* interventions for reducing the intensity of pain in a number of conditions;
* reducing anxiety for hospitalized patients;
* reducing agitated behaviors in dementia.
What the found:
"Of the 66 studies reviewed, 85% reported psychological or self-report outcomes, 54% reported biological or objective functional outcomes, and 9% examined qualitative reports." [Note that the word 'outcome' in this context means 'benefits'.]
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.
The authors recommended that a greater number of well-designed studies be conducted to add further evidence to the present findings.
Source: Jain S., & Mills P. J. (2009). Biofield therapies: Helpful or full of hype? A best-evidence synthesis. International Journal of Behavorial Medicine; DOI 10.1007/s12529-009-9062-4
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2 comments:
I'm glad people are finding ways to quantify the benefits of the things humanity has known to be successful for thousands of years, such as forms of energetic/spiritual healing like Reiki.
A shame modern medicine has disregarded so many alternative therapies because they cannot profit from them.
I myself do Reiki Healing so i know theres a lot of testimony that says how beneficial such treatments are.
It is so true Gareth! At least now medical professionals are willing to have this conversation. It is for the greater good.
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