Why Does Healing Touch Work

Why Does Healing Touch Work?

Donald Stouffer, PhD, CHTP
Professor of Aerospace Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Ohio 45221

The two basic concepts that are necessary to convey to clients, medical professionals and the community are: What is Healing Touch and how does it work A reasonable explanation might be: Healing Touch is a conscious, intentional process of directing energy through the hands of the practitioner to the client to facilitate the healing process. However, this type of explanation is not totally satisfying or convincing even though it is reasonably accurate. A better physical explanation might eliminate some of the misunderstanding and criticism of voodoo medicine.

A model for a scientific basis of the physiological changes developed by a Healing Touch treatment can be extracted from acupuncture research. In acupuncture, healing is stimulated by the insertion of fine needles at special points on meridians that are usually activated with a tiny current. This current stimulates the flow of Qi or pulses of electrical energy that travel along the meridians and neurological pathways to the cells. Pomeranz (1) showed that this current stimulates the release of endorphins, and the secretion of hormones, serotonin and other chemicals at the cellular level. This chemical change produces effects like relaxation and reduction of pain.

The effects of acupuncture are well established. An NIH panel recently reviewed over 200 research papers and concluded that acupuncture helps relieve post-operative nausea and vomiting, post-operative dental pain, and nausea and vomiting following chemo-therapy (2). In addition, the panel concluded that acupuncture was a suitable part of the treatment plan for drug and alcohol addiction, stroke rehabilitation, headache, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, general muscle pain, osteoarthritis, low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and asthma.

It is reasonable to expect these results should also apply to Healing Touch. When a practitioner “Centers” to do a Healing Touch treatment, there is a mind-body connection where the mental processes stimulate the body's bioelectrical field. The bioelectrical flow corresponds to pulses of electrical charges that produce chemical changes in the practitioner’s body, but these pulses also create a magnetic field. Maxwell's Law (3), a well documented effect in physics, states that the flow of electrical charges creates both an electrical field and a magnetic field, and Maxwell’s equations show how these effects are related. Thus the human energy system is a bioelectromagnetic field (4). The flow felt between a person’s two hands is a biomagnetic field flow. The aura is a subtle biomagnetic field.

During a treatment the practitioner’s biomagnetic field interacts with the client's biomagnetic field and changes occur in the client's electrical field. This produces a change in the client's chemical balance at the cellular level, chemicals are released and physiological changes result. The cell's structure and function are changed.

Drugs and food produce changes at the cellular level by directly changing the chemical balance. An emotional trauma impacts the body through bioelectrical changes that are stimulated by the thought process.

Healing Touch is not magic. The effect of the modality is similar to acupuncture. It can be thought of as a bioelectromagnetic massage to stimulate bioelectromagnetic and physiological changes in the client at the cellular level to promote healing. The Healing Touch program teaches how to prepare and manage the practitioner’s bioelectromagnetic field to create change in the bioelectromagnetic field of the client.

(1) Pomeranz, B., Scientific Basis of Acupuncture. Stux and Pomeranz eds., Acupuncture: Textbook and Atlas, Springer Verlag, Berlin, 1986
(2) Acupuncture: Chinese Folk Medicine or Legitimate Medical Treatment, Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter, New York, V 16.4, June 1998
(3) Paul, R. C., K. W. Whites and S. A Nasar, Introduction to Electromagnet Fields, WCB/McGraw-Hill, 3rd ed., Cambridge Massachusetts, 1998
(4) Tiller, W. A., Science and Human Transformation, Subtle Energies, Intentionality and Consciousness, Pavior Publishing, Walnut Creek California, 1997.

The Perfect Couple: Reiki and Cancer Patients

The Perfect Couple: Reiki and Cancer Patients By Allison Brooks When undergoing cancer treatment it can be beneficial to consider complementary therapies which can help ease some of the symptoms felt when undergoing treatment. So often in Western medicine the main focus is so strongly on the body itself that all spiritual and emotional aspects of the body and mind are left to the wayside. Utilizing a therapy like Reiki alongside modern western medicine has shown to do wonders in improving the quality of life for cancer patients. Many patients use Reiki to unblock and free up the energy paths in the body. By relieving any energy blockages, the body’s natural healing processes are accelerated. This released energy also soothes cancer patients during troubling times. Stimulated senses help relieve pain, reduce and stress, and improve well-being. With a positive energy-renewal, the body can fight cancer with full force. There is no lack of or negative energy to thwart any healing process. The non invasive nature of Reiki is also welcome change among cancer patients. After days upon days of poking and prodding, a friendly Reiki session is relaxing. After a Reiki session, patients claim to have experienced fewer side effects from cancer treatments and feel more alive and awakened. A sense of control can also be gained by patients when a Reiki practitioner teaches them how to self-treat. This allows a person to gain a sense of power and self-confidence when he/she may think their life is out of their hands. With all these great benefits, why would someone not want to compliment their cancer treatments with Reiki? While there are not many solid scientific studies done on the benefits of Reiki, there are numerous accounts of cancer patients who have greatly benefitted from this practice. Cancer patients of all sorts practice Reiki to better survivability. It has been noticed that patients with cancers with poor life expectancies like pancreatic cancer, or mesothelioma, adopt Reiki or another complimentary therapy early on in treatment. Many doctors agree that Reiki and other alternative therapies are wonderful tools, on the road to recovery. Why not open up and release what’s naturally there to help you? Become one with your body, mind, and spirit.

Benefits of REIKI

REIKI is known to be a state of art of Self Healing Preventive Medicine that establishes mastery over the Human Mind/Body/Spirit. People who have adopted this system of application on daily basis report extraordinary recovery from all types of Mind/Body disorders. Some of the benefits that can be experienced have been listed below:-

• Balances and amplifies flow of Energy – boosts Vitality & Immune System
• Activates inner awareness and wisdom – develops Mindfulness
• Increases Creativity – helps build capacities to be creative
• Has Healing (Wholing) effect – Harmonizes Mind/Body/Spirit
• Helps release emotional blockages like Anger, Anxiety, Panic, Depression, Sadness, Fear and Guilt.
• Works on casual level of disease – the causative factors of the source
• Releases stress through deep relaxation – slumber like state
• Amplifies memory & concentration – enhances Focus and Drive
• Brings in health & prosperity – Health is Wealth and old saying
• Gives contentment and peace of mind – Clarity, Tranquillity and Balance of Mind
• Gives a new direction to life and gradually advances spiritual growth
• Reverses aging process and reactivating youthfulness and enthusiasm.
• Give a person full control over the mind and body
• Regulates metabolic activity and controls body weight.
• Induces peaceful sleep – cures insomnia and mental tension

About Reiki - a brief introduction

REIKI HOLISTIC HEALING
Reiki (ray-key) is a Japanese word meaning Universal Life Force (Sarva-vyapi Prana Shakti) and a system of natural healing that channels Reiki through the hands. It is known by many other names also.
The traditional Asian medical paradigm views injury, dysfunction and disease as manifesting when subtle energies are weak, distorted or out-of-balance. Tai Chi, Acupuncture, Homeopathy, Hatha Yoga, Shiatsu, Polarity, Macrobiotics, Radionics, and herbal remedies are means of optimizing subtle auric and internal energies.
Reiki accesses the source of Life to heal the self and others on spiritual, mental, emotional and physical levels. Reiki allows the source of well being to enhance and balance natural life forces through non-intrusive therapeutic touch. It is applied for health maintenance, pain relief, and mental quietude and healing for physical and mental diseases.
Reiki augments and accelerates the inner healing process. It can be effective in cases that do not respond to other forms of treatment. It can be used in conjunction with any other therapeutic modality.
Creative energy is the essence of all healing. Dr. Albert Schweitzer said, "We physicians do nothing, we only help and encourage the physician within."
Reiki an ancient Divine Light Healing system practiced since time immemorial worldwide by the priests in the temples of the ancient civilizations of Atlantis and Egypt, was rediscovered in the late 1800's a specific formula for accessing Universal Life Force was discovered in Buddhist Lotus Verses (sutras) found in a Kyoto Zendo by a scholar seeking knowledge of what the Buddha taught about healing. Mikao Usui was contemplating what he had learned when he received a transcendental initiation, the results of which were the abilities of healing by laying on of the hands and of sending healing over distance. Much later he realized that the experience of God is more essential to fulfillment of the purpose of life than the power of healing.
Reiki is an essence, which comes from the Source of Life itself. Since Reiki is multi-dimensional it can be a catalytic factor in personal evolution no matter what religious beliefs are held. The experience of Reiki is a vehicle to becoming conscious of your own being regardless of faith or concepts. The innate ability to channel healing energy through the hands is awakened through a series of direct transmission initiations, which attune and align energy centers in the body and hands. Reiki is not a system of religious beliefs. The world does not need another. Anyone can learn Reiki; it is very simple.
Reiki relieves stress and pain, relaxes muscle spasms, releases emotional blockages, and accelerates natural healing. It stimulates the immune system; and balance subtle body energies, is beyond belief and can be used in conjunction with any other therapeutic modality. It is effective on chronic and acute illness or injury and can be learned by anyone. It uses laying on of the hands. The healing can also be sent over any distance, is a means of sharing love, is completely safe and benign. It protects the practitioner and is The Universal Life Force Energy.
The only way to know it is to feel it. If you are interested in having a treatment, look for a local Reiki Practitioner or Master. If you are interested in becoming a Reiki Practitioner look for your local Reiki Master.