Biofield detection: role of bioenergy awareness training and individual differences in absorption

Biofield Frequency Bands—Definitions and Group Differences

Background

In the biofield literature, it is suggested that electromagnetic energy is part of the biofield. However, little is known about the exact definition of potential electromagnetic biofield frequency bands (FBs).

Primary Study Objective: The current study sought to identify biofield FBs and test potential group differences.

Methods/Design: High-frequency (i.e. >200 Hertz) voltage was measured at body parts along the spine and the brain.

Setting

Measurements were conducted in an electrically shielded laboratory.

Participants

Twenty experienced biofield practitioners (BPs, sample 1) and twenty-four students (STs, sample 2) participated in the study.

Interventions

The BPs performed a wide set of biofield exercises, while the STs participated in an assessment centre (with exercises such as role play). A total of N = 342 exercises were performed.

Primary Outcome Measures: Based on surface electromyography, high-frequency (i.e., >200 Hertz) voltage was utilized as outcome measure.

Results

10 FBs were identified across all the data sets. The BPs had higher spectral power across these bands compared to the STs.

Conclusion

The present paper presents a replicable method for the assessment of electromagnetic FBs which are potentially useful for future biofield research.

Quantum Physics Principles and Communication in the Acute Healthcare Setting: A Pilot Study

OBJECTIVE

This pilot study explores whether clinician awareness of quantum physics principles could facilitate open communication between patients and providers.

DESIGN

In the spirit of action research, this study was conceptualized with a holistic view of human health, using a mixed method design of grounded theory as an emergent method.

SAMPLING

Instrumentation includes surveys and a focus group discussion with twelve registered nurses working in an acute care hospital setting.

RESULTS

Findings document that the preliminary core phenomenon, energy as information, influences communication in the healthcare environment. Key emergent themes include awareness, language, validation, open communication, strategies, coherence, incoherence and power.

CONCLUSION

Research participants indicate that quantum physics principles provide a language and conceptual framework for improving their awareness of communication and interactions in the healthcare environment. Implications of this pilot study support the feasibility of future research and education on awareness of quantum physics principles in other clinical settings.

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.

Randomized expectancy-enhanced placebo-controlled trial of the impact of Quantum BioEnergetic distant healing and paranormal belief on mood disturbance: a pilot study

CONTEXT

Previous research has demonstrated the effects of ostensible subtle energy on physical systems and subjective experience. However, one subtle energy technique that has been neglected, despite anecdotal support for its efficacy, is Quantum BioEnergetics (QBE). Furthermore, the influence of paranormal belief and experience (either real belief/experience or suggested belief/experience) on subtle energy effects remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study was to investigate experimentally the effects of distant QBE healing, and paranormal belief/experience, on mood.

DESIGN

A randomized expectancy-enhanced placebo-controlled design was used.

SETTING

Data were collected at the QBE Centre, Melbourne.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants were students from Deakin University and from the general public.

METHODS

Snowball sampling (ie, word-of-mouth) and convenience sampling using a ballot box placed in the university library.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Profile of Mood States-Short Form was used to quantify positive and negative mood states.

RESULTS

The QBE condition was associated with (1) significantly less Tension-Anxiety compared with the placebo and control condition; and (2) significantly less Anger-Hostility and Total Mood Disturbance compared with the control condition (but not the placebo condition). Furthermore, there was an interaction of condition and paranormal belief/experience with regard to Depression-Dejection, with believers assigned to the placebo condition scoring lowest on this Mood variable.

CONCLUSION

Findings suggest that the use of QBE by an experienced practitioner reduces mood disturbance. In addition, the placebo condition may have evoked suggestibility effects in believers, which would mean that they may be more likely than nonbelievers to believe that they were receiving healing, thus resulting in lower Depression-Dejection scores.

Absorption: an individual difference to consider in mind-body interventions

Given that mind-body interventions constitute a major portion of complementary and alternative medicine used by the public, it seems important to explore those human characteristics that may contribute to the efficacy of mind-body interventions in those who are most likely to benefit. One such characteristic, absorption, reflects an individual's cognitive capacity for involvement in sensory and imaginative experiences in ways that alter an individual's perception, memory, and mood with behavioral and biological consequences. Thus, one's level of absorption may potentially create differential treatment effects in mind-body intervention outcomes. Conducting practical clinical trials helps address the challenge of determining whether a specific mind-body modality intervention may be effective. Such trials may be strengthened by including measures of personality dimensions such as absorption.

Energy-based modalities

Research on touch therapies is still in the early stages of development. Studies of Therapeutic Touch, Healing Touch, and Reiki are quite promising; however, at this point, they can only suggest that these healing modalities have efficacy in reducing anxiety; improving muscle relaxation; aiding in stress reduction, relaxation, and sense of well-being; promoting wound healing; and reducing pain. The multidimensional aspects of healing inherent in patient care continue to be expanded and facilitated by our understanding and application of energy therapies.