Does the use of energy fields improve healthcare outcomes? Amy Lewis Anthony Peltier Kim McPike Kym Otremba

Introduction Millions of Americans every year are turning to alternative medical therapies each year. What questions need to be answered before widespread acceptance by the medical community: Do they work? Is there scientific evidence to support their effectiveness? Are they safe? Millions of Americans are looking to alternative and/or complementary medical treatments each year. Many people report positive impacts the complementary techniques have had; however, many questions need to be answered before widespread acceptance into western medical practice. We must search the literature to see what scientific evidence is available, and ask ourselves what needs to be done to determine their efficacy. Briggs. J. P., (2009). Expanding horizons of health care. NIH MedlinePlus, 4. Retrieved from: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/magazine/issues/winter09/articles/winter09pg16-17a.html

Introduction (Cont.) Energy field use is grouped considered a Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM): Diverse medical and health practices not considered part of conventional medicine. Limited scientific evidence available on the efficacy of CAM Key questions regarding their effects need to be answered through well designed research Studies have shown that nearly 70% of people use some form of CAM The broad classification for what we are examining in the presentation is Complementary alternative medicine (CAM). CAM includes things not considered part of conventional western medicine. Its important to realize they are not part of conventional western medicine as some of the CAM therapies may be considered conventional in other countries. As you will see from the bullet point above nearly 70% of people have used some form of CAM. For this reason alone I think well designed research needs to be completed to determine the efficacy of these techniques. Specific examples of what these include as well as common illness they are being used for will be presented in the following slides. Kaczmarek, L., & Kissinger, J. (2006). Healing Touch and Fertility: A Case Report. Journal of Perinatal Education, 15(2), 13-20. doi: 10.1624/105812406X107771

Introduction (Cont.) Conditions people seek CAM include, but are not limited to: Pain Anxiety Cancer Back pain General wellness Immune and Endocrine system This is just a few of the illness that CAM therapies are used for. Not specifically mentioned above is “cancer pain”. We will talk about this latter in the presentation as this is an area where there has been some well designed scientific studies that indicate certain CAMs are effective in reducing cancer pain. Also, many feel that if CAMs are able to lesson anxiety than this will allow the bodies own healing mechanisms function better. Kaczmarek, L., & Kissinger, J. (2006). Healing Touch and Fertility: A Case Report. Journal of Perinatal Education, 15(2), 13-20. doi: 10.1624/105812406X107771

Introduction (Cont.) Examples of CAM therapy include: Therapeutic Touch Reiki Meditation Aromatherapy Chiropractic Massage Therapy This is a list of some of the most common CAMs. We have chosen to focus on the first two as these are very specific to energy field manipulation. Meditation is also thought to improve energy balance; however, we are focusing on something a practitioner would perform on a client, and meditation does not require a practitioner. Kaczmarek, L., & Kissinger, J. (2006). Healing Touch and Fertility: A Case Report. Journal of Perinatal Education, 15(2), 13-20. doi: 10.1624/105812406X107771

Energy Field Manipulation Defined Built on the belief that: The body is surrounded by its own energy field Physical and Psychological illness can lead to blockages of energy flow throughout the body Practitioners believe that they can manipulate another persons energy field and facilitate healing Our review will focus on the two most common forms of energy field manipulation: Therapeutic Touch Reiki This is the core belief/position in energy field manipulation. You must accept that the body is surrounded be its own energy field and that this energy field must function correctly. Illness can lead to blockages in the energy field and a properly trained practitioner can manipulate another persons energy field. They can essentially clear the blockages and restore proper energy flow. This is the primary position of energy field and if you are not able to accept this possibility than you will likely not accept energy field manipulation as a possible treatment. Therapeutic touch and Reiki are the most common energy field manipulation techniques and the two we will focus on. Reterived from: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-bio-energy-healing.htm

Reiki Clinical Intervention in Oncology Nurse practice Reiki: a Japanese word (Rei = Universal, Ki = life force energy Ancient healing art philosophy involving gently laying on of hands Used to assist the body’s efforts to reach greater equilibrium Low risk with no contraindications or adverse effects reported (Bossi, Ott, & DeCristofaro, 2008)

Reiki Reiki - use with cancer patients Shown to decrease the use of opiate pain medication Can effect autonomic nervous system: Decrease heart rate and blood pressure Facilitates relaxation Show to decrease anxiety and depression (Bossi et al, 2008)

Therapeutic Touch Based on the idea that there is universal energy flow and all living organisms are part of this energy flow Disease can disrupt the energy flow in and around the body North American Nursing Diagnosis Association has classified “energy field disturbance” as a legitimate nursing diagnosis. NANDA: A disruption of the flow of energy surrounding a person’s being which results in disharmony of the body, mind and/or body This first two bullets points are just a repeat of what we disscused earlier. They just review the fact that energy field manipulation accepts the position that all living organisms have their own internal energy flow that impacts health and wellness. Again, disease can disrupt energy flow, and certain techniques, one being Therapeutic tough, can restore proper energy flow. Although not widely accepted, energy field disturbance is gaining recognition as it is now a published NANDA. Parissopoulos, S. (2006). A phenomenological study on the lived experience of therapeutic touch; creating a therapeutic environment. ICUS & Nursing Web Journal 05/2006, 26. Retrieved from: http://www.researchgate.net/publication/253650551_RESEARCH_A_Phe nomenological_Study_on_the_Lived_Experience_of_Therapeutic_Touch_ Creating_a_Therapeutic_Environment

Literature review Healing Touch and Fertility: A Case Report Healing touch practitioner applied healing touch therapy to enhance the possibility of pregnancy. Client and partner unsuccessfully attempted to become pregnant for approximately 18 months prior to the utilization of healing touch. Client, and partner first consulted with fertility specialist, and all physiological explanations for infertility were ruled out. Client and partner were given a diagnosis of “infertility of unknown origin” This was an interesting case review of client who sought help with fertility from a healing touch practitioner. The particular client was not able to conceive after 18 months of trying. She sough the traditional medical treatments and was eventually given a diagnosis of “infertility of unknown origin”. It was unknown as her and her husbands medical test were all normal thus there was no medical reason for her inability to conceive. Kaczmarek, L., & Kissinger, J. (2006). Healing Touch and Fertility: A Case Report. Journal of Perinatal Education, 15(2), 13-20. doi: 10.1624/105812406X107771

Literature review Healing Touch and Fertility: A Case Report (Cont.) Healing touch therapy started with one session per week. After nine months without results Healing Touch was increased to once per week. After 14 months of application of a Varity of Healing Touch techniques the Client became pregnant Pregnancy progressed appropriately, and client delivered a healthy child. Clients and Healing Touch practitioner feel the therapy assisted in conception. Kaczmarek, L., & Kissinger, J. (2006). Healing Touch and Fertility: A Case Report. Journal of Perinatal Education, 15(2), 13-20. doi: 10.1624/105812406X107771

Literature review Healing Touch and Fertility: A Case Report (Cont.) Limitations & Implications Literature was a case review, and thus not a scientifically designed study. Only one case was reviewed. A significant number of cases would have to be reviewed to determine if a significant relationship exist between HT and fertility. A review of all similar case reports is needed to further the statistically significant relationship between treating infertility and HT. Kaczmarek, L., & Kissinger, J. (2006). Healing Touch and Fertility: A Case Report. Journal of Perinatal Education, 15(2), 13-20. doi: 10.1624/105812406X107771

Literature review # 3 Biofield therapies and cancer pain Cancer, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery produce a variety negative symptoms The assessment and management of these symptoms can be challenging, and is often not managed well Complementary Alternative Medical therapies are used to enhance conventional treatments Anderson, G., & Taylor, G. (2001). Biofield Therapies and Cancer Pain. Clinical Journal of Oncological Nursing, 16(1), 43-48. doi: 10.1188/12.CJON.4348

Literature review # 3 Biofield therapies and cancer pain (Cont.) Relaxation and/or decreased anxiety/stress are often associated with biofield therapy Reduced anxiety/stress can assist the body with its own healing mechanism Anderson, G., & Taylor, G. (2001). Biofield Therapies and Cancer Pain. Clinical Journal of Oncological Nursing, 16(1), 43-48. doi: 10.1188/12.CJON.4348

Literature review # 3 Biofield therapies and cancer pain (Cont.) Twelve subjects received nine 30 minutes healing touch sessions Sessions were conducted in an inpatient setting Outcome Measures were: Fatigue Nausea Pain Distress A significant reduction in pain was reported Anderson, G., & Taylor, G. (2001). Biofield Therapies and Cancer Pain. Clinical Journal of Oncological Nursing, 16(1), 43-48. doi: 10.1188/12.CJON.4348

Literature review # 3 Biofield therapies and cancer pain (Cont.) 24 patients with cancer pain were studied to compare the effects of Reiki when compared to standard pain management alone Significant reduction in pain was discovered in the group receiving Reiki Anderson, G., & Taylor, G. (2001). Biofield Therapies and Cancer Pain. Clinical Journal of Oncological Nursing, 16(1), 43-48. doi: 10.1188/12.CJON.4348

Conclusions Scientific evidence and quantification of the mechanisms, effectiveness, and safety is limited Little is known about the mechanisms involved A limited number of high quality randomized studies have been completed Anderson, G., & Taylor, G. (2001). Biofield Therapies and Cancer Pain. Clinical Journal of Oncological Nursing, 16(1), 43-48. doi: 10.1188/12.CJON.4348