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We have included a spectrum of reports in our list. The type of report is indicated at the end of each study:
CASE
DISC = discussion
META = meta analysis
MAR = marginal value (to save researchers the trouble of hunting these down)
MAR METHODS = a formal research study with seriously flawed methodology
OBS = Observational report (series of cases)
P = popular article
Q = qualitative study
RES = research
SUR = survey
J
Jonas, Wayne B. Spiritual Healing Research: Rigor but No Stiff Neck, The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2003, 9(4), 451-453. DISC
Jonas, Wane B./ Chez, Ronald. Alternative Therapies Supplement: Definitions and Standards in Healing Research 2003, 9(3)
Outstanding series of discussions on research methodologies in spiritual healing, including touch and distant healing, healing relationships.
Jones, Suzana. Therapists' attitudes toward use or nonuse of touch in a psychotherapeutic setting. Ph.D. dissertation, Walden University, US – Minnesota 1999. DAl-B 60/05, p. 2345, Nov 1999 DISC
Joyce, C. R. B./ Welldon, R. M. C. The objective efficacy of prayer: a double-blind clinical trial, Journal of Chronic Diseases 1965, 18, 367-77. RES
This study investigated the attitudes therapists reported for use or nonuse of touch in their professional practice and the relationship of demographic variables to such attitudes. Additionally, attitudes toward use of alternative treatment (therapeutic touch and massage) and the willingness of therapists to refer clients to these practitioners was examined.
Forty-three licensed psychologists, practicing in the state of Massachusetts, responded to a self-administered questionnaire designed to assess family background, tendency toward affection, age, gender, race, years of practice, professional education/training, professional experience, conscious use/nonuse of touch, origin of development of philosophy of touch (if any), context under which touch is initiated, and where touch is used.
Results indicated that a vast majority of the participants maintain the opinion that there is a taboo against touch in psychotherapy. As far as willingness of participants to use touch, the results indicated that half the sample answered negatively to this question, and just under one third responded positively. It does not appear that gender plays a role in a therapist's decision to use touch. Therapists are somewhat negative about using touch in therapy themselves and they are mostly neutral about referring their clients to massage or therapeutic touch practitioners. The results showed that a little over 40% of the respondents are not interested in trying new techniques in comparison to about 36% who are. The highest number of therapists reporting an interest in alternative therapy training were in the 41-50 year old age group.
K
Kantor, Debra Jean Ph.D., Healing Narratives of Middle Class Suburban Americans (Alternative Medicine), Rutgers The State University of New Jersey - New Brunswick 1993. Q
Karpinen, Joanne M. Ph.D., The Psychological Experience of Esoteric Healing (Bioenergy), The Union Institute 1998. Q
Kehoe, Jude/ Mattson, Anne. Retrospective Analysis of the Efficacy of Energy Healing in the Student Health Center Setting. University of Oregon Health Center 1999-2003. RES
Healing Touch research summaries of Diane Wardell
Vital signs were taken before and after 208 sessions of using Healing Touch and/or Energetic Healing. The study showed a decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respiration, and pulse rate before and after treatment.
Keller, E/Bzdek, V.M. Effects of therapeutic touch on tension headache pain. Nursing Research 1986, 35(2), 101-106. RES
Keller, Elizabeth Kolbet, Therapeutic Touch: a review of the literature and implications of a holistic nursing modality, Journal of Holistic Nursing 1984, 2(1), 24-29; also in: Keller, Elizabeth/ Bzdek, Virginia M. Effects of Therapeutic Touch on tension headache pain, Nursing Research 1986, 35, 101-104; Keller (Master’s thesis) University of Missouri 1983. RES
Kelly AE/ Sullivan P/ Fawcett J/ Samarel N. Therapeutic touch, quiet time, and dialogue: perceptions of women with breast cancer, Oncol Nurs Forum, 2004, 31(3), 625-31. Q?
PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To compare the perceptions of women with breast cancer to an experimental therapeutic touch (TT) plus dialogue nursing intervention with perceptions of a control quiet time plus dialogue nursing intervention. DESIGN: Qualitative study based on the Science of Unitary Human Beings. Setting: Data collected as part of a larger experimental study of the effects of TT on pre- and postoperative anxiety and mood and postoperative pain in women with breast cancer. SAMPLE: 18 women with early-stage breast cancer. METHODS: Telephone interviews at the completion of an experimental or control nursing intervention administered in the women's homes before and after breast cancer surgery. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Women's perceptions of participation in a study of the effects of dialogue and TT or quiet time. FINDINGS: Content analysis of transcribed telephone interviews revealed few differences in participants' perceptions of experimental and control interventions. Only participants who received the experimental intervention reported body sensations, and only participants in the control group inquired about the study and its purpose. Regardless of experimental or control intervention participation, women expressed feelings of calmness, relaxation, security, and comfort and a sense of awareness. The few women who commented about the nurse who administered the experimental or control intervention indicated that the nurse was empathetic, concerned, supportive, or helpful. CONCLUSIONS: The women regarded either nursing intervention as a positive experience. Some also expressed positive regard for the research nurse. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Nurses who are not trained in the administration of TT may use quiet time and dialogue to enhance feelings of calmness and relaxation in patients with breast cancer.
Kelley, MG. The Lived Experience of Spiritual Healing Touch in Older Women with Chronic Pain. Unpublished master’s thesis. The University of Arizona, Phoenix, 1999. (Data-based). Q
Healing Touch research summaries of Diane Wardell
This phenomenological study explored the experience of Spiritual Healing Touch in three older women with chronic pain. Three core concepts emerged to formulate a structure of the lived experience of Spiritual Healing Touch. The core concepts identified were: 1) transcendence of body, mind and spirit, emerges with relaxation while pain intensifies-dissipates in the presence of integrated wholeness; 2) co-transcending the physical boundaries of energy emerges into the unique experience of beneficial comfort in the presence of transformation uncertainty; and 3) energy is experienced and meaning and value is placed on it throughout the treatment process.
Kemp, L. M. The effects of Therapeutic Touch on the anxiety level of patients with cancer receiving palliative care (Master’s thesis), Canada: Dalhousie University 1994. RES
Kempson, Diane Ashley. The therapeutic influence of intentional touch in the bereavement process for grieving mothers. PhD, dissertation, University of South Carolina 1998. MAR (Touch effects, not healing)
This study examined potential benefits of intentional therapeutic touch in easing the grieving process for women who have experienced the death of a child. Mothers were chosen as the focus of this study as previous research suggested that their grief tends to be longer and more intense than that of fathers, and that mothers are more susceptible to difficulties in resolution of grief.
Trager Psychophysical Integration was chosen because of its light, gentle, non-intrusive movements. Part of the philosophy of the Trager approach is that the body holds trauma in ways that are symbolically parallel to stored trauma in the mind. It was anticipated that the Trager modality of touch would allow for greater resolution of emotional trauma.
Mothers whose children had died in the last six to sixty months were recruited from four different cities. The intervention group received six to eight sessions of Trager over the course of no more than fourteen weeks. Comparison mothers received traditional community services including those offered by formal support groups such as The Compassionate Friends and Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Members of each group were evaluated pre and post test to examine their levels of grief. Griefwas measured on the Grief Experience Inventory in terms of guilt, anger/hostility, despair, death anxiety, somatization, loss of control, and depersonalization. There were 27 mothers with useable data in each group. Multivariate analysis of data revealed no significant difference in change scores between the two groups. It is likely that the construct of parental grief is more complex than previously thought and therefore, not responsive to short term interventions. Qualitative study is suggested.
Kiang, Juliann G/ Marotta, Diane/ Wirkus, Mietek/ Wirkus, Margaret/ Jonas, Wayne B. External Bioenergy Increases Intracellular Free Calcium Concentration and Reduces Cellular Response to Heat Stress, Journal of Investigative Medicine, 2002, 50(1), 38-42. RES
BACKGROUND: External bioenergy (energy emitted from the body) can influence a variety of biological activities. It has been shown to enhance immunity, promote normal cell proliferation, increase tumor cell death, and accelerate bone facture recovery. In this study, we investigated whether external bioenergy could alter intracellular calcium concentration ({Ca3+}, an important factor in signal transduction) and regulate the cellular response to heat stress in cultured human lymphoid Jurkat T cells.
METHODS: A practitioner emitted bioevergy toward tubes of cultured Jurkat calls for one 15-minute period. {Ca2+}, was measured spectrofluorometrically using the fluorescent probe indo-1. The heat shock protein 72 kd was detected using 35S-metionine prepulse and Western blot analysis.
rumination, social isolation, RESULTS:The resting {Ca2+}, in Jurkat T celss was 90+/-3 nM in the presence of external calcium decreased the resting {Ca2+}, to 54+/-2nM, indicating that Ca2+ entry from the external source is important for maintaining the basal level of {Ca2+}. In the presence of external Ca2+, treatment of Jurkat T cells with external bioenergy for 15 minutes increased {Ca2+}, by 22+/-3%. {Ca2+}, remained elevated in these cells for 2 hours. Surprisingly, we also observed that {Ca2+}, increased by 11+/- 1% if cells were simply placed in the area where external bioenergy had been used. This lingering effect of external boienergy dissipated within 24 hours. Treatment with external bioenergy reduced cellular responses to heat stress and did not induce the production of heat shock protein 72 kd, which is known to provide cytoprotection.
CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that externally applied bioenergy can upregulate {Ca2+}, and downregulate the cellular response to stress. The association between the external bioenergy and increases in {Ca2+}, may be a good index for detecting presence of bioenergy.
## The effects of healing on intracellular calcium is an interesting observation. Further research will be needed to clarify whether this is a repeatable effect; whether this is an effect observed with all healers or specific to the healer who was studied in this experiment; and whether there are healers who produce other measurable healing effects but do not produce this effect. In addition, it will be interesting to see whether this is specific to these particular cells or can be observed in other cells as well.
Kiang JG; Ives JA; Jonas WB. External* *bioenergy*-induced increases in intracellular free calcium concentrations are mediated by Na+/Ca2+ exchanger and L-type calcium channel, Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry 2005, 271(1-2), 51-9 RES
Healing significantly increased calcium concentration outside human lymphoid Jurkat T cells cultured in the laboratory. This suggests a possible method for testing healing abilities.
Kido, Mami. Measurements of Distant Healing Effects, Journal of International Society of Life Information Science (ISLIS), 2002, 20(2), 491-512. RES?
Three different types of distant healing were investigated by measurements of subjects who received healing over distances of 300-11000km under blind or double-blind conditions. The measurements were carried out by using a single square voltage method, near infrared photometry andthermography to observe changes in electroconductivity, blood flow, function of the autonomic nervous system, oxygen metabolism in the brain, and body surface temperature. Amazing effects of distant healing, such as vigorous body movement and changes in BP, electroconductivity and the blood flow related variable, were observed in mental (conscious)-contact type of healing and appeared in synchrony with events which occurred in the healing session.1) In two other types of healing, the parasympathetic nerve was excited during distant healing, resulting in calm tranquilized states. A change in temperature distribution was observed in distant healing between New York and Sendai, Japan. When subjects had experienced a vision of light during the distant healing, their brains were observed to be in a stable oxygen supplied state. In certain cases, there seemed to be distant information perception by healers concerning the subjects' characteristics and physical states.
Kiernan, J. The experience of Therapeutic Touch in the lives of five postpartum women, American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing (MCN), 2002, 27(1), 47-53. QAL
PURPOSE: To examine the experience of therapeutic touch in the lives of postpartum women. METHODS: Qualitative study of five postpartum women who participated in therapeutic touch for 2 months during home visits that focused on postpartum issues and concerns. The visits were audiotaped and transcribed. Data were coded and classified; linkages between categories were sought. RESULTS: Five themes or essences of the experience emerged: Feeling Relaxed, Feeling Open, Feeling Cared For, Feeling Connected, and Feeling Skeptical. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The women and the researcher experienced many positive emotions during the home visits. Although it is unknown whether it was the visit, the interaction, or the therapeutic touch that helped the women feel cared for, the experience of participating in therapeutic touch seemed to add a dimension of mutual caring that added a special and unique quality to the home visit.
The intent of this qualitative study was to record and analyze the experiences of five women participating in Therapeutic Touch for approximately two months after the births of their babies. Women naive to the experience were purposely selected because it was anticipated that they would have few if any preconceived notions about the process. They participated in Therapeutic Touch sessions two to three times per week in their homes during their first two postpartal months. The familiar setting gave them the advantage in feeling comfortable and enhanced the relationship between them and the researcher.
The researcher visited the women and participated with them in Therapeutic Touch during the aftermath of a significant life event--the births of their babies. Therapeutic Touch became the pivotal experience around which the visit flowed and around which the lives of the researcher and participants became intimately interwoven through shared experiences. Therapeutic Touch facilitated an openness, a feeling of being safe and cared for, an interconnectedness that fostered a sense of tranquility and peace.
Qualitative methodology was used for the gathering and analysis of the data. As the work progressed, similarities and differences in the responses of both researcher and participant to Therapeutic Touch and to the shared experiences in general became more clearly defined. What began as a description of Therapeutic Touch in the lives of five women, ended as a description of it in the connected lives of researcher and participant.
Therapeutic Touch added a dimension of mutual caring that gave an ordinary home visit a special and unique quality. It provided a means of approximation, a means of getting close to the participants both physically and emotionally. As the data were analyzed and the shared experiences reflected upon, the intimate quality of the process became more evident. In this study, intimacy, involving closeness, awareness, trust and commitment that allow and promote risk-taking and self-disclosure, became the overarching descriptor of the Therapeutic Touch experience.
Kiley, Susan. Comparing the efficacy of Healing Touch and chiropractic adjustment in treating chronic low back pain: a pilot study. RES? Q?
Healing Touch research summaries of Diane Wardell
The first phase of this study to evaluate the effectiveness of Healing Touch for individuals suffering from chronic headaches was completed in 2003. The frequency and intensity of headache decreased, utilization of the healthcare system decreased, and patients reported personal transformations. Additionally, it was clear that the study design represented a useful and new way to capture outcomes from energy work interventions.
King, Juliann G/ Marottta, Diane/ Wirkus, Mietek/ Wirkus, Margaret/ Jonas, Wayne B. External bioenergy increases intracellular free calcium concentration and reduces cellular response to heat stress, Journal of Investigative Medicine 2002, 50(1), 38-44. RES
“…we investigated whether external bioenergy could alter intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i, an important factor in signal transduction) and regulate the cellular response to heat stress in cultured human lymphoid Jurkat T cells.
METHODS: A practitioner emitted bioenergy toward tubes of cultured Jurkat cells for one 15-minute period. [Ca2+]i was measured spectrofluoremetrically using the fluorescent probe indo-1. The heat shock protein 72 kd was detected using 35S-methionine prepulse and western blot analysis.
RESULTS: The resting [Ca2+]i in Jurkat T cells was 90±3 nM in the presence of external calcium. The removal of external calcium decreased the resting[Ca2+]i to 54±2nM, indicating that Ca2+ entry from the external source is important for maintaining the basal level of [Ca2+]i. In the presence of external Ca2+, treatment of Jurkat T cells with external bioenergy for 15 minutes increased [Ca2+], by 22±3%. [Ca2+]i remained elevated in these cells for 2 hours. . .
CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that externally applied bioenergy can upregulateand downregulate the cellular response to stress. The association between the external bioenergy an
d increases in [Ca2+]i may be a good index for detecting presence of bioenergy.”
Kirkpatrick, Richard A. Witchcraft and lupus erythematosus, Journal of the American Medical Association 1981, 245(9), 1937. CASE
Kissinger, Jeanette/Kaczmarek, Lori. Healing Touch and Fertility: A Case Report J Perinat Educ. 2006 Spring; 15(2): 13–20.
doi: 10.1624/105812406X107771. CASE
ABSTRACT: “Fertility and conception have been a concern through the ages. This case report documents the use of healing touch (HT), a noninvasive energy-field therapy, with the intent to facilitate conception and a healthy pregnancy. After 18 months of being unsuccessful in conceiving, a 40-year-old female sought HT to enhance the possibility of conceiving naturally. She had normal menstrual cycles, and both she and her husband had normal fertility tests. The client conceived after several months of HT therapy, which also included stimulating reflexology points on the ankle designed to affect the uterus and ovaries and encouraging positive affirmations. HT therapy continued throughout a trouble-free pregnancy and during birth. The client gave birth to a healthy baby boy without the use of pain-relieving medications. Perinatal educators and other health-care practitioners who work with women having difficulty conceiving or experiencing difficult pregnancies may wish to consider recommending the use of HT and/or other complementary therapies with the goal of fostering more positive reproductive outcomes.”
Kohan, Michael/ Tiller, William A. Anomalous environmental influences on in vitro enzyme studies, Subtle Energies 2000, 11(2), 99-122RES
The enzyme alkaline phosphatase was altered by an intention imprinted electronic device (IIED). The effect was greater when the enzyme was placed in a Faraday cage (which shielded it from external electromagnetic fields)
Kopecki, D. The Experience of Healing Touch in Women with Breast Cancer. Unpublished master’s thesis, the Sage Colleges, New York, 2001. (Data-based). Q
Healing Touch research summaries of Diane Wardell
This study explored the experience of three women with breast cancer participating in a program that offered Healing Touch as a complementary therapy. Three essential themes representing the experience of Healing Touch in this study emerged as being Unity/Connectedness/Belonging; Inner Wellness; and Getting Me Through/Keeping Me Going. For women in this study, the essence of the Healing Touch experience was one of connection with others, leading to strengthened self. Through the primary experiences of human touch, caring and concern, and unity with others, a new state of enhanced physical, emotional and spiritual well-being was created. Study findings suggest that providing Healing Touch for enhancing quality of life is a useful modality for women with breast cancer at differing stages of the survivorship journey.
Kozub, Mary L. The effect of therapeutic touch on pain response in infants receiving injections. M.S.N. dissertation, Medical College of Ohio at Toledo, US -- Ohio. MAl 39/04, p. 1127, Aug 2001 DISC
This study explored the use of Therapeutic Touch as an anticipatory measure to decrease the experience of pain in infants receiving an injection. The physiologic characteristics of the energy field as well as the use of energetic modalities as a preventive measure are discussed within the literature. Twenty infants were recruited from the REACH program, which provides monitoring for children receiving immunization with Synagis to prevent infection with Respiratory Syncitial Virus, a potentially fatal infection for this population. Infants received two treatments, a mimic and Therapeutic Touch intervention, thus serving as their own controls. Both treatments were provided by the researcher and observed by clinic nurses who were blinded to the treatment administered. Pain response was recorded using the PIPP scale. Scores for both interventions were compared using paired sample t-tests. Results of statistical analysis were nonsignificant, possibly due to small sample size.
Kramer, N.A. Comparison of Therapeutic Touch and casual touch in stress reduction of hospitalized children. Pediatric Nursing 1990, 16(5), 483-485. RES
Krieger, D. The response of in-vivo human hemoglobin to an active healing therapy by direct laying on of hands. Human Dimensions 1972, 1, 12-15. RES
Krieger, D. The relationship of touch with intent to help or heal subjects: In-vivo hemoglobin values: A study of personalized interaction. In Proceedings of the Ninth American Nurses' Association 1973 pp.39-58. RES
Krieger, D. Healing by laying-on of hands as a facilitator of bioenergetic change: The response of in-vivo human hemoglobin. International Journal of Psychoenergetic Systems 1974, 1(2), 121-129. RES
Krieger, D. Therapeutic touch: The imprimatur of nursing. American Journal of Nursing 1975, 75(5), 784-787. DISC
Krieger, D/Peper, E/Ancoli, S. Therapeutic touch: Searching for evidence of physiological change. American Journal of Nursing 1979, 79(4). 660-665. DISC
Krippner, Stanley, A questionnaire study of experiential reactions to a Brazilian healer, Journal of the Society for Psychical Research 1990, 56, 208- 215. SURV
Krucoff, MW/ Crater, SW/ Gallup, D/ Blankenship, JC/ Cuffe, M/ Guarneri, M/ Krieger, RA/ Kshettry, VR/ Morris, K/ Oz, M/ Pichard, A/ Sketch, MH, Jr./ Koenig, HG/ Mark, D/ Lee, KL. Music, imagery, touch, and prayer as adjuncts to interventional cardiac care: the Monitoring and Actualisation of Noetic Trainings (MANTRA) II randomised study. Lancet, 2005, 366(9481), 211-7. RES
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673605669103/abstract
A multicenter, prospective study explored effects of intercessory prayer compared to music, imagery and touch (MIT) therapy to reduce preprocedural distress that might affect outcomes in 748 patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention in nine USA centers. No significant effects of prayer were found on primary factors of in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events, 6-month readmission or death nor on secondary endpoints of 6-month major adverse cardiovascular events, 6 month death or readmission, or 6-month mortality. A double-layered prayer intervention was utilized, with prayers being sent by a second group to enhance the prayers sent by the primary group that prayed for the cardiac patients. Neither masked prayer nor MIT therapy significantly improved clinical outcome after elective catheterization or percutaneous coronary intervention.
Krucoff, Mitchell W/ Crater, Suzanne W/ Green, Cindy L/ Maas, Arthur C./ Seskevich, Jon E/ Lane, James D/ Loeffler, Karen A/ Morris, Kenneth/ Bashore, Thomas M/ Koenig, Harold G. Integrative noetic therapies as adjuncts to percutaneous intervention during unstable coronary syndromes: Monitoring and Actualization of Noetic Training (MANTRA) feasibility pilot, American Heart Journal, 2001, 142(5),760-767. RES
BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCl) for unstable coronary syndromes have substantial emotional and spiritual distress that may promote procedural complications. Noetic (nonpharmacologic) therapies may reduce anxiety, pain and distress, enhance the efficacy of pharmacologic agents, or affect short- and long-term procedural outcomes.
METHODS: The Monitoring and Actualization of Noetic Training (MANTRA) pilot study examined the feasibility of applying 4 noetic therapies — stress relaxation, imagery, touch therapy, and prayer-to patients in the setting of acute coronary interventions. Eligible patients had acute coronary syndromes and invasive angiography or PCI. Patients were randomized across 5 treatment groups: the 4 noetic and standard therapies. Questionnaires completed before PCI reflected patients' religious beliefs and anxiety. Index hospitalization end points included post-PC! ischemia, death, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and urgent revascularization. Mortality was followed up for 6 months after hospitalization. RESULTS: Of eligible patients, 88% gave informed consent. Of 150 patients enrolled, 120 were assigned to noetic therapy; 118 [98%) completed their therapeutic assignments. All clinical end points were available for 100% of patients. Results were not statistically significant for any outcomes comparisons. There was a 25% to 30% absolute reduction in adverse periprocedural outcomes in patients treated with any noetic therapy compared with standard therapy. The lowest absolute complication rates were observed in patients assigned to off-site prayer. All mortality by 6-month follow-up was in the noetic therapies group. In patients with questionnaire scores indicating a high level of spiritual belief, a high level of personal spiritual activity, a low level of community-based religious involvement, or a high level of anxiety, noetic therapies appeared to show greater reduction in absolute in-hospital complication rates compared with standard therapy.
CONCLUSIONS: Acceptance of noetic adjuncts to invasive therapy for acute coronary syndromes was excellent, and logistics were feasible. No outcomes differences were significant; however, index hospitalization data consistently suggested a therapeutic benefit with noetic therapy. Of all noetic therapies, off-site intercessory prayer had the lowest short- and longterm absolute complication rates. Definitive demonstration of treatment effects of this magnitude would be feasible in a patient population about 4 times that of this pilot study. Absolute mortality differences make safety considerations a mandatory feature of futurrevascularization. Mortality was followed up for 6 months after hospitalization. RESULTS: Of eligible patients, 88% gave informed consent. Of 150 patients enrolled, 120 were assigned to noetic therapy; 118 [98%) completed their therapeutic assignments. All clinical end points were available for 100% of patients. Results were not statistically significant for any outcomes comparisons. There was a 25% to 30% absolute reduction in adverse periprocedural outcomes in patients treated with any noetic therapy compared with standard therapy. The lowest absolute complication rates were observed in patients assigned to off-site prayer. All mortality by 6-month follow-up was in the noetic therapies group. In patients with questionnaire scores indicating a high level of spiritual belief, a high level of personal spiritual activity, a low level of community-based religious involvement, or a high level of anxiety, noetic therapies appeared to show greater reduction in absolute in-hospital complication rates compared with standard therapy.
CONCLUSIONS: Acceptance of noetic adjuncts to invasive therapy for acute coronary syndromes was excellent, and logistics were feasible. No outcomes differences were significant; however, index hospitalization data consistently suggested a therapeutic benefit with noetic therapy. Of all noetic therapies, off-site intercessory prayer had the lowest short- and longterm absolute complication rates. Definitive demonstration of treatment effects of this magnitude would be feasible in a patient population about 4 times that of this pilot study. Absolute mortality differences make safety considerations a mandatory feature of futurrevascularization. Mortality was followed up for 6 months after hospitalization. RESULTS: Of eligible patients, 88% gave informed consent. Of 150 patients enrolled, 120 were assigned to noetic therapy; 118 [98%) completed their therapeutic assignments. All clinical end points were available for 100% of patients. Results were not statistically significant for any outcomes comparisons. There was a 25% to 30% absolute reduction in adverse periprocedural outcomes in patients treated with any noetic therapy compared with standard therapy. The lowest absolute complication rates were observed in patients assigned to off-site prayer. All mortality by 6-month follow-up was in the noetic therapies group. In patients with questionnaire scores indicating a high level of spiritual belief, a high level of personal spiritual activity, a low level of community-based religious involvement, or a high level of anxiety, noetic therapies appeared to show greater reduction in absolute in-hospital complication rates compared with standard therapy.
CONCLUSIONS: Acceptance of noetic adjuncts to invasive therapy for acute coronary syndromes was excellent, and logistics were feasible. No outcomes differences were significant; however, index hospitalization data consistently suggested a therapeutic benefit with noetic therapy. Of all noetic therapies, off-site intercessory prayer had the lowest short- and longterm absolute complication rates. Definitive demonstration of treatment effects of this magnitude would be feasible in a patient population about 4 times that of this pilot study. Absolute mortality differences make safety considerations a mandatory feature of future clinical trials in this area.
L
Lafreniere, Kathryn D/ Mutus, Bulent/ Cameron, Sheila/ Tannous, Marie/ Giannotti, Maria/ Abu-Zahra, Hakam/ Laukkanen, Ethan. Effects of Therapeutic Touch on Biochemical and Mood Indicators in Women, The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 1999, 5(4), 367-370. RES
Previous research has shown therapeutic touch (TT) to be effective in reducing anxiety and discomfort and promoting relaxation. The present investigation experimentally evaluated the effects of TT on biochemical indicators and moods in a sample of 41 healthy female volunteers. Participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental group who received IT or to a control group who did not receive IT. Pretest and posttest urine samples were collected, and personality and mood inventories were administered across three consecutive monthly sessions. Results indicated that mood disturbance in the experimental group decreased significantly over the course of the three sessions, while the control group increased in mood disturbance over time. Specifically, experimental group participants showed significant reductions in tension, confusion, and anxiety and a significant increase in vigor across sessions. Analyses of the biochemical data indicated that IT produced a significant decrease in levels of nitric oxide in the experimental group by the third IT session. The results of the present investigation have important implications for reducing symptom distress in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Larden CN/ Palmer ML, Janssen P. Efficacy of therapeutic touch in treating pregnant inpatients who have a chemical dependency, J Holist Nurs., 2004, 22(4), 320-32. RES
Chemical dependency is known to complicate about 3.8% of pregnancies in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. In this study, 54 English-speaking, hospitalized women were randomly assigned to receive either (a) daily Therapeutic Touch over a 7-day period for 20 minutes each day, (b) shared activity with a registered nurse for 20 minutes over a 7-day period, or (c) standard ward care. Anxiety was measured using Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Withdrawal symptoms were measured using a standardized Symptom Checklist. Anxiety scores were significantly less on Days 1, 2, and 3 (p<.05) for the group receiving Therapeutic Touch. Therapeutic Touch may be of value as an adjunctive measure in the treatment of chemical dependency among pregnant women.
Leb, C. The effects of Healing Touch on depression (Master’s thesis) University of North Carolina 1996. RES
Ledwith, SP. Alternatives, Complimentary Therapies: Therapeutic Touch and Mastectomy: A Case Study, RN, 1995, 58, 51-53. MAR
ABSTRACT: An experienced practitioner gives an example of how TT used before and after surgery contributed to his patient’s positive outcome.
Leibovici, Leonard. Effects of remote, retroactive intercessory prayer on outcomes in patients with bloodstream infection: randomized controlled trial,Beyond Science?, 2001, 323, 1450-1451. RES
Leigh, Geoffrey K/ Polonko, Karen A/ Leigh, Catherine D. A comparison of human energy fields among children, youth, adults & Dahn masters, Subtle Energies & Energy Medicine 2003, 14(1), 77.
ABSTRACT: While concepts and investigations of human energy fields have been developed for centuries, there has been little systematic work comparing the fields of children, adolescents, and adults. In addition, general fields have had little comparison between average adults and those participating in an intense practice that may affect the field. Using the GDV machine, this research compared small groups of children, adolescents, average adults, and Dahn Hak Masters on measures of 20 basic aspects of the human energy fields, including the seven chakras. Differences were found in seven of the 13 field parameters as well as all seven measures of the chakras. The largest fields occurred with the Dahn Masters while children had the highest entropy (communication with the environment). Difference on chakras showed children to be the most open while adults were the most shut down. The means for Dahn Masters were more consistent with those for children and adolescents that other adults, suggesting that changes in the field with age may be different when people do extensive work that affects the field. Further research is required to verify these preliminary results and test additional questions raised by this study."
Leikam, W. C. A Pilot Study on the Psychic Influence of E. Coli Bacteria, Unpublished Manuscript 1981. RES
Lenington, Sandra, Effects of holy water on the growth of radish plants, Psychological Reports 1979, 45, 381-382. (Abstract in Journal of Parapsychology 1980, 44, 386-7.) RES
Leskowitz ED. Phantom limb pain treated with therapeutic touch: a case report,Arch Phys Med Rehabil., 2000, (4), 522-4. CASE
Phantom limb pain is a widespread condition that responds poorly to conventional medical and surgical treatments. A case report is presented of the successful treatment of phantom leg pain in a 62-year-old man with peripheral vascular disease using the complementary medical technique of Therapeutic Touch. The clinical and research literature of Therapeutic Touch is briefly reviewed, with regard to subjective outcome measures like pain and anxiety, as well as to several objective measures of physiologic function. The possible role of nonspecific factors like placebo responsiveness or hypnotic dissociation in this case are considered, as are the applicability of complementary and alternative medicine to phantom limb pain, the neurologic mechanisms that generate phantom sensations, and the possible mechanism of action of Therapeutic Touch.
Lewton, Elizabeth Ph.D., Living harmony: the transformation of self in three Navajo religious healing traditions (Native Americans), Case Western Reserve University 1997. Q
Lin, Yu-Shen. Effects of Therapeutic Touch in Reducing Pain and Anxiety in an Elderly Population. PhD, dissertation, University of Virginia 1998. RES
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to test the effects of Therapeutic Touch (TT) in reducing chronic pain and anxiety in an elderly population by measuring four outcome variables: pain, anxiety, salivary cortisol and subtle body energy.
METHODS: A pre-post-test, single-blind, three-group, stratified-randomized design was used to test the effectiveness of Therapeutic Touch over mimic touch (MT, placebo control), and standard care (SC, control). The participants with chronic pain and anxiety were stratified randomized into three groups: TT, MT, and SC. The participants assigned to the TT group received a 20-minute of TT in addition to standard care. TT was given at the same time for three consecutive days. While the participants in MT group received a mimic touch in addition to standard care under the same time frame and conditions. Participants assigned to the SC group received standard care only. Pain was measured by the Numerical Rating Scale. Anxiety was measured by the State-Trait-Anxiety-Inventory. Salivary cortisol was analyzed using radioimmunoassay, and Bioelectric Field Analyzer was used to measure the subtle body energy.
RESULTS: Ninety subjects completed the entire protocol. Both pain and anxiety scores were reduced in the TT group, and the reduction of pain was significantly different when compared to the other two groups with effect size 0.35. Salivary cortisol levels showed little change and there was no significant difference among the three groups. The change of subtle body energy showed a trend. A total of 15 pairs of frequencies showed that the change of subjects’ subtle energy was increased significantly in the TT group. An advanced statistic is needed to clarify the impact of TT on those frequencies.
Lionberger, H.J. An interpretive study of nurses' practice of Therapeutic Touch. Dissertation Abstracts International 1986, 46, 2624. Q
Lodge, Mary Beth. Healing Touch: A cost effectiveness study. COST EFFECTIVENESS
Healing Touch research summaries of Diane Wardell
A cost effectiveness study was conducted to assess the overall impact of inclusion of the complementary modalities of energy medicine and imagery on utilization of benefits and medical costs. A thirteen-month study was conducted within a self-insured manufacturing company with 440 employees. Healing Touch was included as a benefit available to any employee or dependent covered under the medical benefits plan. There were a total of 38 participants with chronic disease. Overall medical costs were higher during the study year than the previous year. The cost of the study represented on 3% of total medical benefit costs to the company. A co-pay comparable to other outpatient benefits of the medical plan would have reduced this. The company decided to include Healing Touch in its benefit plan with a co-pay after receiving demands for continuation of this service from study participants.
Logue, Nancy. Therapeutic touch. MN, dissertation, Dalhousie University, Canada 1998. RES?
Therapeutic touch is a complementary therapy that was developed for use within nursing by Dolores Kreiger in 1974. Today it is estimated to be used by over 37,000 nurses in North America in a variety of practice areas. Despite its increasing use, it remains a controversial practice as evidenced in the nursing literature.
This study explored the experience of therapeutic touch for nurses providing therapy and clients receiving it with the intention of contributing to the developing knowledge base of this phenomenon. It was prefaced by an overview of historical and social developments in the evolution of allopathy and complementary therapies in general, as well as a comparison of their basic philosophies.
A qualitative ethnography was the research design selected to explore lived experiences of therapeutic touch. Feminist and critical social theory provided perspectives guiding the research methodology, Data collection took place over a five month period in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia with three nurses providing therapeutic touch in circumstances of independent practice and four adult clients receiving therapeutic touch for the purposes of health promotion or health maintenance. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
Lombart, Kenneth George. Unconventional therapies: Individual factors associated with use, perceptions of function and efficacy. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Louisville, US – Kentucky 2002. Q
DAI-B 63/08, p. 3926, Feb 2003
There has been an increasing use of Unconventional Therapies in the past decade. These refer to healthcare interventions representing either a complement or alternative to traditional medicine to which many people have turned in hope of attaining a fuller, more healthy life. Previous research has focused on overall use, or use of general types, of these therapies. Research has also started delving into mechanisms of change and physical and psychological effects of some specific therapies. The present study examined individual factors of personality, locus of control, health values, desirable responding, age, medical conditions, and transformational events to determine associations with use and perceived efficacy of 10 specific therapies. Three other areas were explored: participants' functional groupings of these therapies were compared to major domains used by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine; individual factors were examined for patterns associated with having tried each; and patterns were sought for associations with perceived efficacy of each.
Participants were 160 adults, ages 18 to 73 years. Of these, 102 were introductory psychology students from the University of Louisville and 58 were residents of the same metropolitan area. Therapies surveyed were Acupuncture, Chiropractic, Ginkgo biloba, Hypnosis, Magnet, Massage, Meditation, Ornish (reversal) diet, Therapeutic touch, and Yoga. Being older and higher in the personality factor Openness to new experience were associated with having tried more therapies, explaining 14.6% of the variance in number tried. Being younger and using less impression management were associated with greater perceived efficacy of therapies tried, but accounted for only 8.3% of the variance in perceived efficacy. Identification of primary therapeutic functions showed agreement rates from 30.2% (Therapeutic touch) to 83.4% (Meditation) with the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine maj or domains for the therapies. Individual factor patterns for use and perceived efficacy were developed for the surveyed therapies, using discriminant function and regression analyses.
The individual factor patterns developed in this study provide a starting point for future research into the use and perceived effectiveness of specific unconventional therapies. Future research into perceived efficacy should recruit individuals who have tried the therapies of interest.
Loveland Cook, Cynthia A/ Guerrerio, Joanne F/ Slater, Victoria E. Healing Touch and Quality of Life in Women Receiving Radiation Treatment for Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Alternative Therapies, 2004, 10(3), 34-41. RES
Touch therapies (eg, Healing Touch [HT], Therapeutic Touch [TT], Reiki) are the most widely used energy-based complementary therapies in the United States and are believed to exert their effect by restoring, energizing, and balancing energy field disturbances. Although little is known about their underlying mechanism of this effect, there is evidence supporting the clinical value of these therapies in improving health and easing the discomfort and pain associated with some medical illnesses.1-3 It is estimated that more than 67,000 individuals, mostly health care professionals, have been trained in Healing Touch, and increasing numbers of these individuals are using this approach in clinical practice.4 One of the fastest growing areas of use is in the field of oncology. Many hospitals throughout the country support its use in helping oncology patients improve their quality of life through pain reduction and alleviation of the side effects associated with radiation treatment and chemotherapy5-7. Despite the widespread use of HT in oncology and other areas of practice, only a modest number of randomized control trials (RCT) have been conducted to test its effectiveness. The documented value of HT in clinical practice, its widespread use in oncology, and the limited number of clinical trials testing its effectiveness contributes to the importance of investigating outcomes associated with its use. Using an RCT research design, the primary aimof this study was to investigate how well HT affected health-related quality of life
(HRQoL) in women receiving radiation therapy for gynecological and breast cancer.
Lowery, R. Attitudes toward Therapeutic Touch. (Masters Thesis) 1999. Q
Lowry, RC, The effect of an educational intervention on willingness to receive therapeutic touch, J Holist Nurs. 2002, 20(1), 48-60. RES METHOD
The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to test the effect of an educational intervention on participants' willingness to receive Therapeutic Touch (TT). A sample of 108 participants was recruited from three area nursing programs and one professional business women's group. Participants completed questionnaires before and after a 10-minute talk on TT and a 5-minute demonstration of TT. Participants were asked to rank their willingness to experience a TT treatment and to explain the reasons for their rankings. The hypothesis that the intervention would increase participants' willingness to experience TT was supported; there was a significant difference in pre- and postintervention willingness to experience TT.