HEALING WITH ENERGY MEDICINE – PART II

In Part I we talked about the type of Energy Medicine that can be scientifically quantified and observed, Veritable Energy Medicine.  In Part II, I’d like to discuss the other main group of Energy Medicine, called Putative Energy Medicine, which uses forces that cannot really be scientifically quantified or observed.  Therefore, it falls more into the “spiritual” realm of healing. This is the type of Energy Medicine that my patients, and likely you, have come more in contact with as its most common forms are massage, Reiki and acupuncture.  Allow me to give you some basic information about the various forms of putative-type energy medicine and what they involve.

Putative Energy Medicine – Healing Body and Mind

Putative energy medicine involves any type of practice where human hands (of the practitioner’s) are used to channel healing energy to the biofield of the client.  If you remember, in Part I, I explained that the human biofield is that “aura” of electromagnetic energy that surrounds every living person.  This type of energy medicine can be practiced in three ways:

1.  Hands on – Actual hands on from a practitioner, or “healer”, which interacts with the client’s human biofield.  These practices aim to “right” the flow of energy, or Chi, within the human body through manipulating certain energy meridians. These forms include:

• Massage
• Acupressure/acupuncture
• Reflexology
• Reiki
• QiGong

My opinion:  There have been many documented successes in relieving pain, stress, and even achieving success with behaviors such as substance abuse addiction, smoking, helping achieve weight loss, and a number of other positive health benefits.

2.   Hands off – Involves using objects, or exercises, to assist in either transferring energy to the client without directly touching them.  These practices include:

• Yoga – used for centuries in India to create health by creating a healthy flow of energy throughout the body.  Relieves stress, pain, anxiety, and improves breathing.
•  Prana, or pranyama (healthful breathing).  Breathing exercises (Prana) work on the principle of getting more beneficial oxygen into the body through the practice of deeper breathing techniques.
• Crystals.   Used for centuries for their ability to conduct energy – early radios used crystals to transmit electricity – and are still being used in computer motherboards for the same reason.  They are also used in aerospace studies as well as in medical lasers and multiple electronics.  Quartz crystals are the most frequently used in energy medicine as it is said that the crystal aligns the wearer’s biofield with the Schumann resonance, the 7.5 Hz resonance said to be the Earth’s biofield.  Different types of crystals, such as rose quartz and smoky quartz, are said to positively affect different mind and body issues.
• Magnets:  About 140 million Americans, including athletes, chiropractors, physical therapists, etc use and believe that magnet therapy works to relieve pain, reduce swelling, improve circulation, increase melatonin, heal infection, and improve balance.  They have been used in Japan and China for decades.  Research has also shown magnets effective in changing neurological electrical activity so as to alleviate depression. The theory is that because humans contain iron, the magnetic pull exists between the magnet and the iron in our bodies. This magnetism balances the flow of energy in us.

My opinion: Yoga and “healing breath” devotees are in the millions worldwide and attest to the many positive benefits of regular practice from anything to relieving stress, pain from arthritis, relaxation, depression, etc.  It’s fine to explore the use of crystals and magnets for their possible health benefits in addition to more traditional treatment through either an allopathic medical doctor or an integrated medicine doctor.

3.  Distance – the practitioner is in a different physical locality than the client and uses a surrogate form, such as a photograph, or object of the client, to visualize and send healing thoughts.  Intercessionary prayer (specific denominational or general) is one form of distance energy medicine – where a group of people, or just one, says prayers repeatedly for an ailing person.  Another is Reiki where practitioners use visualization of sending healing energy to a client.

My opinion:  Though the medical establishment denounces these techniques as anything more than a placebo effect, there are many documented cases of people who have achieved miraculous healing results after receiving intercessionary prayer, especially that done in groups. However, do consult a licensed medical doctor, or naturopathic doctor, for a particular illness, in addition to whatever distance healing you may seek out.

As I tell my patients, there can be a lot of benefits from some forms of energy medicine, particularly acupressure/acupuncture, therapeutic massage, yoga, healing breath exercises, and some distance healing.  However, I feel these should be used in connection with consultation with either a medical or naturopathic doctor to be sure you get the best care.

Stay Well,
Mark Bromson, M.D.
Natural Health News

Energy Medicine, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_medicine

The Healing Power of Crystals http://www.healingcrystals.com/articles/Healing_Power_of_Crystals.html