Energy Healing

Energy healing has roots in ancient forms of medicine, such as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and ayurveda. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, the basic concept of TCM is that a vital energy force, known as “qi,” surges throughout the body. When there is an imbalance of qi, ailments and illness may result.

Similarly, ayurveda, which originated in India more than 3,000 years ago, is a system of medicine based on the principle that sickness is caused by an imbalance or stress in a person's consciousness, per Johns Hopkins Medicine. The vital energy concept in ayurveda is called “prana” and has similarities to qi in TCM.

In both TCM and ayurveda, the goal is to support the body to achieve balance and realign your energy to find healing. This is done with a number of tools, such as massage therapy, acupuncture, and movement therapies like yoga and tai chi.

Energy healing encompasses a variety of techniques believed to clear blockages in the energy field that contribute to imbalance in a person's life.

Energy healing works on the principle that our physical body and life experiences are informed by the energies that exist in our energy field, and any imbalances or blocks in our energy field can contribute to emotional challenges, physical pain or illness, limiting life patterns, and other unwanted conditions in a person's life.

There are literally dozens of energy healing modalities that come from traditions throughout the world, and some are more new-age creations. These include reiki, acupuncture, crystal healing, sound healing, qigong, reflexology, touch therapy, chakra balancing, polarity balancing, quantum energy healing, shamanic healing, emotional freedom techniques, and aura cleansing. Though this list is not exhaustive, and the Institute of Noetic Sciences has resources on many more techniques.

The following types of energy healing have some scientific backing.

Reiki

Reiki is a form of energy healing in which a practitioner uses their hands and gentle touch to channel energy to the client’s body, per the Cleveland Clinic. The goal is to improve the flow and balance of energy to promote relaxation and healing.

Healing Touch and Therapeutic Touch 

These are similar techniques dating from the 1970s and ’80s and are used in some hospital settings. They are somewhat related to reiki, and have research to support their possible efficacy, but differ from reiki in some beliefs and techniques, like the use of touch or no touch, per the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing articles on healing touch.

Qigong

Qigong is an ancient traditional Chinese practice involving breathing exercises and movement that aims to optimize energy within the body, mind, and spirit in order to maintain health and well-being, according to the NCCIH.

Reflexology

Reflexology is a type of energy healing in which pressure is applied to different parts of the feet to promote healing throughout the body, per the Cleveland Clinic. It is rooted in traditional Chinese medicine and is believed to help balance the body’s energy.

A Special Note on Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a practice from traditional Chinese medicine in which very thin needles are inserted into the skin and then manipulated gently by the practitioner’s hands or by electrical stimulation, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. When applied and moved to certain points on the body, it is believed these needles restore energy flow and improve health.

Acupuncture is often included in energy healing topics, but it has significantly more research and evidence to support its use for pain and various other conditions, including clinical studies and experimental research on its mechanisms. This sets it slightly apart from other forms of energy healing in a biomedical context. You can learn more from the NCCIH about the broad research studies on acupuncture over the years.

Some data suggests some forms of energy healing, including reiki, acupuncture, qigong, and reflexology may come with several health benefits, such as pain relief, improved depression and anxiety, and enhanced overall well-being.

Pain Relief

A major benefit of energy healing touted by practitioners is pain relief, and there is some scientific backing for that claim. A review of studies, published in Current Rheumatology Reports in November 2019, on qigong for musculoskeletal pain found that a consistent qigong practice soothed pain in varying degrees among adults with different forms of chronic pain, and with few side effects.

A meta-analysis in the May 2018 Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice of four randomized controlled studies involving 212 participants found that, on average, those who received reiki therapy reported reduced pain scores compared with control groups.

Improved Depression and Anxiety Symptoms

Energy healing may improve mood and even help with symptoms of depression and anxiety. A 2017 review of 13 studies determined reiki was more effective than a placebo at reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as improving overall quality of life. A more recent review, published in November 2021, of 10 studies involving more than 1,200 adolescents determined that qigong was effective at reducing depression and anxiety among teens.

Danica Arizola, a licensed massage therapist and a reiki master teacher practitioner at Penn Medicine in Philadelphia, says in her experience, reiki may help with anxiousness because it can lead to a deeper level of inner listening and increase your inner knowing.

“Meaning, when you consistently take time to be quiet and still with yourself, over time a deeper level of intimacy is established within all aspects of the self, mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually,” she says. “When the body and mind are more at ease in a state of homeostasis, there is more opportunity and ability for healing.”

Enhanced Overall Well-Being

Those who practice energy healing techniques in a therapy session or on their own say one of the biggest benefits of the practice is that it induces a state of deep relaxation, which can enhance overall well-being. “In my observations, energy healing [generally] relaxes a person, bringing them to a state of breath and peace,” says Jennifer Izaguirre, a reiki master teacher and quantum energy healer.

One larger, uncontrolled online survey study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine in December 2019 involved 99 reiki practitioners and more than 1,400 reiki sessions. It found that even a single session led to significant improvements in overall well-being and other factors, like mood and pain.

May Help Cancer Patients

Energy healing is currently being studied in patients who receive cancer therapy to find out if it can improve their quality of life, boost the immune system, or reduce side effects, according to the NCCIH. Some forms of energy healing have been shown to have some benefits to cancer patients.

One past study funded by the NCI found that women with advanced breast cancer who received reflexology treatments showed improvement in some symptoms, like shortness of breath, and overall physical functioning (like physical capacity and exercise capacity, based on self-reporting).

Arizola says cancer patients are often receptive to energy healing practices like reiki as a way to promote a sense of security.

“I often hear clients speak about feeling disconnected from parts of their bodies, whether it’s because of surgery, tumor sites, or scar tissue,” she says. “Reiki is noninvasive, and there is no pressure or muscle manipulation involved in its application. Because of this, cancer patients who may feel overwhelmed by clinical procedures, being poked and prodded, may feel more inclined to gentle touch and/or hovering over tender areas.”

Since energy healing is noninvasive, it is generally considered very safe. As with any type of therapy, it is important to notify the practitioner of any mental health or medical conditions so that they are informed, and it is also crucial to talk to your primary care provider ahead of time about any therapies you intend to seek.

Energy healing is never a substitute for medical care or psychotherapy, but can often be used in conjunction with allopathic [conventional] treatments. While each person’s experience will be unique, common sensations clients may feel during energy healing include:

• Tingling feeling throughout the body
• Emotional release
• Hot and cold sensations
• Muscle twitches or tremors
• Yawning or coughing
• Dizziness
• Seeing colors or images behind the eyes
• Deep relaxation
• Tiredness

Energy healing is considered to be generally safe and may come with a number of health benefits, so if you are curious about it, there should be no harm in giving it a try. That said, be sure to talk to your primary care provider or an integrative doctor before starting any new type of therapy.

Many people may benefit from energy healing. There is no ailment, big or small, inside or out, that cannot somehow be touched by healing energy.

Energy healing can be particularly helpful prior to and after surgery or other medical procedures, and for those who are experiencing pain, anxiety, or life changes.

Reiki and other energy healing modalities are becoming a more common offering for hospital patients, and is certainly something [many] patients can benefit from.

As mentioned above, energy healing may cause some side effects some people might find unpleasant, such as dizziness, tiredness, or coughing.

If any of these are experienced and cause concern, it is important to reach out to the practitioner for support and advice on how to reduce or alleviate symptoms

What happens during an energy healing session will look different depending on what modality you are engaging with. But generally, there are some things you can expect before, during, and after a treatment.

Before

Before your energy healing session begins, you will have a few minutes to chat with your practitioner to set expectations.

A practitioner will typically ask the client what intentions they have for the session and if there are any particular concerns or imbalances they would like to release. There will often be an opportunity for the client to ask questions prior to the treatment itself, and the practitioner will provide an explanation of what the client can expect during a session.

During

In many forms of energy healing your practitioner will ask you to lie on a massage table fully clothed at the start of the session. Depending on the modality, the practitioner may touch certain areas of the body or hover their hands over the body without touch. It is also common for your experience to change each time.

The experience of the client is often different for each session and is directly influenced by their intention for the session. Some practitioners will talk during a session, others will remain silent, however it is always advisable to tell the practitioner if you are uncomfortable or have questions during a session.

After

After an energy healing session is over, your practitioner will usually give you care instructions.

These often include drinking plenty of water, resting, and eating something to help ground the body. The client may experience a continuation of energy clearing symptoms for an hour and up to several days after a session.