The best patient introductory guide to energy medicine
Introduction
Energy medicine is a domain in CAM that deals with energy fields of two types1:
- Veritable, which can be measured
- Putative, which have yet to be measured
The veritable energies employ mechanical vibrations (such as sound) and electromagnetic forces, including visible light, magnetism, monochromatic radiation (such as laser beams), and rays from other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. They involve the use of specific, measurable wavelengths and frequencies to treat patients.2
In contrast, putative energy fields (also called biofields) have defied measurement to date by reproducible methods. Therapies involving putative energy fields are based on the concept that human beings are infused with a subtle form of energy. This vital energy or life force is known under different names in different cultures, such as qiIn traditional Chinese medicine, the vital energy or life force proposed to regulate a person's spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical health and to be influenced by the opposing forces of yin and yang. in traditional Chinese medicineA whole medical system that originated in China. It is based on the concept that disease results from disruption in the flow of qi and imbalance in the forces of yin and yang. Practices such as herbs, meditation, massage, and acupuncture seek to aid healing by restoring the yin-yang balance and the flow of qi. (TCM), ki in the Japanese Kampo system, doshas in Ayurvedic medicineA whole medical system that originated in India. It aims to integrate the body, mind, and spirit to prevent and treat disease. Therapies used include herbs, massage, and yoga., and elsewhere as prana, etheric energy, fohat, orgone, odic force, mana, and homeopathic resonance.3 Vital energy is believed to flow throughout the material human body, but it has not been unequivocally measured by means of conventional instrumentation. Nonetheless, therapists claim that they can work with this subtle energy, see it with their own eyes, and use it to effect changes in the physical body and influence health.
Practitioners of energy medicine believe that illness results from disturbances of these subtle energies (the biofieldAn energy field that is proposed to surround and flow throughout the human body and play a role in health. Biofields have not been measured by conventional instruments. Reiki and qi gong are examples of therapies that involve biofields.). For example, more than 2,000 years ago, Asian practitioners postulated that the flow and balance of life energies are necessary for maintaining health and described tools to restore them. Herbal medicine, acupunctureA family of procedures that originated in traditional Chinese medicine. Acupuncture is the stimulation of specific points on the body by a variety of techniques, including the insertion of thin metal needles though the skin. It is intended to remove blockages in the flow of qi and restore and maintain health., acupressureA type of acupuncture that stimulates specific points on the body using pressure applied by the hands., moxibustionIn traditional Chinese medicine, the use of heat from burning the herb moxa on or near the skin at an acupuncture point. Intended to stimulate the flow of qi and restore health., and cupping, for example, are all believed to act by correcting imbalances in the internal biofield, such as by restoring the flow of qi through meridians to reinstate health. Some therapists are believed to emit or transmit the vital energy (external qi) to a recipient to restore health.4
Examples of practices involving putative energy fields include:
- Reiki and Johrei, both of Japanese origin
- Qi gong, a Chinese practice
- Healing touch, in which the therapist is purported to identify imbalances and correct a client's energy by passing his or her hands over the patient
- Intercessory prayer, in which a person intercedes through prayer on behalf of another
In the aggregate, these approaches are among the most controversial of CAM practices because neither the external energy fields nor their therapeutic effects have been demonstrated convincingly by any biophysical means. Yet, energy medicine is gaining popularity in the American marketplace and has become a subject of investigations at some academic medical centers. A recent National Center for Health Statistics survey indicated that approximately 1 percent of the participants had used ReikiA therapy in which practitioners seek to transmit a universal energy to a person, either from a distance or by placing their hands on or near that person. The intent is to heal the spirit and thus the body., 0.5 percent had used qi gongA component of traditional Chinese medicine that combines movement, meditation, and controlled breathing. The intent is to improve blood flow and the flow of qi., and 4.6 percent had used some kind of healing ritual.5
Scope of the Research
Veritable Energy Medicine
There
are many well-established uses for the application of measurable energy
fields to diagnose or treat diseases: electromagnetic fields in
magnetic resonance imaging, cardiac pacemakers, radiation therapy,
ultraviolet light for psoriasis, laser keratoplasty, and more. There
are many other claimed uses as well. The ability to deliver
quantifiable amounts of energies across the electromagnetic spectrum is
an advantage to studies of their mechanisms and clinical effects. For
example, both static and pulsating electromagnetic therapies have been
employed.2
Magnetic Therapy
Static
magnets have been used for centuries in efforts to relieve pain or to
obtain other alleged benefits (e.g., increased energy). Numerous
anecdotal reports have indicated that individuals have experienced
significant, and at times dramatic, relief of pain after the
application of static magnets over a painful area. Although the
literature on the biological effects of magnetic fields is growing,
there is a paucity of data from well-structured, clinically sound
studies. However, there is growing evidence that magnetic fields can
influence physiological processes. It has recently been shown that
static magnetic fields affect the microvasculature of skeletal muscle.6
Microvessels that are initially dilated respond to a magnetic field by
constricting, and microvessels that are initially constricted respond
by dilating. These results suggest that static magnetic fields may have
a beneficial role in treating edema or ischemic conditions, but there
is no proof that they do.
Pulsating electromagnetic therapy has been in use for the past 40 years. A well-recognized and standard use is to enhance the healing of nonunion fractures. It also has been claimed that this therapy is effective in treating osteoarthritis, migraine headaches, multiple sclerosis, and sleep disorders.2 Some animal and cell culture studies have been conducted to elucidate the basic mechanism of the pulsating electromagnetic therapy effect, such as cell proliferation and cell-surface binding for growth factors. However, detailed data on the mechanisms of action are still lacking.
Millimeter Wave Therapy
Low-power
millimeter wave (MW) irradiation elicits biological effects, and
clinicians in Russia and other parts of Eastern Europe have used it in
past decades to treat a variety of conditions, ranging from skin
diseases and wound healing to various types of cancer, gastrointestinal
and cardiovascular diseases, and psychiatric illnesses.7 In spite of an increasing number of in vivo and in vitro
studies, the nature of MW action is not well understood. It has been
shown, for example, that MW irradiation can augment T-cell mediated
immunity in vitro.8
However, the mechanisms by which MW irradiation enhances T-cell
functions are not known. Some studies indicate that pretreating mice
with naloxone may block the hypoalgesic and antipruritic effects of MW
irradiation, suggesting that endogenous opioids are involved in MW
therapy-induced hypoalgesia.9
Theoretical and experimental data show that nearly all the MW energy is
absorbed in the superficial layers of skin, but it is not clear how the
energy absorbed by keratinocytes, the main constituents of epidermis,
is transmitted to elicit the therapeutic effect.10 It is also unclear whether MW yields clinical effects beyond a placebo response.
Sound Energy Therapy
Sound
energy therapy, sometimes referred to as vibrational or frequency
therapy, includes music therapy as well as wind chime and tuning fork
therapy. The presumptive basis of its effect is that specific sound
frequencies resonate with specific organs of the body to heal and
support the body. Music therapy has been the most studied among these
interventions, with studies dating back to the 1920s, when it was
reported that music affected blood pressure.11
Other studies have suggested that music can help reduce pain and
anxiety. Music and imagery, alone and in combination, have been used to
entrain mood states, reduce acute or chronic pain, and alter certain
biochemicals, such as plasma beta-endorphin levels.12 These uses of energy fields truly overlap with the domain of mind-body medicinePractices
that focus on the interactions among the brain, mind, body, and
behavior, with the intent to use the mind to affect physical
functioning and promote health. Examples include meditation and yoga.. (For more information, see NCCAM's backgrounder "Mind-Body Medicine: An Overview.")
Light Therapy
Light
therapy is the use of natural or artificial light to treat various
ailments, but unproven uses of light extend to lasers, colors, and
monochromatic lights. High-intensity light therapyThe use of natural or artificial light -- including colored light and high-intensity light -- for health purposes.
has been documented to be useful for seasonal affective disorder, with
less evidence for its usefulness in the treatment of more general forms
of depression and sleep disorders.13
Hormonal changes have been detected after treatment. Although low-level
laser therapy is claimed to be useful for relieving pain, reducing
inflammation, and helping to heal wounds, strong scientific proof of
these effects is still needed.14
Energy Medicine Involving Putative Energy Fields
The
concept that sickness and disease arise from imbalances in the vital
energy field of the body has led to many forms of therapy. In TCM, a
series of approaches are taken to rectify the flow of qi, such as
herbal medicine, acupuncture (and its various versions), qi gong, diet,
and behavior changes.
Acupuncture
Of these approaches,
acupuncture is the most prominent therapy to promote qi flow along the
meridians. Acupuncture has been extensively studied and has been shown
to be effective in treating some conditions, particularly certain forms
of pain.1
However, its mechanism of action remains to be elucidated. The main
threads of research on acupuncture have shown regional effects on
neurotransmitter expression, but have not validated the existence of an
"energy" per se.
Qi Gong
Qi gong, another energy
modality that purportedly can restore health, is practiced widely in
the clinics and hospitals of China. Most of the reports were published
as abstracts in Chinese, which makes accessing the information
difficult. But Sancier has collected more than 2,000 records in his qi
gong database which indicates that qi gong has extensive health
benefits on conditions ranging from blood pressure to asthma.15
The reported studies, however, are largely anecdotal case series and
not randomized controlled trials. Few studies have been conducted
outside China and reported in peer-reviewed journals in English. There
have been no large clinical trials.
Whole Medical Systems and Energy Medicine
Although
modalities such as acupuncture and qi gong have been studied
separately, TCM uses combinations of treatments (e.g., herbs,
acupuncture, and qi gong) in practice. Similarly, Ayurvedic medicine
uses combinations of herbal medicine, yoga, meditationA
conscious mental process using certain techniques -- such as focusing
attention or maintaining a specific posture -- to suspend the stream of
thoughts and relax the body and mind., and other approaches
to restore vital energy, particularly at the chakra energy centers.
(For more information on TCM and Ayurvedic medicine, see NCCAM's
backgrounder "Whole Medical Systems: An Overview.")
Homeopathy
One Western approach with implications for energy medicine is homeopathyA
whole medical system that originated in Europe. Homeopathy seeks to
stimulate the body's ability to heal itself by giving very small doses
of highly diluted substances that in larger doses would produce illness
or symptoms (an approach called "like cures like")..
Homeopaths believe that their remedies mobilize the body's vital force
to orchestrate coordinated healing responses throughout the organism.
The body translates the information on the vital force into local
physical changes that lead to recovery from acute and chronic diseases.16
Homeopaths use their assessment of the deficits in vital force to guide
dose (potency) selection and treatment pace, and to judge the likely
clinical course and prognosis. Homeopathic medicine is based on the
principle of similars, and remedies are often prescribed in high
dilutions. In most cases, the dilution may not contain any molecules of
the original agents at all. As a consequence, homoeopathic remedies, at
least when applied in high dilutions, cannot act by pharmacological
means. Theories for a potential mechanism of action invoke the
homeopathic solution, therefore, postulating that information is stored
in the dilution process by physical means. Other than a study reported
by the Benveniste laboratory17
and other smaller studies, this hypothesis has not been supported by
scientific research. There have been numerous clinical studies of
homeopathic approaches, but systematic reviews point out the overall
poor quality and inconsistency of these studies.18
Therapeutic Touch and Related Practices
Numerous
other practices have evolved over the years to promote or maintain the
balance of vital energy fields in the body. Examples of these
modalities include Therapeutic TouchA
therapy in which practitioners pass their hands over another person's
body with the intent to use their own perceived healing energy to
identify energy imbalances and promote health., healing touch, Reiki, Johrei, vortex healing, and polarity therapy.3
All these modalities involve movement of the practitioner's hands over
the patient's body to become attuned to the condition of the patient,
with the idea that by so doing, the practitioner is able to strengthen
and reorient the patient's energies.
Many small studies of Therapeutic Touch have suggested its effectiveness in a wide variety of conditions, including wound healing, osteoarthritis, migraine headaches, and anxiety in burn patients. In a recent meta-analysis of 11 controlled Therapeutic Touch studies, 7 controlled studies had positive outcomes, and 3 showed no effect; in one study, the control group healed faster than the Therapeutic Touch group.19 Similarly, Reiki and Johrei practitioners claim that the therapies boost the body's immune system, enhance the body's ability to heal itself, and are beneficial for a wide range of problems, such as stress-related conditions, allergies, heart conditions, high blood pressure, and chronic pain.20 However, there has been little rigorous scientific research. Overall, these therapies have impressive anecdotal evidence, but none has been proven scientifically to be effective.
Distant Healing
Proponents
of energy field therapies also claim that some of these therapies can
act across long distances. For example, the long-distance effects of
external qi gong have been studied in China and summarized in the book Scientific Qigong Exploration, which has been translated into English.21
The studies reported various healing cases and described the nature of
qi as bidirectional, multifunctional, adaptable to targets, and capable
of effects over long distances. But none of these claims has been
independently verified. Another form of distant healingThe
use of prayer, Reiki, or other therapies directed across long distances
with the intent to heal a person who is not in the physical presence of
the practitioner. is intercessory prayer, in which a person
prays for the healing of another person who is a great distance away,
with or without that person's knowledge. Review of eight nonrandomized
and nine randomized clinical trials published between 2000 and 2002
showed that the majority of the more rigorous trials do not support the
hypothesis that distant intercessory prayer has specific therapeutic
effects.22
Physical Properties of Putative Energy Fields
There
has always been an interest in detecting and describing the physical
properties of putative energy fields. Kirlian photography, aura
imaging, and gas discharge visualization are approaches for which
dramatic and unique differences before and after therapeutic energy
attunements or treatments have been claimed.23
However, it is not clear what is being detected or photographed. Early
results demonstrated that gamma radiation levels markedly decreased
during therapy sessions in 100 percent of subjects and at every body
site tested, regardless of which therapist performed the treatment.
Recently replicated studies identified statistically significant
decreases in gamma rays emitted from patients during alternative
healing sessions with trained practitioners.
It has been hypothesized that the body's primary gamma emitter, potassium-40 (K40), represents a "self-regulation" of energy within the body and the surrounding electromagnetic field.24 The body's energy adjustment may result, in part, from the increased electromagnetic fields surrounding the hands of the healers. Furthermore, an extremely sensitive magnetometer called a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) has been claimed to measure large frequency-pulsing biomagnetic fields emanating from the hands of Therapeutic Touch practitioners during therapy.25 In one study, a simple magnetometer measured and quantified similar frequency-pulsing biomagnetic fields from the hands of meditators and practitioners of yoga and qi gong. These fields were 1,000 times greater than the strongest human biomagnetic field and were in the same frequency range as those being tested in medical research laboratories for use in speeding the healing process of certain biological tissues.26 This range is low energy and extremely low frequency, spanning from 2 Hz to 50 Hz. However, there are considerable technical problems in such research. For example, SQUID measurement must be conducted under a special shielded environment, and the connection between electromagnetic field increases and observed healing benefits reported in the current literature is missing.
Other studies of putative energies suggested that energy fields from one person can overlap and interact with energy fields of other people. For example, when individuals touch, one person's electrocardiographic signal is registered in the other person's electroencephalogram (EEG) and elsewhere on the other person's body.27 In addition, one individual's cardiac signal can be registered in another's EEG recording when two people sit quietly opposite one another.
Additional Theories
Thus far, electromagnetic
energy has been demonstrated and postulated to be the energy between
bioenergy healers and patients. However, the exact nature of this
energy is not clear. Among the range of ideas emerging in this field is
the theory of a Russian researcher who recently hypothesized that
"torsion fields" exist and that they can be propagated through space at
no less than 109 times the speed of light in vacuum; that
they convey information without transmitting energy; and that they are
not required to obey the superposition principle.28
There are other extraordinary claims and observations recorded in the literature. For example, one report claimed that accomplished meditators were able to imprint their intentions on electrical devices (IIED), which when placed in a room for 3 months, would elicit these intentions, such as changes in pH and temperature, in the room even when the IIED was removed from the room.29 Another claim is that water will crystallize into different forms and appearances under the influence of written intentions or types of music.30
For research, questions remain about which of the above theories and approaches can be and should be addressed using existing technologies, and how.
References
- Berman JD, Straus SE. Implementing a research agenda for complementary and alternative medicine. Annual Review of Medicine. 2004;55:239-254.
- Vallbona C, Richards T. Evolution of magnetic therapy from alternative to traditional medicine. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America. 1999;10(3):729-754.
- Hintz KJ, Yount GL, Kadar I, et al. Bioenergy definitions and research guidelines. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. 2003;9(suppl 3):A13-A30.
- Chen KW, Turner FD. A case study of simultaneous recovery from multiple physical symptoms with medical qigong therapy. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2004;10(1):159-162.
- Barnes P, Powell-Griner E, McFann K, Nahin R. Complementary and alternative medicine use among adults: United States, 2002. CDC Advance Data Report #343. 2004.
- Morris CE, Skalak TC. Effects of static magnetic fields on microvascular tone in vivo. Abstract presented at: Experimental Biology Meeting; April 2003; San Diego, CA.
- Rojavin MA, Ziskin MC. Medical application of millimetre waves. QJM: Monthly Journal of the Association of Physicians. 1998;91(1):57-66.
- Logani MK, Bhanushali A, Anga A, et al. Combined millimeter wave and cyclophosphamide therapy of an experimental murine melanoma. Bioelectromagnetics. 2004;25(7):516.
- Rojavin MA, Cowan A, Radzievsky AA, et al. Antipruritic effect of millimeter waves in mice: evidence for opioid involvement. Life Sciences. 1998;63(18):L251-L257.
- Szabo I, Manning MR, Radzievsky AA, et al. Low power millimeter wave irradiation exerts no harmful effect on human keratinocytes in vitro. Bioelectromagnetics. 2003;24(3):165-173.
- Vincent S, Thompson JH. The effects of music upon the human blood pressure. Lancet. 1929;213(5506):534-538.
- Chlan L. Music intervention. In: Snyder M, Lindquist R, eds. Complementary/Alternative Therapies in Nursing. 4th ed. New York: Springer Publishing Company; 2001:58-66.
- Martiny K, Simonsen C, Lunde M, et al. Decreasing TSH levels in patients with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) responding to 1 week of bright light therapy. Journal of Affective Disorders. 2004;79(1-3):253-257.
- Reddy GK. Photobiological basis and clinical role of low-intensity lasers in biology and medicine. Journal of Clinical Laser Medicine & Surgery. 2004;22(2):141-150.
- Sancier KM, Holman D. Commentary: multifaceted health benefits of medical qigong. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2004;10(1):163-165.
- Milgrom LR. Vitalism, complexity and the concept of spin. Homeopathy. 2002;91(1):26-31.
- Davenas E, Beauvais F, Amara J, et al. Human basophil degranulation triggered by very dilute antiserum against IgE. Nature. 1988;333(6176):816-818.
- Linde K, Hondras M, Vickers A, et al. Systematic reviews of complementary therapies--an annotated bibliography. Part 3: homeopathy. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2001;1(1):4.
- Winstead-Fry P, Kijek J. An integrative review and meta-analysis of therapeutic touch research. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. 1999;5(6):58-67.
- Gallob R. Reiki: a supportive therapy in nursing practice and self-care for nurses. Journal of the New York State Nurses' Association. 2003;34(1):9-13.
- Lu Z. Scientific Qigong Exploration. Malvern, PA: Amber Leaf Press; 1997.
- Ernst E. Distant healing--an "update" of a systematic review. Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift. 2003;115(7-8):241-245.
- Oschman JL. Energy Medicine: The Scientific Basis of Bioenergy Therapies. Philadelphia, PA: Churchill Livingstone; 2000.
- Benford MS. Radiogenic metabolism: an alternative cellular energy source. Medical Hypotheses. 2001;56(1):33-39.
- Zimmerman J. Laying-on-of-hands healing and therapeutic touch: a testable theory. BEMI Currents, Journal of the BioElectroMagnetics Institute. 1990;2:8-17.
- Sisken BF, Walder J. Therapeutic aspects of electromagnetic fields for soft tissue healing. In: Blank M, ed. Electromagnetic Fields: Biological Interactions and Mechanisms. Washington, DC: American Chemical Society; 1995:277-285.
- Russek L, Schwartz G. Energy cardiology: a dynamical energy systems approach for integrating conventional and alternative medicine. Advances: The Journal of Mind-Body Health. 1996;12(4):4-24.
- Panov V, Kichigin V, Khaldeev G, et al. Torsion fields and experiments.
Journal of New Energy. 1997;2:29-39. - Tiller WA, Dibble WE Jr, Nunley R, et al. Toward general experimentation and discovery in conditioned laboratory spaces: Part I. Experimental pH change findings at some remote sites. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2004;10(1):145-157.
- Emoto M. Healing with water. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2004;10(1):19-21.
About This Series "Energy Medicine: An Overview" is one of five background papers on the major areas of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). The series was prepared as part of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine's (NCCAM's) strategic planning efforts for the years 2005 to 2009. These brief reports should not be viewed as comprehensive or definitive reviews. Rather, they are intended to provide a sense of the overarching research challenges and opportunities in particular CAM approaches. To find out more about topics and resources mentioned in this fact sheet, "For More Information". |
For More Information
NCCAM Clearinghouse
The NCCAM Clearinghouse provides information on CAM and NCCAM, including publications and searches of Federal databases of scientific and medical literature. The Clearinghouse does not provide medical advice, treatment recommendations, or referrals to practitioners.
Toll-free in the U.S.: 1-888-644-6226
TTY (for deaf and hard-of-hearing callers): 1-866-464-3615
Web site: nccam.nih.gov
E-mail: info@nccam.nih.gov
Eight Great books on complementary and alternative medication
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine: An Evidence-Based Approach (Complementary & Alternative Medicine) by John W. Spencer and Joseph J. Jacobs (Paperback - Feb 21, 2003)
- The Complementary and Alternative Medicine Information Source Book by Alan M. Rees (Paperback - Mar 15, 2001)
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Older Adults: Holistic Approaches to Healthy Aging by Elizabeth R. Mackenzie and Birgit Rakel (Paperback - Feb 22, 2006)
- Fundamentals of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2nd Edition) by Marc S. Micozzi (Paperback - Jan 15, 2001)
- The Desktop Guide to Complementary and Alternative Medicine: An Evidence-Based Approach by Edzard Ernst, Max H. Pittler, and Barbara Wider (Paperback - Aug 16, 2006)
- Mosby's Complementary & Alternative Medicine: A Research-Based Approach (Mosby's Complementary and Alternative Medicine) by Lyn W. Freeman (Hardcover - Jun 9, 2008)
- Professional's Handbook of Complementary & Alternative Medicines (PROFESSIONALS HANDBOOK OF COMPLEMENTARY & ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE) by Charles H Fetrow and Juan R Avila (Paperback - Jun 1, 2003)
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Legal Boundaries and Regulatory Perspectives by Michael H. Cohen (Paperback - Jan 12, 1998)
Resource and Support Group for Complementary and Alternative Medicine:
Complementary
and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Online Health
Community and Support Group:
http://communities.healia.com/?q=communities/complementary-and-alternative-medicine-cam
Additional Resources:
- For related articles on Complementary and Alternative Medicine on the Web, click on: “Sphere: Related Content” located at the bottom of this blog post.
- For related books or blog posts with related content in Dr. Jeff’s and Dr. Tanya’s Blog, click on the “Treatments: Alternative” category at the bottom of the post or type in keywords “Complementary and Alternative Medicine” into “Google Search” located in the sidebar.
- For related articles from Psychology Today, click on the “Psychology Today” banner in the side bar and type in Key words, “Complementary and Alternative Medicine” into the Psychology Today “Search”.
- For more books with related content, click any hyperlinked key word in the blog or type in key words, “Complementary and Alternative Medicine“ into “Amazon Search” on the Amazon banner located in the side bar.
Source: The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), See also blog posts in: Treatments: Alternative
Dr. Tanya Korkosz
Dr. Jeffrey Speller
Psychopharmacology Associates of New England


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