The impact of self-hypnosis and Johrei on lymphocyte subpopulations at exam time: a controlled study

The use of biofield energy therapy as complementary and alternative medicine in human health care system: a narrative review and potential mechanisms

INTRODUCTION

There has been accumulating interest in the application of biofield therapy as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to treat various diseases. The practices include reiki, qigong, blessing, prayer, distant healing, known as biofield therapies. This paper aims to state scientific knowledge on preclinical and clinical studies to validate its potential use as an alternative medicine in the clinic. It also provides a more in-depth context for understanding the potential role of quantum entanglement in the effect of biofield energy therapy.

CONTENT

A comprehensive literature search was performed using the different databases (PubMed, Scopus, Medline, etc.). The published English articles relevant to the scope of this review were considered. The review gathered 45 papers that were considered suitable for the purpose. Based on the results of these papers, it was concluded that biofield energy therapy was effective in treating different disease symptoms in preclinical and clinical studies.

SUMMARY

Biofield therapies offer therapeutic benefits for different human health disorders, and can be used as alternative medicine in clinics for the medically pluralistic world due to the growing interest in CAM worldwide.

OUTLOOK

The effects of the biofield energy therapies are observed due to the healer's quantum thinking, and transmission of the quantum energy to the subject leads to the healing that occurs spiritually through instantaneous communication at the quantum level via quantum entanglement.

The importance of highlighting the role of the self in hypnotherapy and hypnosis

The role of the patient in hypnotherapy can be underestimated by both the therapist and the patient. This is likely due to the focus the hypnosis literature has had on the role played by the hypnotist/therapist and less on the phenomenological control (control over subjective experience) applied by the patient. Whilst early approaches to hypnosis and hypnotherapy included concepts such as autosuggestion and self-hypnosis, the role of the self has been largely overlooked. Here we aim to highlight the importance of the self in hypnotherapy and hypnosis by considering the concept of self-hypnosis and how it relates to hetero-hypnosis. We will show that: 1) historically the self was an important component of the concept of hypnosis; 2) extant theories emphasise the role of the self in hypnosis; 3) self-hypnosis is largely indistinguishable from hetero-hypnosis; 4) self-hypnosis is as effective as hetero-hypnosis. We also argue that highlighting the role of the self in hypnotherapy and hypnosis could increase feelings of self-efficacy, especially given that it can be considered a skill that can be advanced and implies self-control and not "mind-control". Highlighting the role of phenomenological control by the patient could also increase the uptake of hypnotherapy as treatment for various disorders.

Comparative efficacy of psychological interventions on immune biomarkers: A systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA)

Psychological interventions are viable, cost-effective strategies for improving clinical and psychological impact of inflammation-related conditions. However, their efficacy on immune system function remains controversial. We performed a systematic review and frequentist random-effects network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effects of psychological interventions, against a control condition, on biomarkers of innate and adaptive immunity in adults. PubMed, Scopus, PsycInfo, and Web of Science were searched from inception up to Oct 17, 2022. Cohen's d at 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated to assess the effect sizes of each class of intervention against active control conditions at post-treatment. The study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022325508). Of the 5024 articles retrieved, we included 104 RCTs reporting on 7820 participants. Analyses were based on 13 types of clinical interventions. Compared with the control conditions, cognitive therapy (d =  - 0.95, 95% CI: -1.64 to - 0.27), lifestyle (d =  - 0.51, 95% CI: -0.99 to - 0.02), and mindfulness-based (d =  - 0.38, 95% CI: -0.66 to - 0.09) interventions were associated with post-treatment reduction of proinflammatory cytokines and markers. Mindfulness-based interventions were also significantly associated with post-treatment increase in anti-inflammatory cytokines (d = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.09 to 1.30), while cognitive therapy was associated also with post-treatment increase in white blood cell count (d = 1.89, 95% CI: 0.05 to 3.74). Results on natural killer cells activity were non-significant. Grade of evidence was moderate for mindfulness and low-to-moderate for cognitive therapy and lifestyle interventions; however, substantial overall heterogeneity was detected in most of the analyses.

Beneficial Effects of Receiving Johrei on General Health or Hypothermia Tendency

OBJECTIVES

Johrei is a type of biofield therapy that is said to bring physical and mental well-being to the recipient. This study sought to measure changes in body temperature and circulation resulting from Johrei treatment, for generally healthy subjects and for individuals with a tendency toward hypothermia.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 199 qualified Johrei practitioners and 144 non-qualified operators provided Johrei and placebo treatments, respectively. Volunteer subjects -186 in general health and 39 with a hypothermia tendency - participated in this study to receive either or both of these treatments.

METHODS

Each subject was given a 10 min treatment daily by either a qualified practitioner or a non-qualified operator. The effects on subjects of receiving each treatment were compared by observing quantitative changes in blood flow and surface body temperature after a course of treatment.

RESULTS

A total of 107 healthy subjects were randomly assigned to the qualified-practitioner group or the non-qualified operator group. Treatment by qualified practitioners significantly enhanced blood flow and surface body temperature in the subjects' designated neck area compared to that in treatment by non-qualified operators. This finding was further corroborated by a comparative experiment in which each healthy subject was treated by both a qualified practitioner and a non-qualified operator. These results indicate that only the qualified-practitioner treatment increased the subject's-blood flow and surface body temperature. Similarly, in a comparative study of qualified-practitioner treatment against non-qualified-operator treatment, subjects tending toward hypothermia showed increased blood flow and elevated body temperature with only the authentic Johrei treatment.

Group hypnosis for stress reduction and improved stress coping: a multicenter randomized controlled trial

Background

The aim of the trial was to investigate the effect of a hypnotherapeutic group program in healthy persons with increased levels of perceived stress.

Methods

In a randomized controlled multicenter trial participants with a self-assessed subjective stress level ≥ 40 mm on a visual analogue scale (0–100 mm; VAS) for the previous week and a stable state of health were randomized to either 5 weekly sessions of 120-min duration of a hypnotherapeutic group program for stress reduction and improved stress coping plus 5 hypnosis audiorecords for individual practice at home plus an educational booklet for stress coping (hypnosis group) versus an educational booklet only (control group). The primary outcome parameter was the VAS stress level for the previous week after 5 weeks. Secondary outcome parameters included the VAS stress level after 12 weeks, perceived stress (CPSS), depression (ADS-K), self efficacy (SWE) and quality of life (SF 36) after 5 weeks and 12 weeks. Analysis of covariance with a significance level of 5% using the full analysis set was used for analysis; the model included treatment (fixed effect), VAS baseline value (fixed covariate), and center (random effect).

Results

A total of 95 participants were randomized; 47 (40 female, 45 ± 13.4 years of age) were allocated to the hypnosis group, and 48 (41 female, 46.9 ± 14.3 years) were allocated to the control group. Regarding VAS stress level after 5 weeks, the adjusted VAS mean in the hypnosis group was 41.8 mm [95% confidence interval (CI): 35.2; 48.4] compared to 62.9 mm [56.2; 69.7] in the control group, and the group difference was − 21.2 mm [− 30.1; − 12.2] (P < 0.001). After 12 weeks, the stress intensity on the VAS showed a between-group difference of − 14.7 mm [− 25.1; − 4.4] (P = 0.006), and the adjusted means were 41.1 mm [33.4; 48.8] in the hypnosis group and 55.9 mm [48.4; 63.5] in the control group. Improvements were also reported for CPSS, SF-36, SWE and ADS-K after 5 and 12 weeks.

Conclusion

Compared to the control group, the hypnosis group showed reduced perceived stress after 5 and 12 weeks.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03525093; date of registration: May 15, 2018.

Group Hypnosis for Stress Reduction - A Feasibility Study

The aim of this study was to develop a standardized hypnotherapeutic group program for stress reduction, test its feasibility, and measure its preliminary pre- to postintervention effects. In this prospective, single-arm feasibility study, healthy adult participants with self-assessed increased stress levels received 5 weekly group hypnosis sessions plus audio recordings. Twelve persons (10 females, mean (SD) age 48.9 (11.8) years participated. The mean (SD) intensity of perceived stress on a 0-to-100 mm VAS was reduced from 75.5 (11.5) mm at baseline to 33.9 (18.8) mm after 5 weeks. Cohen's perceived stress scale was reduced from 20.8 (5.7) to 13.8 (5.4). Focus group interviews showed that the study intervention was feasible and well accepted. Confirmatory testing of the intervention in a randomized controlled trial is necessary.

Alternative treatment with Johrei: A controlled randomized study evaluating seed physiological potential

BACKGROUND

Johrei, a noncontact healing therapy that purportedly channels "universal energy", is an easily taught technique with numerous positive reports of healing in human trials. However, studies on humans have been limited by small sample sizes, the placebo effect and baseline differences between groups. Overcoming some of these limitations, this study evaluated the effect of Johrei on the physiological potential of lettuce seeds.

METHODS

Lettuce seeds were subjected to thermal stress and then treated with Johrei before and after two years of storage. The seedling emergence percentage, emergence speed index, classification score, percentage of viable seedlings and root and shoot dry mass of the treated seeds were determined.

RESULTS

Stress-treated seeds treated with Johrei had a greater seedling emergence percentage than those not treated with Johrei (p<0.0001). Johrei also resulted in a greater emergence speed index (p<0.0001), a higher percentage of viable seedlings with higher classification score (p<0.0001) and greater root and shoot dry mass regardless of the storage duration (p<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Johrei effectively preserved lettuce seed health, and the efficacy of Johrei can be assessed by evaluating its effects on the physiological potential of stress-treated seeds. Using live plants allows the influence of Johrei to be evaluated without interference from the placebo effect. Future studies should evaluate the influence of Johrei in primary aging processes in plants, such as cellular respiration by mitochondrial analysis, to gain insight into Johrei's mechanisms of action and enable inferences regarding similar cellular-level processes that occur in humans.

Effectiveness of Stress-Reducing Interventions on the Response to Challenges to the Immune System: A Meta-Analytic Review

BACKGROUND

There is consistent evidence showing an interplay between psychological processes and immune function in health and disease processes.

OBJECTIVES

The present systematic review and meta-analysis aims to provide a concise overview of the effectiveness of stress-reducing psychological interventions on the activation of immune responses in both healthy subjects and patients.

METHODS

Included are 3 types of challenges: in vivo, in vitro, and psychophysiological. Such challenges are designed to mimic naturally occurring immune-related threats.

RESULTS

A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, and PsychInfo, resulting in 75 eligible studies. The risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. Across all studies, a small-to-medium effect size was found for the effects of psychological interventions on optimization of the immune function (g = 0.33; 95% CI 0.22-0.43). While the largest effects were found for in vivo immune-related challenges (g = 0.61; 95% CI 0.34-0.88; especially on studies that incorporated skin tests and wound healing), studies incorporating psychophysiological challenges and in vitro immune-related stimulations similarly suggest more optimal immune responses among those receiving stress-reducing interventions (g = 0.28; 95% CI 0.15-0.42).

CONCLUSION

These findings showed substantial heterogeneity depending on the type of challenge, the study populations, and the intervention types. These data demonstrate support for the effectiveness of stress-reducing psychological interventions in improving immunity in studies that tested immune function by means of incorporating an in vivo,in vitro, or psychophysiological challenge. Future research should more consistently incorporate challenges into the study design to gather more insights in the mechanisms underlying the optimized immune function following a psychological intervention. This is also relevant for clinical practice, as psychological interventions can possibly supplement, or at least partially replace, current drug treatments in various somatic conditions to reduce side effects.

Effects of a Brief Hypnosis Relaxation Induction on Subjective Psychological States, Cardiac Vagal Activity, and Breathing Frequency

This study investigated the effects of a brief hypnosis including relaxation suggestions on physiological markers of relaxation, cardiac vagal activity, and breathing frequency. Forty participants were tested in a within-subjects design. Participants listened to a recorded hypnosis session and to a nonhypnotic recording. No differences were found regarding cardiac vagal activity. Participants breathed significantly faster during the audio conditions (hypnosis and nonhypnotic recording) in comparison to resting measures. After hypnosis, subjective arousal was significantly lower and emotional valence was significantly more positive than after the nonhypnotic recording condition. The relaxing effects of hypnosis that includes relaxation suggestions appear to be located at the subjective level but not at the peripheral physiological level.

Hypnosis in patients with perceived stress - a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Although hypnosis and hypnotherapy have become more popular in recent years, the evidence for hypnosis to influence perceived stress is unclear. In this systematic review we searched and evaluated randomized clinical studies investigating the effect of hypnosis on perceived stress reduction and coping.

METHODS

The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the Database of Abstracts of Review of Effects, EMBASE, Medline, PsycINFO, PSYNDEX and PubMed were systematically screened from their inception until December 2015 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting about hypnosis or hypnotherapy for stress reduction in healthy participants. Risk of Bias was assessed according the Cochrane Collaboration recommendations.

RESULTS

Nine RCTs with a total of 365 participants met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. Most included participants were medical students, predominantly female (n = 211). Mean age of participants ranged in most studies between 20 and 25 years, in three studies the mean ages were between 30 and 42 years. Perceived stress was measured by a wide range of psychological questionnaires including Face Valid Stress Test, Stress Thermometer, and immunological data was collected. All nine included studies used explorative designs and showed a high risk of bias. Six out of nine studies reported significant positive effects of hypnosis for stress reduction in the main outcome parameter compared to control groups (3 active controls, 3 no therapy controls). Immunological outcomes were assessed in six studies, the results were inconclusive.

CONCLUSIONS

Due to exploratory designs and high risk of bias, the effectiveness of hypnosis or hypnotherapy in stress reduction remains still unclear. More high quality clinical research is urgently needed.

Hypnosis in the Perioperative Management of Breast Cancer Surgery: Clinical Benefits and Potential Implications

The aim of this review is to summarize data published on the use of perioperative hypnosis in patients undergoing breast cancer surgery (BCS). Indeed, the majority of BCS patients experience stress, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, and pain. Correct management of the perioperative period and surgical removal of the primary tumor are clearly essential but can affect patients on different levels and hence have a negative impact on oncological outcomes. This review examines the effect of clinical hypnosis performed during the perioperative period. Thanks to its specific properties and techniques allowing it to be used as complementary treatment preoperatively, hypnosis has an impact most notably on distress and postoperative pain. During surgery, hypnosis may be applied to limit immunosuppression, while, in the postoperative period, it can reduce pain, anxiety, and fatigue and improve wound healing. Moreover, hypnosis is inexpensive, an important consideration given current financial concerns in healthcare. Of course, large randomized prospective studies are now needed to confirm the observed advantages of hypnosis in the field of oncology.

Johrei Effects on Water: A Pilot Study by Counting Drops

BACKGROUND

Water is a key ingredient in the creation and sustainment of life. Moreover, water may be a key vehicle in the processes of energy healing, such as in the preparation of homeopathic remedies and spiritual treatments. Given these properties, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether the application of Johrei to water could lead to significant changes in the hydrodynamic behaviour of the fluid.

METHODS

Four regular Johrei practitioners (P1, P2, P3 and P4) were selected for this study. Dripping water produced at the tip of a capillary was used as the hydrodynamic behaviour model. This behaviour was modelled mathematically, and tuning parameters φ4 and τ were used to assess significant differences in the dripping water samples that were subjected to Johrei compared with the samples that were not so treated. The tuning parameters were obtained using the Levenberg-Marquardt fitting algorithm. The data sets for each Johrei practitioner and the control experiment were analysed using ANOVA and a paired t-test.

RESULTS

The mathematical model exhibited an excellent fit to our data, generating correlation coefficients (r) greater than or equal to 0.999. Significant differences were observed in both τ (P1 and P2, P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively) and φ4 (P2, P < 0.01). As expected, no significant difference for the control experiment (without Johrei) was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicated a statistically significant change in the hydrodynamic behaviour of water correlated with Johrei treatment for 50% of the participating Johrei practitioners.

Nontouch biofield therapy: a systematic review of human randomized controlled trials reporting use of only nonphysical contact treatment

OBJECTIVE AND CONTEXT: This review was designed to assess the quality and review the outcomes of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of biofield therapies (external qigong, Healing Touch, Johrei, Reiki, and Therapeutic Touch) that report using only nonphysical touch forms of treatment. RCTs of nonphysical contact biofield therapies have the potential to contribute to an evidence base for health-promoting effects mediated through mechanisms outside the present understanding of biomedicine.

METHODS

Articles meeting inclusion criteria were identified from database and reference list searches and evaluated for a range of reporting and design items. Data were extracted to determine the range of protocol parameters and treatment outcomes. The final set of included RCTs were evaluated via a modified 5-item Jadad scale as well as by a set of 20 criteria that included items relevant to the early-phase nature of the trials and to the examination of nonphysical touch biofield therapy interventions.

RESULTS

Of 90 RCTs that assessed effectiveness of a biofield therapy in humans, 28 trials involving 1775 participants met additional inclusion criteria (most importantly a clearly reported use of only nonphysical contact treatment). The research designs of these 28 trials revealed marked heterogeneity in regard to condition treated, number and duration of treatments, nature of the control/comparison group, and outcome measures. Finally, 10 trials were excluded on the basis of low quality assessment scores. Twelve of the remaining 18 trials (7 Therapeutic Touch, 3 external qigong, 1 Reiki, and 1 Healing Touch) reported at least one primary outcome with statistically significant beneficial treatment outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

The pilot study nature of essentially all the identified nonphysical contact biofield therapy RCTs, as reflected by low sample sizes alone, precludes drawing robust conclusions. Given this perspective, the finding that two thirds of the higher-scoring trials demonstrated at least partial effectiveness favors a continued research effort, especially in light of the translational value of biofield clinical trials for studies exploring the nature and physiologic basis of biofield healing.

Asymmetric activation of the anterior cerebral cortex in recipients of IRECA: preliminary evidence for the energetic effects of an intention-based biofield treatment modality on human neurophysiology

OBJECTIVES

Neurophysiologic studies of mindfulness link the health benefits of meditation to activation of the left-anterior cerebral cortex. The similarity and functional importance of intention and attentional stance in meditative and biofield therapeutic practices suggest that modulation of recipient anterior asymmetric activation may mediate the energetic effects of intention-based biofield treatments as well. The aim of the current study was to test this hypothesis by using a treatment modality known as IRECA (Istituto di Ricerca sull'Energia Cosmica Applicata).

DESIGN

Participants' electroencephalograms (EEG) were recorded over a 5-minute recovery period (subdivided into three 100-second intervals) while participants received genuine IRECA, placebo treatment, or no treatment, after completion of a cognitively demanding task.

PARTICIPANTS

21 undergraduate students (3 men and 18 women; mean age, 22.1 years). All were right-handed and none had a history of neurologic or psychological impairment.

OUTCOME MEASURES

(1) Alpha Asymmetry Index (AAI), a standard measure of anterior asymmetric activation of the cerebral cortex, defined as the average right hemisphere minus left hemisphere log alpha power of EEG recordings for homologous pairs of electrodes in frontal and prefrontal regions; (2) self-report measures of state anxiety obtained at baseline, before treatment, and after treatment, using a short form of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory.

RESULTS

In line with predictions, recipients of IRECA showed enhanced left-anterior activation of the cerebral cortex relative to placebo and no-treatment controls (as indicated by significantly higher and significantly positive AAI scores) during the first 100 seconds of treatment, and they reported greater overall reduction in state anxiety relative to baseline measures.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study provides preliminary supporting evidence for an intention-based biofield therapeutic modality offsetting the negative effects of stress via sympathetic activation of recipients' left-anterior cerebral cortex.

Reconditioning the stress response with hypnosis CD reduces the inflammatory cytokine IL-6 and influences resilience: a pilot study

AIM

The aim of this investigation was to measure the impact of a self-administered hypnosis intervention on resilience and the inflammatory cytokine IL-6.

METHOD

Over a period of 12 weeks, 11 participants listened to a self-administered hypnosis stress reduction program designed to recondition and improve participants' emotional and physical reactions to perceived work and life stressors. Subjects were administered subjective measures of coping, resilience, and stress tolerance, as well as, IL-6, an objective blood measure of inflammatory activity.

RESULTS

After 12 weeks, participants were observed to have a significantly lower IL-6 serum level from baseline. Further, participants reported a significant decrease in the use of negative appraisal coping (such as, self-deprecating statements, perfectionism, and catastrophic and pessimistic thinking), and an improvement in eating/nutritional habits following the intervention. Baseline eating/nutritional habits and threat minimization coping significantly predicted a change in serum IL-6 over the course of the intervention in stepwise hierarchical regression analyses.

CONCLUSION

Pilot study provides support that a brief self-administered CD hypnosis stress reduction program can modify a physiological measure of inflammation (IL-6), and improve coping and resilience in the face of work and life stress.

Hypnotic tape intervention ameliorates stress: a randomized, control study

This study (N = 35) used a randomized control design, and participants were collected from a variety of groups. After evaluating their degree of stress and burnout, coping styles, general well-being, and hypnotizability, participants were matched by stress level and randomly assigned to an intervention or wait-list group. The intervention comprised an audio recording of a hypnotic induction accompanied by suggestions for progressive relaxation, imagery, and anchoring to be used for 2 weeks. The results show that, as compared with baseline and wait-list conditions, the hypnotic intervention had a medium-to-large beneficial effect on participants' experience of stress, burnout, and well-being. Some participants also decreased their use of the coping strategy escape-avoidance postintervention. Hypnotizability correlated significantly or marginally with some outcomes of the intervention, but only for 1 group.

Attachment style and immunity: a 1-year longitudinal study

Previous cross-sectional studies suggested an association between attachment-related avoidance and altered immune function. We aimed at testing this hypothesis with longitudinal data. A random sample of 65 female nurses provided a blood sample and completed measures of perceived stress, social support, alexithymia, and attachment style. Immune assays included lymphocyte proliferative response (LPR) to Phytohemagglutinin and NK cell cytotoxicity (NKCC). State measures (perceived stress and support) and immune measures were collected again after 4, 8, and 12 months. Linear mixed effects models were used to examine the relationship between attachment and immunity. While low to moderate levels of attachment-related avoidance were not associated with NKCC, there was a significant negative association (beta -.35; p=.005) between high levels of avoidance and NKCC. No association was observed between NKCC and attachment-related anxiety, and between LPR and both attachment dimensions. While our findings should be interpreted with caution due to study limitations such as the relatively small sample size and the inclusion of only female participants, they corroborate the notion that attachment is linked to physiology and health.

Effect of biofield therapy in the human brain

OBJECTIVES

The effects of Okada Purifying Therapy (OPT), a form of subtle energy (biofield) therapy that originated in Japan, were investigated. Electroencephalograms and the Profile of Mood States scores were measured using a crossover design during OPT and placebo sessions.

PARTICIPANTS

Nineteen (19) healthy Japanese adults (mean age±standard deviation: 40.8±11.2 years; 10 females) with no previous experience of biofield therapy participated in this study.

METHODS

Each session lasted 15 minutes. A single-blind, randomized design with a protocol consisting of regular cycles with eyes open followed by eyes closed was used. The power spectral value was calculated in θ (4.0-7.9 Hz), α (8.0-12.9 Hz), and β (13.0-29.9 Hz) frequency ranges.

RESULTS

The power spectral value of the α band at F(p1), F(p2), F(7), F(z), F(8), C(3), C(z), C(4), and P(z) increased significantly in the OPT session compared with the placebo session. Mood state was improved after both sessions, and no significant difference was found between the two sessions.

CONCLUSIONS

OPT was more effective in increasing α waves in the frontal and central cortex than a placebo treatment.

Effect of a Japanese energy healing method known as Johrei on viability and proliferation of cultured cancer cells in vitro

OBJECTIVES

The objective was to explore the effect of a Japanese energy healing method known as Johrei on the viability and proliferation of cultured human cancer cells in vitro.

DESIGN

A randomly selected 96-well plate or a culture dish of various types of human cancer cell lines in culture were exposed to Johrei treatment. For comparison purpose, an equal number of untreated or volunteer-treated cultures were chosen as the control group. Johrei treatment was repeatedly performed at appropriate time intervals over the course of the experiments. Cell viability was examined by a colorimetric assay with a Cell Counting kit. Morphological changes were analyzed by phase-contrast and time-lapse microscopy. Cell proliferation and early and late stages of cell death were also determined with the use of a bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) cell proliferation assay kit and an Annexin V-FLUOS Staining kit, respectively.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Quantitative data were presented as means±standard deviation. The outcome measures were the differences in viable cell numbers that remained under healing practice versus control conditions, and the statistical significance of differences in their mean values was assessed.

RESULTS

The viability loss of cultured human cancer cells in the Johrei group was significantly higher than that of either of the control groups, despite the fact that the responsiveness to Johrei varied with different cancer cell types. The proliferation rate of gastric cancer cells exposed to Johrei treatments for 72 hours was more significantly decreased compared with that of the untreated cells, whereas the extent of dying and/or dead cells in the Johrei group was more profound than that of the untreated cells.

CONCLUSIONS

These results provide evidence that Johrei treatment induces the viability loss of various cancer cells in vitro, mainly due to the increased cell death and the decreased proliferation.

A randomised controlled single-blind trial of the efficacy of reiki at benefitting mood and well-being

This is a constructive replication of a previous trial conducted by Bowden et al. (2010), where students who had received Reiki demonstrated greater health and mood benefits than those who received no Reiki. The current study examined impact on anxiety/depression. 40 university students—half with high depression and/or anxiety and half with low depression and/or anxiety—were randomly assigned to receive Reiki or to a non-Reiki control group. Participants experienced six 30-minute sessions over a period of two to eight weeks, where they were blind to whether noncontact Reiki was administered as their attention was absorbed in a guided relaxation. The efficacy of the intervention was assessed pre-post intervention and at five-week follow-up by self-report measures of mood, illness symptoms, and sleep. The participants with high anxiety and/or depression who received Reiki showed a progressive improvement in overall mood, which was significantly better at five-week follow-up, while no change was seen in the controls. While the Reiki group did not demonstrate the comparatively greater reduction in symptoms of illness seen in our earlier study, the findings of both studies suggest that Reiki may benefit mood.

Johrei, a Japanese healing technique, enhances the growth of sucrose crystals

The effect of Johrei treatment on the crystallization of sucrose from supersaturated solutions was studied in comparison with the crystallization in untreated solutions. This work was performed assuming that Johrei enhances the natural mechanisms of equilibrium restoration in biological and nonbiological systems. The crystallization in Johrei-treated solutions as judged by statistical analysis was found to be faster than the crystallization in untreated solutions. A discussion is presented about the mechanisms possibly involved.

Biofield therapies: helpful or full of hype? A best evidence synthesis

BACKGROUND

Biofield therapies (such as Reiki, therapeutic touch, and healing touch) are complementary medicine modalities that remain controversial and are utilized by a significant number of patients, with little information regarding their efficacy.

PURPOSE

This systematic review examines 66 clinical studies with a variety of biofield therapies in different patient populations.

METHOD

We conducted a quality assessment as well as a best evidence synthesis approach to examine evidence for biofield therapies in relevant outcomes for different clinical populations.

RESULTS

Studies overall are of medium quality, and generally meet minimum standards for validity of inferences. Biofield therapies show strong evidence for reducing pain intensity in pain populations, and moderate evidence for reducing pain intensity hospitalized and cancer populations. There is moderate evidence for decreasing negative behavioral symptoms in dementia and moderate evidence for decreasing anxiety for hospitalized populations. There is equivocal evidence for biofield therapies' effects on fatigue and quality of life for cancer patients, as well as for comprehensive pain outcomes and affect in pain patients, and for decreasing anxiety in cardiovascular patients.

CONCLUSION

There is a need for further high-quality studies in this area. Implications and future research directions are discussed.

Mind-Body Medicine and Immune System Outcomes: A Systematic Review

This study is a systematic review of mind-body interventions that used immune outcomes in order to: 1) characterize mind-body medicine studies that assessed immune outcomes, 2) evaluate the quality of mind-body medicine studies measuring immune system effects, and 3) systematically evaluate the evidence for mind-body interventions effect on immune system outcomes using existing formal tools. 111 studies with 4,777 subjects were reviewed. The three largest intervention type categories were Relaxation Training (n=25), Cognitive Based Stress Management (n=22), and Hypnosis (n=21). Half the studies were conducted with healthy subjects (n=51). HIV (n=18), cancer (n=13) and allergies (n=7) were the most prominent conditions examined in the studies comprising of non-healthy subjects. Natural killer cell and CD4 T lymphocyte measures were the most commonly studied outcomes. Most outcome and modality categories had limited or inconclusive evidence. Relaxation training had the strongest scientific evidence of a mind-body medicine affecting immune outcomes. Immunoglobulin A had the strongest scientific evidence for positive effects from mind-body medicine. Issues for mind-body medicine studies with immune outcomes are discussed and recommendations are made to help improve future clinical trials.

Clinical trial: the effect of Johrei on symptoms of patients with functional chest pain

BACKGROUND

Patients with functional chest pain (FCP) represent a therapeutic challenge for practising physicians.

AIM

To determine the efficacy of Johrei as compared to wait-list in improving symptoms of FCP patients.

METHODS

Patients with chest pain of noncardiac origin for at least 3 months were enrolled into the study. All patients had to have negative upper endoscopy, pH testing and oesophageal manometry prior to randomization. Subsequently, patients were randomized to either Johrei or wait-list control. Patients received 18 Johrei sessions from a Johrei practitioner for 6 weeks.

RESULTS

A total of 21 FCP patients enrolled into the Johrei group and 18 into the wait-list group. There was no difference in symptom intensity score between Johrei group and wait-list group at baseline (20.28 vs. 23.06, P = N.S.). However, there was a significant pre- and post-treatment reduction in symptom intensity in the Johrei group (20.28 vs. 7.0, P = 0.0023). There was no significant reduction in symptom intensity score between baseline and at the end of the study in the wait-list group (23.06 vs. 20.69, P = N.S.).

CONCLUSION

This pilot study shows that Johrei may have a role in improving FCP symptoms; however, future studies are needed to compare Johrei treatment with sham Johrei or supportive care.

Immuno-modulatory effects of relaxation training and guided imagery in women with locally advanced breast cancer undergoing multimodality therapy: a randomised controlled trial

Eighty women undergoing multimodality treatment for large (>4cm) or locally advanced (T3, T4, Tx, N2), breast cancers participated in a randomised controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the immuno-modulatory effects of relaxation training and guided imagery. Patients underwent chemotherapy followed by surgery, radiotherapy, and hormone therapy. Those in the intervention group were taught relaxation and guided imagery. Patients kept diaries of the frequency of relaxation practice and imagery vividness. On 10 occasions during the 37 weeks following the diagnosis, blood was taken for immunological assays CD phenotyping: T cell subsets (helper, cytotoxic), natural killer (NK) and lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cells, B lymphocytes and monocytes; cytotoxicity: NK and LAK cell activities; cytokines interleukin 1 beta (1beta), 2, 4 and 6 and tumour necrosis factor alpha. Significant between-group differences were found in the number of CD25+ (activated T cells) and CD56+ (LAK cell) subsets. The number of CD3+ (mature) T cells was significantly higher following chemotherapy and radiotherapy, in patients randomised to relaxation and guided imagery. Using a median split, women who rated their imagery ratings highly had elevated levels of NK cell activity at the end of chemotherapy and at follow-up. Significant correlations were obtained between imagery ratings and baseline corrected values for NK and LAK cell activity, and IL1beta. Relaxation frequency correlated with the number of CD4+ (T helper) cells, the CD4+:8+ (helper:cytotoxic) ratio, and IL1beta levels. Relaxation training and guided imagery beneficially altered putative anti-cancer host defences during and after multimodality therapy. Such changes, to the best of our knowledge, have not been previously documented in a RCT.

The effect of hypnosis on systemic and rectal mucosal measures of inflammation in ulcerative colitis

OBJECTIVES

Hypnotherapy is effective in several diseases with a psychosomatic component. Our aim was to study the effects of one session of hypnosis on the systemic and rectal mucosal inflammatory responses in patients with active ulcerative colitis (UC).

METHODS

In total, 17 patients with active UC underwent a 50-min session of gut-focused hypnotherapy. Before and after each procedure, the systemic inflammatory response was assessed by serum interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-13 concentrations, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and IL-6 production by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated whole blood, leukocyte count, natural killer (NK) cell number, platelet activation, and platelet-leukocyte aggregate formation. Rectal inflammation was assessed by mucosal release of substance P (SP), histamine, IL-13 and TNF-alpha, reactive oxygen metabolite production, and mucosal blood flow. Eight patients with active UC underwent a control procedure.

RESULTS

Hypnosis decreased pulse by a median 7 beats per minute (bpm) (P= 0.0008); it also reduced the median serum IL-6 concentration by 53% (P= 0.001), but had no effect on the other systemic variables assessed. Hypnosis reduced rectal mucosal release of SP by a median 81% (P= 0.001), histamine by 35% (P= 0.002) and IL-13 by 53% (P= 0.003), and also, blood flow by 18% (P= 0.0004). The control protocol had no effect on any of the variables assessed.

CONCLUSIONS

Hypnosis reduced several components of the systemic and mucosal inflammatory response in active ulcerative colitis toward levels found previously in the inactive disease. Some of these effects may contribute to the anecdotally reported benefits of hypnotherapy and provide a rationale for controlled trials of hypnotherapy in UC.

Hypnotherapy for irritable bowel syndrome: the response of colonic and noncolonic symptoms

There is now good evidence that hypnotherapy benefits a substantial proportion of patients with irritable bowel syndrome and that improvement is maintained for many years. Most patients seen in secondary care with this condition also suffer from a wide range of noncolonic symptoms such as backache and lethargy, as well as a number of musculoskeletal, urological, and gynaecological problems. These features do not typically respond well to conventional medical treatment approaches, but fortunately, their intensity is often reduced by hypnosis. The mechanisms by which hypnosis mediates its benefit are not entirely clear, but there is evidence that, in addition to its psychological effects, it can modulate gastrointestinal physiology, alter the central processing of noxious stimuli, and even influence immune function.

A review of the effects of hypnosis on the immune system in breast cancer patients: a brief communication

In order to make a recommendation about the use of hypnosis as adjuvant therapy in the treatment of breast cancer, 2 studies assessing the immunological effects of hypnosis in patients with early stage breast cancer were evaluated: (a) an experiment that taught hypnotic guided-imagery therapy to patients and (b) one that provided participants with home visits and autogenic training. Both investigations demonstrated improvement in depression and increased natural killer (NK) cell counts after 2 months of hypnosis treatment. However, neither study determined the clinical significance of hypnosis in the setting of cancer, and therefore future experiments are needed to relate the immune-mediated effects of hypnosis to hard clinical outcomes like survival rates.

Attachment security and immunity in healthy women

BACKGROUND

Attachment security is associated with health and possibly autonomic and endocrine reactivity to stress, however the relationship between attachment style and immune function has not yet been investigated.

METHODS

A random sample of 61 female nurses provided a blood sample and completed the Perceived Stress Scale, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, and the Experiences in Close Relationships questionnaire. Immune measures included immunophenotypic analysis, lymphocyte proliferative response to Phytohemagglutinin, and NK cell cytotoxicity (NKCC). Statistical analysis focused on the relationship between attachment-related anxiety or avoidance and immune measures. Multiple regression was used to control for perceived stress and support, alexithymia, health-related behaviors possibly influencing immunity, and use of anti-inflammatory drugs, tobacco or alcohol.

RESULTS

Attachment-related anxiety was not associated with any immune parameter. Attachment-related avoidance was associated with lower NKCC. This association was independent from the number of circulating NK cells, which suggests a change in cell functionality. Perceived stress was also associated with lower NKCC.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests a link between attachment security and immunity. While our findings should be interpreted with great caution and need replication, they are consistent with previous work suggesting that insecure attachment may be a risk factor for health and may relate to biological processes relevant to health.

The Effect of Johrei Healing on Substance Abuse Recovery: A Pilot Study

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of the present study was to determine the effectiveness of Johrei healing, a form of energy healing, on substance use and psychologic symptoms in a sample of clients receiving substance abuse treatment.

METHODS

Twenty-one (21) persons in residential substance-abuse treatment participated in a randomized, wait-list control pilot study of Johrei healing. Twelve (12) of the participants received three 20-minute Johrei sessions for 5 weeks in addition to their regular treatment.

RESULTS

The results are from the first treatment wave. Individual healing sessions were evaluated pre-post with the Johrei Experience Scale. Participants showed significant decreases in stress/depression and physical pain and increases in positive emotional/spiritual state, energy, and overall well-being after an individual Johrei healing session. The Global Assessment of Individual Need (GAIN), Profile of Mood States (POMS), General Alcoholics Anonymous Tools of Recovery, and 12-Step Participation scales were administered before and after the 5-week intervention to assess change in substance use, psychologic distress, mood, and 12-Step participation. Improvements in depression and trauma symptoms, externalizing behaviors (GAIN), and vigor (POMS) were found for the treatment group. Despite comparable 12-Step attendance the treatment group showed greater improvement than the wait-list control group in the use of 12-Step recovery tools. No difference in substance use was found between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Variables related to substance use and relapse showed improvement in the treatment group suggesting that Johrei healing shows promise and should be studied with a larger sample, over a longer treatment period, with sham controls.

Johrei family healing: a pilot study

Johrei is a form of spiritual healing comprising “energy channelling” and light massage given either by a trained healer or, after some basic training, by anyone. This pilot trial aimed to identify any potential benefits of family-based Johrei practice in childhood eczema and for general health and to establish the feasibility of a subsequent randomised controlled trial. Volunteer families of 3-5 individuals, including at least one child with eczema were recruited to an uncontrolled pilot trial lasting 12 months. Parents were trained in Johrei healing and then practised at home with their family. Participants kept diaries and provided questionnaire data at baseline, 3,6 and 12 months. Eczema symptoms were scored at the same intervals. Scepticism about Johrei is presently an obstacle to recruitment and retention of a representative sample in a clinical trial, and to its potential use in general practice. The frequency and quality of practise at home by families may be insufficient to bring about the putative health benefits. Initial improvements in eczema symptoms and diary recorded illness, could not be separated from seasonal factors and other potential confounders. There were no improvements on other outcomes measuring general health and psychological wellbeing of family members.

The Influence of 10min of the Johrei healing method on laboratory stress

OBJECTIVE

Johrei has been shown to decrease exam stress responses but its immediate effects have not been assessed.

DESIGN

In a randomised, blinded, counter-balanced design, 33 medical students were asked to calculate mental arithmetic in the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task (PASAT), which served as an acute stressor prior to two conditions, 10 min of Johrei or a control resting condition involving 10 min without Johrei in a cross-over trial; after each, saliva was collected and mood tested.

SETTING

University EEG laboratory.

INTERVENTION

Johrei, a non-touch healing method.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Profile of mood states (POMS-Bi); state anxiety (STAI); salivary variables: cortisol, DHEA, IgA.

RESULTS

Mood scores on 5/6 of the POMS-Bi subscales were slightly but significantly more positive in the Johrei condition. State anxiety was similarly decreased. IgA levels were unchanged but cortisol levels were found to be slightly but non-significantly lower after Johrei than after the control condition and DHEA levels slightly but non-significantly raised, with a negative correlation between cortisol and DHEA levels.

CONCLUSIONS

This study gives some indication that Johrei can reduce negative mood and increase positive mood states after the acute effects of a laboratory stressor in comparison to a resting control condition.

Impact of hypnosis during embryo transfer on the outcome of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer: a case-control study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether hypnosis during ET contributes to successful IVF/ET outcome.

DESIGN

Case-control clinical study.

SETTING

Academic Fertility and IVF Unit, Soroka Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel.

PATIENT(S)

Infertile couples undergoing IVF.

INTERVENTION(S)

Ninety-eight IVF/ET cycles with hypnosis during the ET procedure were matched with 96 regular IVF/ET cycles.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Comparison of clinical pregnancy and implantation rates between the two groups.

RESULT(S)

We obtained 52 clinical pregnancies out of 98 cycles (53.1%) with an implantation rate of 28% among hypnosis IVF/ET cycles, and 29 out of 96 (30.2%) clinical pregnancies and an implantation rate of 14.4% in the control cycles. Our overall IVF program pregnancy rate for the same period was 32.1%. Logistic regression analysis was performed emphasizing the positive contribution of hypnosis to the IVF/ET conception rates.

CONCLUSION(S)

This study suggests that the use of hypnosis during ET may significantly improve the IVF/ET cycle outcome in terms of increased implantation and clinical pregnancy rates. Furthermore, it seems that the patients' attitude to the treatment was more favorable.

Positive Well-Being Changes Associated with Giving and Receiving Johrei Healing

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of giving and receiving Johrei, a spiritual energy healing practice, on measures of well-being.

METHODS

Participants (N = 236) rated 21 items pertaining to feelings plus an overall well-being measure, before and after a Johrei session.

RESULTS

Receivers experienced a significantly greater decrease in negative emotional state than givers; however, givers and receivers experienced a comparable increase in positive emotional state and overall well-being.

CONCLUSIONS

The practice of Johrei and other energy and spiritual healing techniques, may have positive health effects for givers as well as receivers. Future research examining different energy and spiritual healing practices (for example, Reiki and Therapeutic Touch) and using various control groups (for example, treatment-naive subjects instructed to "send loving energy") can explore the generality and mechanisms underlying these apparently robust effects.

Time-lapse analysis of potential cellular responsiveness to Johrei, a Japanese healing technique

BACKGROUND

Johrei is an alternative healing practice which involves the channeling of a purported universal healing energy to influence the health of another person. Despite little evidence to support the efficacy of such practices the use of such treatments is on the rise.

METHODS

We assessed cultured human cancer cells for potential responsiveness to Johrei treatment from a short distance. Johrei treatment was delivered by practitioners who participated in teams of two, alternating every half hour for a total of four hours of treatment. The practitioners followed a defined set of mental procedures to minimize variability in mental states between experiments. An environmental chamber maintained optimal growth conditions for cells throughout the experiments. Computerized time-lapse microscopy allowed documentation of cancer cell proliferation and cell death before, during and after Johrei treatments.

RESULTS

Comparing eight control experiments with eight Johrei intervention experiments, we found no evidence of a reproducible cellular response to Johrei treatment.

CONCLUSION

Cell death and proliferation rates of cultured human cancer cells do not appear responsive to Johrei treatment from a short distance.