Is It Possible To Heal Someone With Touch?

Few therapies are more controversial than the ones known collectively as ‘energy medicine’. The term became popular in the late 1980s to describe medical interventions thought to influence energy fields (also called biofields) surrounding living organisms and the flow of vital energy through the body’s cells, tissues and organs.

These fields and flows can be impaired, practitioners believe, by physical or mental trauma. Energy medicine aims to rebalance these fields in order to restore physical and mental health. Some describe the process as an exchange of energy between the healer and the patient.

If this sounds far-fetched, keep in mind that measurable forms of energy have a long-respected position in medicine. Radiation and sound waves, for example, can be used to destroy tumours or break apart kidney stones. The contentious types of energy medicine are those that deal with unmeasurable – and, some argue, non-existent – forms of energy. These include qi in traditional Chinese medicine, prana in traditional Indian medicine (Ayurveda), and ‘subtle energy’ in the West.

At right, we explore two forms that are popular today:

Healing Touch 

Founded in 1989 by an American nurse, Healing Touch typically involves a 10- to 40-minute session in which a practitioner passes their hands over a patient’s body to sense imbalances. Patients remain fully clothed, either seated or lying down, and the practitioner uses gentle touch or near-body sweeping motions to re-establish biofield balance. Some studies have suggested that Healing Touch can reduce pain from spinal cord injuries and other types of chronic pain. To find a certified practitioner, visit healingtouch.org.au.

Reiki

A modality developed in Japan in 1922, Reiki is similar to Healing Touch in that the patient remains clothed and the practitioner’s hands are placed lightly on or above the body. Sessions are longer, however, up to 90 minutes, and Reiki is regarded as both a spiritual and an energetic form of healing. Indeed, a few studies indicate potential usefulness in alleviating pain and depression. To find a trained practitioner, visit the International Association of Reiki
Professionals website at iarp.org.

Here's My Take On Energy Medicine 

The fact that conventional medicine doesn’t recognise qi, prana or other subtle energies doesn’t mean these energy medicine practices don’t work. In fact, whether by manipulating energy fields and flow or by using a patient’s beliefs (the placebo effect), there’s evidence that they can offer significant benefit without serious side effects. I firmly believe that the greater the potential of a treatment to cause harm, the stricter the standard should be for evidence that it works. Because energy medicine practices have an excellent record of safety, I see no danger in using them to address non-life-threatening conditions such as postoperative or chronic pain. For more serious conditions, they may be able to serve as adjunctive treatments to conventional therapies.