Scientific Basis of Energy Work and Research

Here are some research materials as of Fall, 2006. Research is ongoing in these fields. I hope you'll find this list helpful.

1. Hospitals in the Northeast Region with Integrative Medicine Centers that offer energy therapy services:
• Continuum Center for Health and Healing, Beth Israel Medical Center, NYC; www.healthandhealingny.org: offers Reiki, Acupressure, Therapeutic Touch; ongoing studies and research in the field
• IMC - Griffin Hospital, Yale - Griffin PRC, CT; www.imc-griffin.org: offers Reiki, Polarity Therapy, Therapeutic Touch
• MSKCC, Sloan Kettering, NYC; www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/1979.cfm: offers Reiki, Reflexology, Acupressure, Touch Therapies
• University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh; http://complimentarymedicine.upmc.com: offers Reflexology
• Lourdes Wellness Center, Lady of Lourdes Hospital, N.J.; www.lourdeswellnesscenter.org: offers Reflexology, Reiki, Acupressure, OneBrain
• Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia; www.fccc.edu, Complete Care Center: informal association with Center for Human Integration, Philadelphia (their CAM provider of choice), which offers clients all energy modalities, such as Reiki, Therapeutic Touch, Touch for Health, OneBrain, Reflexology, Acupressure, Tachyon Therapy, Integrated Energy Therapy (www.chi4wellness.org)
• St. Mary Holistic Center at St. Mary Medical Center, PA; www.stmaryhealthcare.org; offers Reiki, Reflexology, Acupressure
• Jeanes Hospital, Philadelphia; www.jeanes.com; Complementary Therapies; offers Reiki, Reflexology
• Doylestown Hospital, The Spa at Health & Wellness Center; www.dh.org; offers Reiki, Reflexology



2. NIH / NCCAM Centers for research on energy therapies:
• Center for Frontier Medicine in Biofield Science, University of Arizona; NIH award to establish center to study biofield therapies (which include Johrei, Qi Gong, Reiki, Therapeutic Touch)
• Exploratory Program Grant for Frontier Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, to study Therapeutic Touch
• Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kernan Hospital, MD
• Massachusetts General Hospital, acupuncture
• NIH information about all research studies, listed by topic: http://clinicaltrials.gov, and http://nccam.nih.gov/clinicaltrials/alltrials.htm
• National Library of Medicine articles: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alternativemedicine.html
Notes: no NCCAM Center studies have yet been concluded; energy healing therapies are now also being referred to as biofield or bioelectromagnetic therapies.


3. Research - links to Clinical Studies supporting value/ affect of Reiki:
• www.healthandhealingny.org/research/reiki_clinical.asp (summary of 5 studies from 1993-1998 for chronic illness, depression, immune function, post-op pain, mechanism of action)
• http://clinicaltrials.gov: no results yet - 7 studies underway for prostrate cancer (2), HIV, fibromyalgia, CD/DM/NID, distance healing for Glioblastoma and breast reconstructive surgery recovery
• NCBI / PubMed: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; www.pubmed.gov
• 2004 UK pilot study - autonomic nervous system changes during reiki; PMID #15674004
• 2003 review of biofield therapy and research to date; PMID #12652885
• 1997 Canada Cross Cancer Institute study using Reiki to manage pain; PMID#9765732
• 1999 reiki standardarization procedures; PMID#10328637
• 2002 study of effect of reiki treatments on functional recovery in post stroke rehab patients; Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 12/02, NCCAM Grantee publication; PMID#12614528
• www.reikiresearchfoundation.org/msstudies.htm; 2002 UK Multiple Sclerosis reiki study, Reiki Research Foundation
• General reiki sites, which include research references:
• www.reiki.org; International Center for Reiki Training; see article on Reiki in Hospitals
• www.reikiresearchfoundation.org
• Backgrounder: An Introduction to Reiki by NNCAM: http://nccam.nih.gov/health/reiki



4. Research - links to Clinical Studies supporting value/ affect of Acupressure
• www.healthandhealingny.org/research/acupress_clinical.asp; 6 studies from 1996-2001 for COPD, Dyspnea, Nausea & Vomiting of Pregnancy, Post-op nausea and vomiting, Post-op pain, sleep
• www.clinicaltrials.gov; no results yet; 6 studies underway for HIV, Cancer, Nausea, Obesity, Colorectal neoplasms, Osteoarthritis
• NCBI / PubMed: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; www.pubmed.gov
• 2000 systematic review of CAM for pain at end of life; PMID#11068159
• 1996 study on post-op pain; PMID#8969878
• 2000 study treatment for gagging dental patients; PMID#11199620
• 2002 study to prevent nausea & vomiting post-op; PMID#12139646
• 2002 study on PD; PMID#12400430
• 2004 study end stage renal disease; PMID#14670399
• 2004 study low back pain; PMID#15207999
• 2004 study Cesarean section rates; PMID#15314328
• 2004 study long term affects of integrated rehab in patients with advanced angina pectoris; PMID#15650466
• 2004 study of labor pain & delivery length in women in labor; PMID#15673989
• 2005 study of nausea, vomiting, anxiety, pain post-cesarean; PMID#16179042
• 2003 pilot study of quality of life with chronic obstructive asthma; PMID#14629844
• 1997 study of adjunct to pulmonary rehab program; PMID#9271771



5. Research - links to Clinical Studies supporting value/ affect of Reflexology
• NCBI / PubMed: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; www.pubmed.gov
• 2003 study - relieves symptoms of MS; PMID#12926840
• 2000 study of anxiety and pain with breast & lung cancer; PMID#10660924
• 1999 study of headaches/migraines; PMID#10234869
• 1994 article on 2 small pilot studies for headaches & post-op; PMID#8073246



6. Research - links to Clinical Studies supporting value/ affect of Polarity Therapy:
• www.clinicaltrials.gov; no results yet; 1 study underway for stress, depression and anxiety
• NCBI / PubMed: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; www.pubmed.gov
• 2005 study on radiotherapy induced fatigue; PMID#15695472
• www.polaritytherapy.org



7. Research - links to Clinical Studies supporting value/ affect of Light / Color Therapy
• www.clinicaltrials.gov; Light: 1 NCCAM study completed on Alzheimer's disease/dementia, 6 studies underway for leg injuries/fractures, peripheral neuropathy, osteoarthritis, cancer, warts, Alzheimer disease
• www.clinicaltrials.gov; Color: no results yet; 2 NCCAM studies underway for effects of different colors of light on human physiology and seasonal affective disorder/treatment for winter depression



8. Research - links to Clinical Studies supporting value/ affect of Therapeutic Touch:
• www.healthandhealingny.org/research/therap_clinical.asp; 7 studies from 1998-1999 for arthritis, cancer, palliative care, drug addiction, pain & anxiety in the elderly, stress & anxiety, use in critical care
• www.clinicaltrials.gov; 5 studies, 1 completed for stress in neonates & 4 underway for pain, cervical cancer, osteoporosis/fractures and cervix neoplasms
• NCBI / PubMed: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; www.pubmed.gov
• 2003 study for symptoms of cancer; PMID#14713325
• 2004 study fibromyalgia; PMID#15222602
• 1998 study of osteoarthritis of knee; PMID#9789512
• 2002 study pain treatment; PMID#12484105
• 2003 large clinical study of value of Therapeutic Touch; PMID#12889546



9. Research - links to Clinical Studies supporting value of general energy healing:
• NCBI / PubMed: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; www.pubmed.gov
• 2005 Study of funded studies and hospitals using energy healing, such as reiki, for orthopedic & other conditions; PMID#16056170
• www.intelihealth.com; Aetna - National Standard, Harvard Medical School's Consumer Health Information: articles & information on reiki, reflexology, acupressure, polarity, light therapy, therapeutic touch



10. Tachyon Energy Therapy
• no formal studies yet conducted
• www.tachyon-energy.com
• www.antiageingconference.com/aacl2004/ramesh.htm
• Dr. S.K. Ramesh, leading teacher and guru profile: www.attme.co.ae/docprofile.htm



11. Integrated Energy Therapy
• no formal studies yet conducted
• www.integratedenergytherapy.net or www.LearnIET.com; Center of Being, Inc.