI-B 63/05, p. 2302, Nov 2002DISC
Therapeutic Touch (TT) is a complementary healing modality utilized by health care providers to reduce anxiety, accelerate relaxation, decrease pain, and boost the immune systems of clients. Although there is a standard in the literature as described by Krieger (1979), very little has been written about whether the core process of IT conforms to the standard and whether there are differences between the process as practiced in adults compared to children.
The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the core process of TT in adults and children as practiced and perceived by five professional nurses who had extensive experience as TT practitioners. This study applied the fieldwork techniques of in depth, semi structured interviews and focused participant observations to obtain the data, which led to a detailed description of the core process of TT in adults as compared to children.
Five nurse informants each treated one adult and one child for the study. The findings of the study demonstrate that there is one core process in adults and children with qualitative differences, which adheres to the standard practice described in the literature with the addition of the step of terminating or disconnecting. Preconditions for the treatment are identified. There are three phases depicted in the core process. Phase I includes the preparation for the treatment. The informants identified the practices of connecting, centering, and intentionality as necessary to prepare for TT. Phase II was the treatment phase, during which there are the most notable differences between adults and children. There is an orienting period, during which the nurses prepared the clients for the treatments. This is followed by assessing, treating, and reassessing the adult client. In children the assessing, treating, and reassessing occur more simultaneously than in adults, although in both age groups there is overlap within the treatment phase. The treatment ends with phase III, which the nurses described as disconnecting from the clients. Consequences and extraneous factors influencing the process are also identified.
Treatments in children were much shorter than in adults. Implications for future research, nursing knowledge development, and clinical nursing practice are discussed.
Cohen, John, Spiritual healing: a complementary role in general practice, Modern Medicine 1990 (Sep), 663-665. SURV
Coker C.L. An impact evaluation of a Therapeutic Touch continuing education activity. Masters Abstract International 1989.
Collinge, W/ Wentworth, R/ Shabo, S. Challenges and insights in the development of a complementary therapies program in a community mental health center.Rural Mental Health 2003, 28(2), 8-13. MAR
Collins, J. W. The effect of non-contact Therapeutic Touch on the relaxation response, (MA) Nashville, TN: Vanderbilt University 1983. RES
Collip, P. J. The efficacy of prayer: a triple blind study, Medical Times 1969, 97(5), 201-4. RES
Connor, M/ Schwartz, G/ Flores, M. “The use of triaxial elf magnetic field meter measurements as a predictor of capacity in energy medicine practitioners in a research setting.” Presented at World QiGong Congress, Nov, 2004. RES
Connor, Melinda, et al. Extraordinary healing using Resonance Modulation distance energy healing in T6 spinal paraplegia .Poster session, ISSSEEM meeting, Colorado Springs, CO 2004. CASE
Technical description: The subject had an onset of T6 Spinal Paraplegia due to an aortic dissection with episodes of emboli to spinal arteries in April 2003. In June 2003, probable maximum lifetime improvement was predicted to stabilize at the level of T9. After 5 months of daily Resonance Modulation Distance Energy Healing, the subject had functionality to level L5/ S1.
Layperson’s description: Blood flow was blocked by clots, causing paralysis starting in the mid-chest level and below. The anticipated maximal improvement was to the level of 3 vertebrae lower in the chest. With healing treatments, recovery after 5 months reached the lumbosacral junction.
Standard medical care without physical therapy was available to the subject from June 2003 until Feb 2004.
Methods: Resonance Modulation distance energy work sessions were begun Sept 12, 2003. Sessions consisted of daily 15 minute phone calls followed by a distance energy healing session with three day integrative breaks every three to four weeks as needed. Distance energy sessions focused on repairing the body tissues in a systematic manner using the resonance modulation model. In January 2004, two massage therapy sessions were done to facilitate the loosening of scar tissue in the back. Physical therapy was added in mid Feb of 2004, and sessions were done three times weekly.
Results: In Jan/Feb 2004, the subject was reassessed and it was determined through MRI and neurological examination that the subject had the subject had functionality to the level of L5/S1 and was continuing to improve.
Cook, CAL/ Guerrerio, JF/ Slater, VE. Healing Touch and quality of life in women receiving radiation treatments for cancer: a randomized controlled trial,Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 2004, 10(3), 24-41 (Data-based/Peer-reviewed). RES
Cooper, Rhonda Evelyn. The Effect of Therapeutic Touch on Irritable Bowel Syndrome. MSN, dissertation, Clarkson College, Nebraska 1997. RES
In this prospective, one-group, pretest-posttest study design, 29 women with Irritable Bowel Syndrome received therapeutic touch. Self-reported data were collected using daily health diaries for two weeks prior to receiving therapeutic touch and for the two weeks during which the therapeutic touch intervention was performed. The conceptual framework for this study was based on Rogers’ science of unitary human beings. An analysis of data collected during the study indicated that the intervention reduced seven IBS symptoms. Abdominal pain was reduced at a statistically significant level of .05. Flatulence was not reduced; in fact it increased. It was recommended that a replication of this study be conducted to address the design limitations: a larger sample size, longer treatment time, measurement of the treatment after the interventions, and stricter eligibility requirements. MAR
Cooper, Wendy Ellen Copeland M.A., Meanings of Intuition in Nurses' Work, University of Victoria (Canada) 1994. Q
Cooperstein, Allan, The myths of healing: a summary of research into transpersonal healing experiences, Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research 1992, 86, 99-133.
Also as: The Myths of Healing: A Descriptive Analysis of Transpersonal Healing, Doctoral dissertation, Saybrook Institute, California 1990. Q
Coppa, D. A. The internal process of therapeutic touch as nursing action. (Doctoral Dissertation) University of Rhode Island 2002. Q
Therapeutic Touch (TT) is a complementary healing modality utilized by health care providers to reduce anxiety, accelerate relaxation, decrease pain, and boost the immune systems of clients. Although there is a standard in the literature as described by Krieger (1979), very little has been written about whether the core process of TT conforms to the standard and whether there are differences between the processes as practiced in adults compared to children.
The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the core process of TT in adults and children as practiced and perceived by five professional nurses who had extensive experience as TT practitioners. This study applied the fieldwork techniques of in depth, semi structured interviews and focused participant observations to obtain the data, which led to a detailed description of the core process of TT in adults as compared to children.
Five nurse informants each treated one adult and one child for the study. The findings of the study demonstrate that there is one core process in adults and children with qualitative differences, which adheres to the standard practice described in the literature with the addition of the step of terminating or disconnecting. Preconditions for the treatment are identified. There are three phases depicted in the core process. Phase I includes the preparation for the treatment. The informants identified the practices of connecting, centering, and intentionality as necessary to prepare for TT. Phase II was the treatment phase, during which there are the most notable differences between adults and children. There is an orienting period, during which the nurses prepared the clients for the treatments. This is followed by assessing, treating, and reassessing the adult client. In children the assessing, treating, and reassessing occur more simultaneously than in adults, although in both age groups there is overlap within the treatment phase. The treatment ends with phase III, which the nurses described as disconnecting from the clients. Consequences and extraneous factors influencing the process are also identified.
Treatments in children were much shorter than in adults. Implications for future research, nursing knowledge development, and clinical nursing practice are discussed.
Cordes, P/ Proffitt, C/ Roth, J. The Effect of Healing Touch Therapy on the Pain and Joint Mobility Experiences by Patients with Total Knee Replacements. (Abstract) Healing Touch Research Survey, June 2002 Lakewood CO: Healing Touch International, Inc. (Data based). RES
Healing Touch research summaries of Diane Wardell
Using a three-group design, a sample of 48 patients was investigated for the effects of Healing Touch on the pain and joint mobility with total knee replacement. Before and after the Healing Touch and mock HT interventions the patients were assessed for pain and knee joint mobility. Analysis of the data indicated no significant differences in pre and post pain scores or total pain medication and knee joint mobility. Further investigation showed that, when each individual in each group was compared on day 1 and 2 post operatively the average increase in mobility was 30.6% greater in the Healing Touch group than the standard therapy group and 27.0% greater in the mock HT group.
Cox C/ Hayes J. Physiologic and psychodynamic responses to the administration of therapeutic touch in critical care, Complementary Therapies in Nursing and Midwifery, 1999, 5(3), 87-92. RES
Recent publications have questioned the efficacy of therapeutic touch (TT). The focus of attention has been on substantiating the existence of the recipient's energy field rather than on the physiologic and psychodynamic responses to TT. In this article the physiologic and psychodynamic responses during and following the administration of TT is described. The project involved the implementation of a time series design in which the physiologic and psychodynamic responses were measured. It is acknowledged that critical care environments are stressful for patients in terms of invasive medical and nursing procedures. Continuous bright lighting, and excessive noise prohibits the potential for relaxation ansleep. Within this context, the control of confounding variables was not possible, and therefore not an object of concern in the study. Rather the responses to TT in the natural setting were of importance to discern. Statistical repeated measures analysis of variance (one way) indicated there was no significant difference between pre-, during and post-physiologic variables in response to TT. However psychodynamic responses demonstrated significant correlation's in terms of relaxation and sleep. The non significance of physiologic change in variables pre-, during and post-administration of TT indicates critically ill patients remained physiologically stable. Significant correlations of psychodynamic responses demonstrated it is possible for critically ill patients to experience periods of relaxation and sleep in an otherwise stressful environment. TT was found to be a useful therapy to enhance relaxation and sleep in critically ill patients.
Cox C/ Hayes J. Experiences of administering and receiving Therapeutic Touch in intensive care, Complementary Therapies in Nursing and Midwifery, 1998, 4, 128-132. QAL
ABSTRACT: This article describes the experiences of a practitioner who administered Therapeutic Touch (TT) to two patients in an intensive care unit and the experiences of the two patients who received TT. TT is recommended as a practice which could contribute to the psychological well-being of patients in intensive care as it promotes relaxation, comfort and a sense of peace.
Cox, CL/Hayes, JA. Reducing anxiety: the employment of Therapeutic Touch as a nursing intervention. Complementary Therapies in Nursing and Midwifery,1997, 3, 163-167. DISC
Cox T. Transgressing the boundaries of science: Glazer, scepticism, and Emily's experiment, Nurs Philos., 2004, 5(1), 75-8. DISC
Cox T. A nurse-statistician reanalyzes data from the Rosa therapeutic touch study, Altern Ther Health Med, 2003, 9(1):58-64. RES
This article presents a reanalysis of data used to support the work of Emily Rosa's Therapeutic Touch (TT) science fair project published as an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in 1998. The purpose of this article is to take a closer look at the assumptions, data, statistical procedures, and conclusions of the JAMA article. This is accomplished by focusing on (1) the conclusion that there was no overall effect of TT, (2) the conclusion that TT practitioners did not perform better depending on which hand was used, and (3) the assumptions about the capability of Rosa's experiment to validate an existing skill. Reanalysis of the Rosa data suggests contradictions to the authors' conclusions. Based on this reanalysis, the authors' recommendations against the use of TT can and should be challenged because of inappropriate design and analysis as well as incorrect statistical assumptions and conclusions.
Crawford, Cindy C/ Jonas, Wayne B/ Nelson, Roger/ Wirkus, Margaret/ Wirkus, Mietek. Alterations in random event measures associated with a healing practice,The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2003, 9(3), 345-353. RES
“In the presence of a healer, an REG produced greater than chance excursions more often than a control REG in a library setting. The [REG recordings during] healing and nonhealing phases demonstrated inconsistent results. REG deviations were not influenced by the amount of attention directed toward the machine.”
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether alterations in random events, as measured by a Random event generator (REG), occur in association with a bioenergy healing practice.
DESIGN AND SETTING: Two REGs were set up and run in parallel: one in a bioenergy healer's office and another at a local library as a control. Two multiday sets of data were collected in each setting. A third set was collected in which a reduced amount of attention was placed on the REG by the healer. REG excursions were calculated and compared for (1) overall days in the library and bioenergy healer's office, (2) healing and nonhealing phases in the healing office, and (3) overall excursions during high(sets 1 and 2) and low attention (set 3) by the healer.
RESULTS: The library REG produced excursions outside the 95% confidence interval (CI) on 35 of 61 days (58%), and the REG in the healing practice 47 of 51 days (92%) (mean difference, 34%; 95% CI, 18% to 49%;;xl = 16.3,1 df, P <0.0005). In the healer's office, 0.6496 excursions per segment for healing phases and 0.6548 excursions per segment for nonhealing phases were shown (t = -1.3,6794 df P = 0.182). A comparison with chance expectation derived from Monte Carlo runs showed significantly less mean excursions per segment (t = -7.8, 36625 df P <0.0005) for healing phases and no difference in nonhealing phases (t = -0.16,6309 df P = 0.872). There was no significant difference in excursions between the high-and low-attention situations in the healing practice.
CONCLUSIONS: In the presence of a healer, an REG produced greater than chance excursions more often than a control REG in a library setting. The healing and nonhealing phases demonstrated inconsistent results. REG deviations were not influenced by the amount of attention directed toward the machine.
Creath, Katherine/ Schwartz, Gary E. Measuring effects of healing energy on plant leaves using biophoton imaging, Presented at the 14th Annual ISSSEEM Conference, 24-30 June 2004. RES
Creath, Katherine/ Schwartz, Gary E. Measuring effects of music, noise, and healing energy using a seed germination bioassay, The Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine, 2004, 10(1), 113-122. RES
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To measure biologic effects of music, noise, and healing energy without human preferences or placebo effects using seed germination as an objective biomarker.
METHODS: A series of five experiments were performed utilizing okra and zucchini seeds germinated in acoustically shielded, thermally insulated, dark, humid growth chambers. Conditions compared were an untreated control, musical sound, pink noise, and healing energy. Healing energy was administered for 15-20 minutes every 12 hours with the intention that the treated seeds would germinate faster than the untreated seeds. The objective marker was the number of seeds sprouted out of groups of 25 seeds counted at 12-hour intervals over a 72-hour growing period. Temperature and relative humidity were monitored every 15 minutes inside the seed germination containers. A total of 14 trials were run testing a total of 4600 seeds.
RESULTS: Musical sound had a highly statistically significant effect on the number of seeds sprouted compared to the untreated control over all five experiments for the main condition (p < 0.002) and over time (p < 0.000002). This effect was independent of temperature, seed type, position in room, specific petri dish, and person doing the scoring. Musical sound had a significant effect compared to noise and an untreated control as a function of time (p < 0.03) while there was no significant difference between seeds exposed to noise and an untreated control. Healing energy also had a significant effect compared to an untreated control (main condition, p < 0.0006) and over time (p < 0.0001) with a magnitude of effect comparable to that of musical sound.
CONCLUSION: This study suggests that sound vibrations (music and noise) as well as biofields (bioelectro-magnetic and healing intention) both directly affect living biologic systems, and that a seed germination bioassay has the sensitivity to enable detection of effects caused by various applied energetic conditions.