January 2025
Biofield therapy can reduce the invasiveness potential of cancer cells, according to an article in Nature by researchers at the University of Texas. They also found significant changes in the brain and heart activity of therapists while conducting the treatment.
The research team examined the effects of biofield therapy. which is “hands-off” (non-contact) energy healing. Reiki and Qigong are among the forms of this therapy, and this trial used the Bengston Energy Healing Method.
The double-blind trial was conducted as follows:
- Healing treatment was applied to cells in petri dishes. There was one ‘treatment group’ of live human pancreatic cancer cells and one ‘control group’ of dead cells or dishes that contained no cells. In all, the trial involved 60 sets of ‘receivers’.
- The biofield therapy practitioner provided treatment 12 inches from the cells, alternating with rest phases. The activity in the cancer cells was assessed using markers showing certain changes.
- A sham practitioner in a separate room was performing in parallel, mimicking the technique of the real practitioner.
- The study also examined changes in the therapist’s brain and heart activity.
Two of the three cell markers that were measured didn’t show any difference between the treatment group and the control group, but one of them did. Interestingly, the biofield therapy proved to “significantly reduce the invasiveness potential” of the cells relative to sham controls, according to the study.
Significant changes were measured in both brain and heart activity in the therapist during treatment. In the brain, beta and gamma wave activity changed when the therapist treated live cells but not when they treated control cells.
“Although the mechanisms of action are unknown, research indicates that there is widespread use of biofield therapy modalities, belief in its effectiveness among Americans, and perception that it is beneficial and provides support to patients”, the authors write.
Previous studies of non-contact biofield therapy have shown improvements in subjective outcomes like pain and anxiety, and also some positive effects on immunological responses. As for the effectiveness against the actual illness, results have been mixed, and some studies say the therapy is “not more than a placebo”. The new study notes, however, that many of the previous studies fail to meet high methodological standards.
Like Biofield therapy, The Placebo Effect has been shown as effective even if the machinations aren’t understood. However, placebos require involvement from the patient and in this study the subjects were cells in petri dishes, not people.
Anders Bolling
