The Efficacy of “Distant Healing”

Astin, John A.; Harkness, Elaine; Ernst, Edzard

doi:10.7326/0003-4819-132-11-200006060-00009

Cited by 269 publications

(20 citation statements)

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“…In systematic reviews of randomised controlled trials comparing distant healing versus placebo or control treatment the results from individual trials were extremely heterogeneous. Methodological limitations of included trials precluded any firm conclusion about the efficacy of distant healing and there is clearly a need for more rigorous trials [12, 13]. Since the publication of these systematic reviews, three randomized controlled double-blind trials of remote group prayer in intensive coronary care unit patients have been published.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effectiveness of Distant Healing for Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Randomised Controlled Partially Blinded Trial (EUHEALS)

Walach

Bösch²,

Lewith

et al. 2008

Psychother Psychosom

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Background: Distant healing, a form of spiritual healing, is widely used for many conditions but little is known about its effectiveness. Methods: In order to evaluate distant healing in patients with a stable chronic condition, we randomised 409 patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) from 14 private practices for environmental medicine in Germany and Austria in a two by two factorial design to immediate versus deferred (waiting for 6 months) distant healing. Half the patients were blinded and half knew their treatment allocation. Patients were treated for 6 months and allocated to groups of 3 healers from a pool of 462 healers in 21 European countries with different healing traditions. Change in Mental Health Component Summary (MHCS) score (SF-36) was the primary outcome and Physical Health Component Summary score (PHCS) the secondary outcome. Results: This trial population had very low quality of life and symptom scores at entry. There were no differences over 6 months in post-treatment MHCS scores between the treated and untreated groups. There was a non-significant outcome (p = 0.11) for healing with PHCS (1.11; 95% CI –0.255 to 2.473 at 6 months) and a significant effect (p = 0.027) for blinding; patients who were unblinded became worse during the trial (–1.544; 95% CI –2.913 to –0.176). We found no relevant interaction for blinding among treated patients in MHCS and PHCS. Expectation of treatment and duration of CFS added significantly to the model. Conclusions: In patients with CFS, distant healing appears to have no statistically significant effect on mental and physical health but the expectation of improvement did improve outcome.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effectiveness of Distant Healing for Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Randomised Controlled Partially Blinded Trial (EUHEALS)

Walach

Bösch²,

Lewith

et al. 2008

Psychother Psychosom

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“…Incorporando as correlações existenciais, religiosas e espirituais da Antropologia Filosófica (evolução das espécies e antropogênese; homem e Divindade; conduta ética-moral e essência espiritual; evolução espiritual e experiências de vida, dentre outras) [5][6][7] , a Antropologia Médica Vitalista também traz subsídios ao entendimento da influência das dimensões não materiais, espirituais e religiosas na etiopatogenia das doenças e nas práticas de promoção à saúde 57 , abordagem que vem assumindo importância crescente em relação ao enfrentamento, prognóstico, prevenção e tratamento de inúmeros distúrbios orgânicos [58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71] . Por valorizar esses aspectos espirituais e religiosos da individualidade no direcionamento da atenção clínica, a Associação Psiquiátrica Americana incluiu no Manual Diagnóstico e Estatístico de Transtornos Mentais (DSM-IV.…”

Section: Conclusõesunclassified

Antropologia Médica Vitalista: uma ampliação ao entendimento do processo de adoecimento humano

Teixeira

2017

Rev. Med. (São Paulo)

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Antropologia é a ciência que tem como objetivo estudar o homem em sua pluralidade de modos de vida e de pensamento, incorporando os diversos aspectos da individualidade às suas modalidades de estudo (biológica, social, cultural e filosófica). Por sua vez, a Antropologia Médica estuda os fatores que influenciam o processo saúde-doença, incluindo os aspectos biossocioculturais e os variados sistemas de saúde. Seguindo o objetivo intrínseco de estudar o homem em sua pluralidade, a Antropologia Médica Vitalista fornece subsídios filosóficos para uma ampliação do entendimento do processo de adoecimento, analisando o mecanismo saúde-doença em conformidade com a estrutura ontológica humana. Fundamentando o diagnóstico e o tratamento das doenças em diversas racionalidades médicas não convencionais (Medicina Tradicional Chinesa, Medicina Tradicional Indiana, Medicina Homeopática e Medicina Antroposófica), a concepção vitalista é uma doutrina filosófica que considera a existência de uma força (princípio) vital responsável pela manutenção da saúde e da vida, unida substancialmente ao corpo físico. Além disso, valorizando a interação de outras instâncias superiores da individualidade humana (mente, alma e espírito) no equilíbrio fisiológico-vital, a concepção vitalista inclui a influência dos pensamentos, sentimentos e emoções na etiopatogenia e na evolução das doenças, aspectos difundidos pela dinâmica psicossomática moderna e pelo recente campo de pesquisas que relaciona a saúde à espiritualidade.

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“…8,18 As an example, distant healing or intention, defined as a conscious, dedicated act of mentation attempting to benefit another person's physical or emotional well being at a distance, can alter physiologic function and influence healing. 19,20 Healing presence is proposed to involve, of necessity, forces at all levels of complexity ( Fig. 1) operating within a complex system inclusive of healee and surrounding environment.…”

Section: Systemic Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fostering a Healing Presence and Investigating Its Mediators

McDonough-Means

Kreitzer

Bell

2004

The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine

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The purpose of this paper is the exploration and explication of the complex phenomena of "healing presence" and of appropriately supportive theoretical approaches to integrate emerging models for research design. Healing presence is described as an interpersonal, intrapersonal, and transpersonal to transcendent phenomenon that leads to a beneficial, therapeutic, and/or positive spiritual change within another individual (healee) and also within the healer. An integrated framework merging knowledge from diverse fields of research develops the multiple elements of healing presence, the healer, the healee's capacity for response and the healing effect as an entangled phenomenon. A conceptual systemic model is presented, and questions and dilemmas that emerge are delineated. An integrated qualitative-quantitative research design is proposed. A systemic relationship model, which includes the healer, the healee, and persons within the healee's environment is presented. The challenges are substantial, but the research questions are meaningful and worthwhile. The goal is to foster healing at bio-psycho-social-spiritual levels of the human being.

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The Efficacy of “Distant Healing”

Abstract: The methodologic limitations of several studies make it difficult to draw definitive conclusions about the efficacy of distant healing. However, given that approximately 57% of trials showed a positive treatment effect, the evidence thus far merits further study.

Cited by 269 publications

References 33 publications

Effectiveness of Distant Healing for Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Randomised Controlled Partially Blinded Trial (EUHEALS)

Effectiveness of Distant Healing for Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Randomised Controlled Partially Blinded Trial (EUHEALS)

Antropologia Médica Vitalista: uma ampliação ao entendimento do processo de adoecimento humano

Fostering a Healing Presence and Investigating Its Mediators

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