The Science Behind Energy
Therapies and Healing Touch

The fundamental paradigm of Western medicine is changing. Medical professionals are shifting the healthcare model to focus on the whole human being — physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Under this new model, interest in energy therapies like Healing Touch has increased, as has the desire of researchers to prove its efficacy. This research interest has lead to a new area of study called Biofield Research, which includes the vital human energy system on which Healing Touch is based.

Research on energy therapies is relatively new, yet there are well over 100 peer-reviewed studies that indicate reduction of pain, fatigue, depression, anxiety, side effects of cancer treatments, and stress when HT is added to the care model. These studies also show increased comfort during post-operative recovery.

Researching Healing Touch is challenging since the exact mechanism of action cannot be seen or easily explained. The Healing Touch certification organization, Healing Touch International (dba Healing Beyond Borders), has carried out research programs, which are available on their website: Healing Beyond Borders. Universities and medical schools have also embraced energy healing research, increasing the number of available research papers.

As the number of studies increase, the number of tools available to measure the impact of Healing Touch have also increased. Advances made by organizations like Heart Math have shown that adding “heart” — a key tenet of HT — to daily activities and connections produces measurable benefits to well-being. A key initiative is gaining acceptance by physicians who are often unfamiliar with integrative therapies including HT.

Energy therapies are complementary therapies used in conjunction with traditional medical treatments to promote well-being. They are based on the belief that a vital energy flows in and around the human body. When energy flows evenly and in harmony, the body works more efficiently to maintain health and resilience. Energy flows can be negatively impacted by a variety of things:

• Physiological stimuli — stress, anxiety, fear, frustration, depression, and grief

• Strong emotions — negativity, anger, jealousy, and hate

• Environmental pollution — devitalized food, microwaves, chemical exposure, drugs, noise, and radiation

• Injuries and illness

The goal of energy therapies is to balance and restore harmony to a person’s energy field to enable the body’s innate self-healing to occur. Healing Touch works in conjunction with standard medical care — not in place of — and can be easily built into the patient’s comprehensive treatment plan.

Healing Touch — A Scientifically Proven Energy Therapy

• HT Providers use gentle touch at key points on (or just above) the body to increase or redirect energy flow.

• There is no massage or manipulation of the body with HT; Participants are fully clothed throughout the session.

• HT restores balance in our natural biofield without use of pharmaceuticals. All that is needed is an open heart, hands, and a willing spirit.

• HT is an easy, convenient, relaxing, and peaceful therapy with long lasting effects.

• Due to the well documented, scientifically recognized importance of mind-body healing, HT services are offered in many of the nation’s premier cancer care institutions and hospitals Including Stanford, Georgetown, MD Anderson, Sloan-Kettering, etc.

• HT is recognized by:

  The National Institutes of Health

  The American Nurses Credentialing Center

  The American Holistic Nurses Association

  Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
  

Resources To Learn More About Energy Healing

• The Consciousness and Healing Initiative is an international collaborative group of scientists, health practitioners, innovators, and educators who research and share their knowledge of consciousness and integrative therapies: chi.is

• The National Institute of Health has created The National Library of Medicine, a leader in research in biomedical informatics and data science. It is the world’s largest biomedical library. Research papers on Healing Touch can be found at National Library of Medicine.

• You can find more scientific research by typing “Healing Touch research studies” in your web browser.

• Healing Touch and Intention Resources and The Human Energy Field are downloadable handouts that draw from the leaders in the field of energy healing and demonstrate how the human energy system works together as mind, body, and spirit.
  

Suggested Reading

A variety of authors are leading the way in helping us understand the science behind energy work. If interested in reading about energy healing here are some suggested authors and books to get you started: 

• William Bengston, PhD — The Energy Cure, Unraveling the Mystery of Hands-on Healing

• Shamini Jain, PhD — Healing Ourselves, Biofield Science and the Future of Health

• James L. Oschman, PhD — Energy Medicine, The Scientific Basis

• Bruce Lipton, PhD — The Biology of Belief: Unleashing the Power of Consciousness, Matter and Miracles

• Brugh Joy —   Joy’s Way, A Map for the Transformational Journey: An Introduction to the Potentials for Healing with Body Energies  

• Dr. Sue Morter —  The Energy Codes: The 7-Step System to Awaken Your Spirit, Heal Your Body, and Live Your Best Life

• Diane Wardell, PhD, RN; Sue Kagel, BSN, RN; Lisa Anselme, BI.S, RN  —  Healing Touch: Enhancing Life through Energy Therapy 

• Joan Borysenko, PhD — The Power of the Mind to Heal: Renewing Body,
  Mind and Spirit