Resonance, Placebo Effects, and Type II Errors: Some Implications from Healing Research for Experimental Methods

Differential In Vivo Effects on Cancer Models by Recorded Magnetic Signals Derived From a Healing Technique

Previous research on "healing-with-intent" has reasonably demonstrated the validity of the phenomenon at least when a human healer is present and involved. However, in order for healing to be adopted into more conventional therapies, it must be able to be made scalable. The present study tests the effects of a scalable recording of the Bengston Healing Method on 3 cancer models. BalbC mice engrafted with 4T1 breast cancer cells, C57BL mice with melanoma B16 cells, and C3H mice with bladder MBT-2 wells were exposed to a recording of healing intent for 4 hours/day for approximately 1 month. In the breast cancer model, there was significant tumor suppression and a reduction of anemia marker HCT in treated vs control mice. In the melanoma model, there were no significant differences except for a reduction in platelet count among the treated mice. For unknown reasons, tumor growth never became evident in the bladder cancer model. While the effects of the recording seem to vary by model, there appears reason to pursue scalable delivery systems in multiple models and with multiple doses.

Transcriptional Changes in Cancer Cells Induced by Exposure to a Healing Method

Energy healing, or healing with intent, is a complementary and alternative medicine therapy reported to be beneficial with a wide variety of conditions. We are developing a delivery technology for a method previously tested in mouse models with solid tumors (the Bengston method) independent of the presence of a healer. The goal of this study was to assess whether stored or recorded energy has an impact on breast cancer cells in vitro, using energy-charged cotton and electromagnetic recording of healers practicing the method. Expression of genes involved in cancer and inflammation pathways was measured by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Treatment of cells using energy-charged cotton resulted in statistically significant changes <1.5-fold. In cells exposed to an electromagnetic recording, 37 genes of 167 tested showed a >1.5-fold change when compared to the control, and 68 genes showing statistically significant fold changes. Two genes, ATP citrate lyase (ACLY) and interleukin 1β (IL-1β), were consistently downregulated at 4 and 24 hours of exposure to the recording, respectively, in 3 independent experiments. Both ACLY and IL-1β were also downregulated in cells exposed to a hands-on delivery of the method, suggesting these 2 genes as potential markers of the healing method.

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.

Thrombopoietin Receptor Agonists Are Often Ineffective in Immune Thrombocytopenia and/or Cause Adverse Reactions: Results from One Hand

BACKGROUND

Eltrombopag and romiplostim are thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPOs) that have been increasingly used for the treatment of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Based on our experience, the incidence of abortive treatment with these drugs and the occurrence of adverse reactions that lead to therapy break-off despite response are higher than has been previously suggested.

METHODS

During the last 8 years, a total of 65 patients were treated with eltrombopag and/or romiplostim at our institute.

RESULTS

36 of a total of 58 patients responded well to eltrombopag. In 12 patients that responded, treatment with eltrombopag was discontinued due to the development of adverse reactions. Eltrombopag was replaced by romiplostim in 23 cases (14 non-responders, 9 patients with adverse reactions). Of these patients, 83% responded to romiplostim. Among all patients treated with romiplostim (n = 32), 75% initially responded; however, 8 of these patients developed adverse reactions. Romiplostim was replaced by eltrombopag in 5 cases (4 due to adverse reactions, 1 non-responsive patient), and only 3 (60%) of these patients were observed to respond to eltrombopag.

CONCLUSION

TPOs often remain ineffective in ITP or result in adverse reactions, which lead to treatment stop or to drug switch. Therefore, alternative treatment options are required.

Challenges for Preclinical Investigations of Human Biofield Modalities

Preclinical models for studying the effects of the human biofield have great potential to advance our understanding of human biofield modalities, which include external qigong, Johrei, Reiki, therapeutic touch, healing touch, polarity therapy, pranic healing, and other practices. A short history of Western biofield studies using preclinical models is presented and demonstrates numerous and consistent examples of human biofields significantly affecting biological systems both in vitro and in vivo. Methodological issues arising from these studies and practical solutions in experimental design are presented. Important questions still left unanswered with preclinical models include variable reproducibility, dosing, intentionality of the practitioner, best preclinical systems, and mechanisms. Input from the biofield practitioners in the experimental design is critical to improving experimental outcomes; however, the development of standard criteria for uniformity of practice and for inclusion of multiple practitioners is needed. Research in human biofield studies involving preclinical models promises a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the efficacy of biofield therapies and will be important in guiding clinical protocols and integrating treatments with conventional medical therapies.

Distant Healing Intention Therapies: An Overview of the Scientific Evidence

This article provides a broad overview of “distant healing intention” (DHI) therapies, ie, intentional healing modalities claimed to transcend the usual constraints of distance through space or time. We provide a summary of previous reviews and meta-analyses that have explored a diverse array of DHI modalities, outcome measures, and experimental protocols. While some significant experimental effects have been observed, the evidence to date does not yet provide confidence in its clinical efficacy. The purported “nonlocal” nature of DHI raises significant methodological and theoretical challenges. We recommend several avenues for improving future research.

Effects of external qi of qigong with opposing intentions on proliferation of Escherichia coli

BACKGROUND

The existence and characteristics of external qi (EQ) in qigong therapy has long been subject to scientific debate and rigorous examination. The therapist's intent has played an important role in many studies. This study investigates the effect of EQ with opposing intentions on the proliferation of Escherichia coli.

METHODS

We performed two studies with the same design. In study 1, 75 5-mL tubes containing test samples (3 mL each) were randomly divided into three groups: control, promoted, and inhibited group (25 each). In study 2, three 96-well plates with test samples (200 microL each) were randomly designated as control, promoted, or inhibited. Test samples were placed 60 cm apart on a bench with control in the middle. A qigong therapist performed EQ with either promoting or killing intent for 15 minutes each on the treatment groups. After incubation for 24 hours, optical density of the E. coli samples was measured at 600 nm (OD(600)).

RESULTS

In the initial experiment of both studies, the OD(600) value of the promoted group was significantly higher than that of control (p < 0.05), while the OD(600) value of the inhibited group was significantly lower than that of the control group (p < 0.01), suggesting that the healer's intent played a critical role in the effects of EQ on E.coli proliferation. However, subsequent experiments did not replicate the initial finding in either study and showed a pattern of declining effect.

CONCLUSION

A healer's intent may affect the proliferation of microbes with specificity and directivity, so future studies of bioenergy healing should take the role of intention into consideration. The circumstances surrounding replication of the results in such biofield studies need further exploration.

Can healing be taught?

The recent explosion of opportunities and interest in learning to heal has not been accompanied by sufficiently convincing empirical data to show that healing is teachable. We explore selected examples of teaching modalities and outline their general ethos. Five empirical criteria necessary to demonstrate teachability are outlined. We suggest that no research to date, including a previous claim by one of us (W.F.B.), has surmounted the difficult obstacles that need to be overcome to make such a claim. Some scientific and social implications of the teachability of healing are discussed.