Evaluating the use of gas discharge visualization to measure massage therapy outcomes

Haun, Jolie; Patel, Nitin; Schwartz, Gary E.; Ritenbaugh, Cheryl

doi:10.1515/jcim-2014-0014

Cited by 7 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 34 publications

(56 reference statements)

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“…Some of these have produced repeatable effects with results that conform to biofield healing expectations: for example, the devices using gas discharge visualization based on the Kirlian effect. [61][62][63][64] Nonetheless, the continued rejection of Kirlian photography by conventional science shows how difficult it is to get such novel instruments accepted. This generates another major barrier regarding biofield healing, leading critics to dismiss the topic as purely "subjective.…”

Section: Objectivitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Barriers to the Entry of Biofield Healing into “Mainstream” Healthcare

Hufford

Sprengel

Ives

et al. 2015

Glob Adv Health Med

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In this article, we describe barriers to the entry of biofield healing into mainstream contemporary science and clinical practice. We focus on obstacles that arise from the social nature of the scientific enterprise, an aspect of science highlighted by the influential work of Thomas Kuhn (1922-1996), one of the most important— and controversial—philosophers of science in the 20th century. Kuhn analyzed science and its revolutionary changes in terms of the dynamics within scientific communities. Kuhn's approach helps us understand unconventional medical theories and practices such as biofield healing. For many years, these were called “complementary and alternative medicine” (CAM). However, because most people use nonmainstream approaches in conjunction with conventional treatments, the National Institutes of Health and many practitioners now prefer “Complementary and Integrative Medicine” (CIM) where integrative implies “bringing conventional and complementary approaches together in a coordinated way.”1 Biofield healing fits the integrative model well, provides a novel approach to therapeutic intervention, and is developing in a manner that can integrate with current medical science in simple ways. Yet, it still remains outside the conventional framework because of its conceptual bases, which contrast sharply with conventional assumptions regarding the nature of reality.

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Section: Objectivitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Barriers to the Entry of Biofield Healing into “Mainstream” Healthcare

Hufford

Sprengel

Ives

et al. 2015

Glob Adv Health Med

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“…In energy medicine, the word "energy" does not refer to energy as physicists commonly use it, but rather to a felt sense that therapists describe as energetic-like, magnetic-like, or tingling-like sensations in or around the body. Experimental and anecdotal reports demonstrate that physical measures correlate with these feelings, e.g., electromagnetic and magnetic fields [1,2], mechanical vibrations [3], and other less conventional approaches [4]. However, there is currently no reliable detection method to assess when the presumed energy is present.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extended Perception Corroboration: A Pilot Study with Energy Medicine Practitioners

Wahbeh¹,

Speirn²,

Yount³

2022

Preprint

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Reiki is a type of energy medicine with growing evidence for its benefit for various conditions and populations. The “energy” in energy medicine implies a life force rather than a conventional physics definition, and many people feel they can perceive this energy through extended perception beyond their traditional five senses. This study evaluated extended perception during Reiki energy medicine sessions. Six expert Reiki Masters gave 30-minute sessions to 40 participants. Participants had one or more of the following conditions: acute physical injury (such as broken bone), mental impairment (memory issues), and psychological symptoms (anxiety and/or depression). Six people vetted for extended visual perception made observations before, during, and after sessions using quantitative and qualitative measures. Participants and Reiki Masters also recorded their observations. Data were analyzed for corroboration: 1) within-perceivers, 2) between the Reiki Master and perceivers, 3) between the participant and Reiki Master, and 4) between the participant and perceivers. Participants’ well-being outcomes and potential predictors were also evaluated. Well-being improved after the sessions (F(3,159) = 12.3, p <0.00005; Baseline - 55.7 ± 18.8, Before - 58.9 ± 18.1, After - 73.2 ± 16.2, One-week later - 64.3 ± 20.3; effect size is 0.61, 95% confidence interval [0.39 to 0.59]). The perceivers generally reported similar information in free-form drawings and free text. Perceivers’ observations about the participants’ health were highly corroborated and matched participants’ self-report. No predictors revealed themselves, supporting the tradition that Reiki applies to anyone regardless of health condition. Furthermore, the symbols perceivers noted were meaningful to the participants, but perceivers did not see the same symbols nor ascribe the same meaning to them that the participants did. Future studies are needed to refine the methods developed here to continue the exploration of extended perception, its validity, and practical application in healthcare.

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“…An independent meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) addressing pain concluded that massage effectively reduced pain compared to sham and active comparators, and improved mood and health-related quality of life compared to active comparators, and concluded that massage is a viable pain management option [45]. A limited number of massage studies have shown results on PTSD, but many studies have demonstrated results on related symptoms such as anxiety, stress, and depression [40,42,46-48].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Mobile and Web-Based Self-Directed Complementary and Integrative Health Program for Veterans and Their Partners (Mission Reconnect): Protocol for a Mixed-Methods Randomized Controlled Trial

Haun¹,

Ballistrea²,

Melillo³

et al. 2019

JMIR Res Protoc

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Background Complementary and integrative health (CIH) is a viable solution to PTSD and chronic pain. Many veterans believe CIH can be performed only by licensed professionals in a health care setting. Health information technology can bring effective CIH to veterans and their partners. Objective This paper describes the rationale, design, and methods of the Mission Reconnect protocol to deliver mobile and Web-based complementary and integrative health programs to veterans and their partners (eg, spouse, significant other, caregiver, or family member). Methods This three-site, 4-year mixed-methods randomized controlled trial uses a wait-list control to determine the effects of mobile and Web-based CIH programs for veterans and their partners, or dyads. The study will use two arms (ie, treatment intervention arm and wait-list control arm) in a clinical sample of veterans with comorbid pain and posttraumatic stress disorder, and their partners. The study will evaluate the effectiveness and perceived value of the Mission Reconnect program in relation to physical and psychological symptoms, global health, and social outcomes. Results Funding for the study began in November 2018, and we are currently in the process of recruitment screening and data randomization for the study. Primary data collection will begin in May 2019 and continue through May 2021. Projected participants per site will be 76 partners/dyads, for a total of 456 study participants. Anticipated study results will be published in November 2022. Conclusions This work highlights innovative delivery of CIH to veterans and their partners for treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder and chronic pain. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03593772; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03593772 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/77Q2giwtw) International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) PRR1-10.2196/13666

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Evaluating the use of gas discharge visualization to measure massage therapy outcomes

Cited by 7 publications

References 34 publications

Barriers to the Entry of Biofield Healing into “Mainstream” Healthcare

Barriers to the Entry of Biofield Healing into “Mainstream” Healthcare

Extended Perception Corroboration: A Pilot Study with Energy Medicine Practitioners

A Mobile and Web-Based Self-Directed Complementary and Integrative Health Program for Veterans and Their Partners (Mission Reconnect): Protocol for a Mixed-Methods Randomized Controlled Trial

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