Subtle Energy and the Human Biofield

Nita GageRauni KingDavid Riley

Lucia ThorntonAIHM 2015

Definitions and Systematic Reviews

Subtle Energy and the Human Biof ield

David Riley, MD

What is the Human Biofield?

The human biofield can be defined in terms of energy—ranging from the electromagnetic energy of the nervous and circulatory system to energy associated with chakras and meridians.

What makes up the Biofield?

The biofield is related to the various electromagnetic fields of the body that can be used as a therapeutic leverage to intentionally elicit a healing response.

A wide range of global healing traditions using physical and nonphysical touch to incorporate biofield therapies in some fashion.

The published literature

Despite funding and technological limitations the body’s biofield has been studied.

1. A systematic review evaluating changes in condition-related outcomes reached guardedly positive conclusions about the effectiveness of biofield therapies. There was moderate to strong evidence for reducing pain in chronic pain patients.

Jain S, Mills PJ.. Biofield therapies: helpful or full of hype? A best evidence synthesis. Int J Behav Med 2010;17(1):1‐16 

2. A recent systematic review evaluated the quality and outcomes of randomized controlled trials of biofield therapies that assessed only nonphysical contact. 3 In 12 of 18 trials meeting reporting and design criteria, at least one beneficial treatment outcome was observed.

Hammerschlag R. Nontouch Biofield Therapy: A systematic review of human randomized controlled trials reporting use of only nonphysical contact treatment. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 2014; 20(12):881–892.

The published literature

3. A systematic review studied whether biofield therapists undergo changes while administering biofield therapies. Heart Rate Variability changes suggested a responsive physiology in practitioners during Reconnective Healing, Bruyere healing and Hawaiian healing; no changes were detected during Reiki or Therapeutic Touch.

Baldwin AL, Hammerschlag R. Biofield‐based Therapies: A systematic review of physiological effects on practitioners during healing. Explore‐The Journal of Science and Healing 2014;10(3):150‐161

The published literature

Jain S, Mills PJ. Biofield therapies: helpful or full of hype? A best evidence synthesis. Int J Behav Med 2010;17(1):1-16.

Hammerschlag R, Jain S, Baldwin AL, Gronowicz G, Lutgendorf SK, Oschman JL, Yount GL. Biofield research: a roundtable discussion of scientific and methodological issues. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 2012;18(12):1081-6.

Levin J. Energy healers: who they are and what they do. Explore-The Journal of Science and Healing 2011;7(1):13–26.

Hammerschlag R. Nontouch Biofield Therapy: A systematic review of human randomized controlled trials reporting use of only nonphysical contact treatment. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine2014; 20(12):881–892.

Baldwin AL, Hammerschlag R. Biofield-based Therapies: A systematic review of physiological effects on practitioners during healing. Explore-The Journal of Science and Healing 2014;10(3):150-161.

References

Human Biofield or Energy System

Rauni Prittinen King RN, MIH, HNB-BC, CHTPI

What is Biofield or Energy Medicine?

Therapies that involve the intentional alteration of subtle energy to elicit a healing response

Disruption in the human energy system is viewed as a blockage of energy flow…which can leads to illness or be result of illness.

The Human Biofield• There is a biofield surrounding and supporting the body

that is in electromagnetic communication with the larger universal field

• Research has shown that energy fields exist in plants, animals and humans

• Water is a transmitter of electromagnetic signals• Living cells have 10,000 molecules of water for each

molecule of protein. We are about 70% of water

History of Energy Healing or Vital Force

Native AmericanEgyptianGreek - PneumaChinese – Chi or QiIndian – PranaTibet - LungAustralianJapan - Ki

Hippocrates

The healing power of touch and energy dates back to Hippocrates the Greek physician and father of modern medicine who noted that a “force flowed from peoples hands….”

Pythagoras

Pythagoras in Greece referred to the biofield as a “vital energy perceived as a luminous body that could produce cures”

Kirlian Photography

YIN-YANG

Chinese Medicine says:

Disease or illness is disharmony in Yin and Yang

Examples of Energy TherapiesHealing Beyond BordeTherapeutic Touch Healing Touch(Healing

Beyond Borders) Therapeutic Touch Reiki Johrei Pranic Healing Acupuncture Qi-Gong Other hands-on- healing

Other hands-on- healing

• Chakras=Energy Centers • Meridians=Energy Tracts• Auras=Energy Fields

Human Energy System

Chakras

Wheels of Spinning LightThe frequency of the chakra spin generates the colorStorage of information

(All events & actions in the past)All thought forms (energetic interpretations)

Seven Major ChakrasChakra Function Gland Color Note

One Physical Adrenals Red CTwo Emotional Gonads Orange DThree Mental/Self Pancreas Yellow EFour Love and

ForgivenessThymus Green F

Five Expression Thyroid Blue G

Six Intuition Pituitary Indigo ASeven Spiritual Pineal Lilac/White B

Meridians

Chi passes through these channels bringing vital energy to the body Link between the etheric body and physical bodyConducts subtle energies from the external environment to deeper organ structuresAcupuncture opens up the meridians and energy flow

Energetic/Vibrational BeingsWe are Affected by Everything

Other people, animals, plantsSoundsLight raysColorsStructures, geometriesElectromagnetic fieldsThoughts

“Get Bitter or get Better”Caroline Myss Ph.D.

Subtle Energy Systems

Nita Gage, DSPS, MA

“We are entering a new level in the scientific understanding of mechanisms by which faith, belief and imagination can actually unlock the mysteries of healing.”Joan Borysenko, MD

Subtle Energy Systems

SHAMANISMShamanism is a healing practice that utilizes faith, belief and imagination to bring healing to individuals, communities and the practicing shaman.

Shamanism is inherently integrative and holistic:• Teaches patient to heal self• Family and community participate• Emphasis on natural therapies• Deep connection to ‘spirit’

Struthers R et al. Comp Ther Nurse Mid. 2004; 10-141-149

Traditional Shaman

Possesses special skills for tribe or village: Medicine Person Serves a similar capacity to a physician, counselor or minister Wounded Healer: strengthened by life’s painUnseen or Imaginal World is consider Real

Traditional ShamanUtilizes plant medicine to enter altered stateShape Shift and Heal by journeying for sick person to restore fragmented selfSupports their work with rituals and ceremony: e.g. prayers, songs, drumming, dancingIndividual receives a calling

Deep relationship & experience with the energetic power of the spirit world

Shamanism is a healing practice that utilizes faith, belief and imagination to bring healing to individuals, communities and the practicing shaman.

Shamanism is an ancient tradition of healing that sees symptoms, pain and even death as natural, non-pathological and valuable experiences.

Shamanic healing is about restoration of wholeness, not about eradication of symptoms or pain.

“We are entering a new level in the scientific understanding of mechanisms by which faith, belief and imagination can actually unlock the

mysteries of healing.”Joan Borysenko, MD

Altered States of Consciousness and Intuition

Contemplative PrayerMeditationYogic TranceVision QuestShamanic JourneyHealing TouchReiki

“Physicians are innately shamanic. They come into medicine as a path of the heart and medical school redirects them to their brains. We can all find our way back to an integrative path of brain and heart, the neuroimaginal shamanic path.” Lee Lipsenthal, MD

Homeopathy

David Riley, MD

What is Homeopathy?

Homeopathy is both a medical system and a therapy.• As a medical system it is reported to work by

stimulating the body's own healing systems through the “vital force.”

• As a therapy, homeopathically prepared medicinal products are used a variety of practitioners from different healing traditions.

The Main Principles of Homeopathy

• Individualized treatment• Principles of “Similars” – Homeopathic

medicines prescribe according to their ability to provoke “similar” symptoms in someone who is healthy (allergy desensitization is an example from conventional biomedicine.

• Homeopathic Drug provings identify a homeopathic “symptom picture.”

• Hering’s Principle of the Direction of Cure.

Acute versus Chronic Treatment

Acute and chronic diseases differs in the focus of the history required for selecting the medicine. • In acute diseases, it is sufficient to concentrate on

the history of the present illness, selecting the medicine on the basis of the primary symptoms and etiology.

• Chronic diseases often cover a patient's entire life, including family history. A constitutional predisposition to disease is included when selecting the homeopathic medication. A longer healing process is often the norm in chronic cases.

Compound Homeopathic Medications

It is not always possible in daily practice to find the "similimum", for every patient. This dilemma has led to the development of compound or complex homeopathic medicines indicated primarily for a specific clinical condition. • Compound homeopathic medicines are combinations of two or

more homeopathic medicines that have been valuable as single medicines.

• The composition is based on clinical experience, designed for synergistic action of the individual drugs.

• Compound homeopathic medicines, commonly used in low potencies, are used for a wide range of clinical conditions.

• Clinicians use these complexes to treat their patients on the basis of a clinical diagnosis.

Therapies using Homeopathic Medications

1. Classical homeopathy2. Clinical homeopathy3. Homotoxicology or Bioregulatory medicine4. Anthroposophical medicine

Clinical Research• A meta-analysis published in 1991 in the British Medical Journal

(BMJ) by Kleijnen demonstrated that 81 of the 105 trials evaluated showed homeopathy to have a positive effect. 15 of 22 trials rated “good” for methodology by the authors demonstrated homeopathy to be superior, 7 were negative.

• In 1997 The Lancet published a meta-analysis of 186 homeopathic controlled trials. This systematic review and meta-analysis of research evaluated the efficacy of homeopathic remedies in the treatment of hay fever, asthma, migraine headache, ear infection, upper respiratory infection, rheumatoid arthritis, diarrhea, indigestion, influenza childbirth, varicose veins, sprains and strains, amongst many others. The Odds Ratio (OR) was 2.45 (95% confidence interval 2.05–2.93) in favor of homeopathy. The primary conclusion was that the results “were not compatible with the hypothesis that the effects of homoeopathy are completely due to placebo.”

Homeopathic Pharmacy

• Homeopathic medicines are prepared “potentization”, involving serial dilutions and succussions in steps of 1:10 or 1:100 following Good Manufacturing Procedures (GMP) developed by the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the US (HPCUS) and recognized by the FDA.

• Dilutions above 23X or 12C (corresponding to dilutions of 10-

23 and 10-24 respectively) are unlikely to contain any of the starting substance. Classical pharmacological actions in vivohave been reported with dilutions as high as 10-22 mol/L and repeatedly with dilutions from 10-17 to 10-18.

• Homeopathic medicines are often used in dilutions with the original substance present.

Review of Biofield Therapies Research

Lucia Thornton, RN, MSN, ThD, AHN-BC

Biofield Therapies

• Healing Touch (HT)• Therapeutic Touch (TT)• Reiki• QiGong• Acupuncture• Acupressure• Homeopathy• Eye Movement 

Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)  

• Shamanic  Healing• Jin Shin Jyutsu• Johrei• Polarity Therapy• Pranic Healing • Reflexology• Zero Balancing• Aromatherapy• Emotional Freedom  

Technique (EFT)

Review of Biofield Research (includes TT, HT, Reiki, QiGong)

• Pain

• Cardiovascular Disease

• Cancer

• Well-Being

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

• Dementia

AA

BB

BBAA

BB

BB

(Anderson et. al.  2015)

Evidence GradingFindings from multiple(≥ 3) rigorous clinical studies, including randomized controlled trials, showing statistically significant evidence of benefit. May also have support from basic research.

AA Strong  Evidence

BB Good Evidence

CC Conflicting Evidence

Findings from 1 to 2 strong clinical studies, showing statistically significant evidence of benefit. May also have support from basic research.

Findings from clinical studies, showing conflicting results related to benefit, or results only from basic research.       (Jadad et al., 1996)

Biofield Therapies and Cancer: Good EvidenceB

• Reduction in disease and treatment related pain (Danhauer, 2008; Aghabati et al, 2010; Olson et al, 2003; Post‐White et al, 2003; Cooket al, 2004, Kemper et al, 2009; Wilkenson et al, 2002; Coakley & Barron, 2012)

• Improvements in quality of life, fatigue, depression, anxiety and anger                                 (Cook et al, 2004; Kemper et al, 2009; Lutgendorf et al, 2010; Roscoe et al, 2005)

• Decreased pain, stress, and fatigue in pediatric patients with cancer (Kemper et al, 2009; Wong et al, 2013)

• Improved heart rate variability and increased natural killer cells (Kemper et al, 2009; Lutgendorf et al, 2010)

Biofield Therapies and Cardiovascular Disease: Strong EvidenceA

• Decreased anxiety, feelings of worry,  and increased feelings of satisfaction                          (Movaffaghi et al, 2006: Seskevich et al, 2004; Krucoff et al., 2005

• Decreased  length of stay and anxiety in patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery.                  (Maville et al., 2008)

• Increased hemoglobin and hematocrit levels (Krieger, 1972 & 1976; Movaffaghi et al, 2006)

Biofield Therapies andPain: Good Evidence

• Decreased pain related to cancer and its treatment.

• Decreased post‐surgical pain, other acute and chronic pain and patients with osteoarthritis             (Anderson et al, 2015; Vitale & O’Connor, 2006; So et al, 2008: Fouladbakhsh, 2012; Lu et al, 2013)

• Cochrane Review (2008): • Biofield therapies  “may have a modest effect on pain relief”. 

• More experienced practitioners yielded greater effects in pain reduction. (So et al, 2008)

B

Biofield Therapies andDementia: Good Evidence

• Decreased  agitation ( Hawranik et al, 2008)

• Reverse cognitive decline & improved mood          (Lu  et al, 2013)

• Increased measures of brain activity  in regions of the brain associated with cognitive function and the stress response. (McEwen et al., 2006; Uchida et al, 2012)

B

Review of RCT’s

TherapeuticTouch Healing Touch Reiki

Moderate effect on: • Anxiety• Stress‐related  

conditions• Pain and wound  

healing• Well‐being in  cancer patients.

Natural Standard assigned B grades

(good scientific evidence)

Some evidence  for impact on:

• Pain• Anxiety• Stress

Natural Standard assigned Cgrades

(unclear evidence)

Limited evidence suggesting some benefit  for :

•Cancer quality of life•Pain•Fatigue

Natural Standard assigned a C grades

(unclear evidence)

(Potter, 2013)

Coupled versus Uncoupled State of Physical Reality

Traditional medicine’s mindset and working arena 

is the uncoupled state of physical reality. CAM’s 

working arena is the coupled state.  Both sets of practitioners need to become aware of the fact 

that data gathering strategies that work well for 

the uncoupled state physics do not work well for the coupled state physics and vice versa.

Bill Tiller, 2009

Takeaways• Biofield therapies show moderate to  strong evidence for reducing pain intensity in chronic pain patients, as well as hospitalized  and cancer populations.

• Potential areas for Biofield therapies include dementia, cardiovascular disease, and mental health.

• With  no  known side effects  or potential interaction with pharmaceuticals and requiring no energy expenditure by the patient, Biofield therapies are promising adjuncts for a  wide variety of symptoms associated with acute and chronic disease.

References

Aghabati, N, Mohammadi, E, Pour Esmaiel Z. (2008). The effect of therapeutic touch on pain and fatigue of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Evidence‐Based Complimentary  and Alternative Medicine. Doi:10.1093/ecam/nen006Ananth.

Anderson J, Lu, D, Strybol N, Hess S, Mangione L (2015). Healing Touch Research Brief. Lakewood, CO: Healing Beyond Borders.

Coakley AB, & Barron AM (2012). Energy therapies in oncology nursing. Seminars in Oncology Nursing 28, 55‐63.

Danhauer SC, Tooze JA, Holder P, Miller C, Jesse M T (2008). Healing Touch as a supportive intervention for adult acute leukemia patients: A pilot investigation of effects on distress and symptoms. Journal of the Society for integrative Oncology 6, 89‐97.

Foulaadbaksh J. (2012) Complementary and alternative modalities to relieve osteoarthritis symptoms. American Journal of Nursing 112, S44‐S51.

References

Hawranik, P., Johnston, P., & Deatrich, J. (2008).  Therapeutic touch and agitation in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. Western Journal of Nursing Research 30, 417‐434.

Jadad, A.R., Moore, R.A., Carroll, D., Jenkinson, C., Reynolds, D.J.M., Gavaghan, D.J., & McQuay, H. J. (1996). Assessing the quality  of reports of randomized clinical  trials: is blinding necessary? Controlled Clinical Trials 17, 1‐12.

Kemper, K.J., Fletcher, N.B., Hamilton, C.A., & McLean, T.W. (2009) Impact of healing touch on pediatric oncology outpatients: Pilot study. Journal of the Society for Integrative Oncology 7, 12‐18.

Lu, D. F., Hart, L.K., Lutgendorf, S.K.,Oh, H., & Schilling, M. (2013). Slowing progression  of early stages of AD with alternative therapies: a feasibility study.  Geriatric Nursing 34, 457‐464.

Lu, D. F., Hart, L.K., Lutgendorf, S.K., & Perkounkova, Y. (2013). The effect of healing touch on the pain and mobility of persons with osteoarthritis: a feasibility study.Geriatric Nursing 34, 314‐322.

ReferencesLutkendorf, S.K., Mullen‐Houser, E., Russell, D., Degeest, K., Jacobsen, G., Hart, L., Lubaroff, D.M. (2010). Preservation of immune function in cervical cancer patients during chemoradiation using a novel integrative approach. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity  24, 1231‐1240.

Olson, K., Hanson, J., & Michaud, M. (2003). A phase ii trial of Reiki for the management of pain in advanced cancer patients. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management 26, 990‐997.

Post‐White, J., Kinney, M.E., Savik, K., Gau, J.B., Wilcox, C., & Lerner, I. (2003).  Therapeutic massage and healing touch improve symptoms in cancer. Integrative Cancer Therapies 2, 332‐44.

Potter, P. J. (2013). Energy Therapies in Advanced Practice Oncology: An Evidence‐Informed Practice Approach. Journal of the Advanced Practitioner in Oncology, 4(3), 139–151

Roscoe, J.A., Matteson, S.E., Mustian, K.M., Padmanaban, D., Morrow, G.R. (2005). Treatment of radiotherapy‐induced fatigue through a non‐pharmacological approach.Integrative Cancer Therapies 1, 162‐165. 

References

Uchida, S., Iha, T., Tamaoka, K., Nitta, K., & Sugano, H. (2102) Effect of Biofield therapy in the human brain. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 18, 875‐879.

So, P.S., Jiang, Y., & Qin, Y. (2008). Touch therapies for pain relief in adults. Cochrane Data Base of Systematic Reviews, Issue 4.

Tiller, W. (2009). Why CAM and orthodox medicine have some very different science foundations. White Paper. www.tiller.org 

Vitale, A.T., & O’Connor, P.C. (2006). The effect of Reiki on pain and anxiety in women with abdominal hysterectomies: a quasi‐experimental  pilot study. Holistic Nursing Practice 20, 263‐272.

Wilkinson, D.S., Knox, P.L., Chatman, J.E., Johnson, T.L., Barbour, N., Myles, Y., & Reel, A. (2002). The clinical effectiveness of healing touch.  Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine  8, 33‐47.