Therapeutic touch
Overview
What is therapeutic touch?
Therapeutic touch is a form of healing that uses a practice called
"laying on of hands" to correct or balance energy fields. The word
"touch" is misleading because there is generally no direct physical
touch involved. Instead, the hands are moved just over the body.
Therapeutic touch is based on the theory that the body, mind, and
emotions form a complex energy field. According to therapeutic touch,
health is an indication of a balanced energy field and illness
represents imbalance. Studies suggest that therapeutic touch can help to
heal wounds, reduce pain, and promote relaxation.
What is the energy field?
Although scientists have not detected a human energy field, the
concept of an energy field is also a part of other types of healing. In
the ancient medical systems of India and China, the energy field is
described as life energy. It is thought to exist throughout the body and
is responsible for maintaining normal physiological, psychological, and
spiritual functions. In Traditional Chinese Medicine this energy is
called qi (pronounced "chee"), and in India's Ayurvedic medicine
it is called prana .
What is the history of therapeutic touch?
Dolores Krieger, a professor at New York University School of
Nursing, and Dora Kunz, a natural healer, developed therapeutic touch in
the early 1970s. At first, Krieger and Kunz only taught the techniques
to Krieger's graduate school nursing students, but Krieger's
professional research and writing increased the popularity of the
technique, particularly among nurses. The practice grew primarily
through a grassroots effort of nurses throughout the United States.
Today, therapeutic touch is taught at more than 100 hospitals and health
centers worldwide and is most commonly practiced by nurses.
How does therapeutic touch work?
Scientists are not certain how therapeutic touch works. There are few
studies, and scientific investigators have so far not detected the human
energy field. Still, two theories have been put forward.
One theory is that the actual pain associated with a physically or
emotionally painful experience (such as infection, injury, or a
difficult relationship) remains in the body's cells. The pain stored in
the cells is disruptive, and prevents some cells from working properly
with other cells in the body. This results in disease. Therapeutic touch
is thought to restore health by restoring communication between cells.
The other theory is based on the principles of quantum physics. As
blood, which contains iron, circulates in our bodies an electromagnetic
field is produced. According to this theory, at one time we could all
easily see this field (called an aura), but now only certain
individuals, such as those who practice therapeutic touch, develop this
ability.
More generally, therapeutic touch is based on the idea that optimal
health requires a balanced flow of life energy. Practitioners of
therapeutic touch, by their own description, sense the your energy
through their hands and then send healthy energy back to you. When
receiving therapeutic touch you usually feel such things as warmth,
relaxation, and/or pain relief. The practitioner describes your energy
as hot or cold, active or passive, blocked or free. There are eight
general regions of the body above which energy is sensed – head, throat,
heart, stomach, lower abdomen, sacral region, knees, and feet.
Ultimately, you, the recipient of therapeutic touch is the healer. The
practitioner simply allows your body's own healing mechanisms to emerge.
The role of the practitioner is to facilitate this process.
What should I expect on my first visit?
Before the session begins, you will be asked to sit or lie down. No
undressing is necessary. Despite its name, therapeutic touch rarely
involves physical contact between the therapist and the person being
treated. Sessions can be broken down into four steps:
(1) Centering— the therapist becomes "centered" by using
breathing, imagery, and meditation to achieve an altered state of
consciousness for him or herself.
(2) Assessment— the therapist holds his or her hands 2 to 4
inches away from your body while moving from your head to your feet.
This is done to assess the energy field surrounding your body.
Therapists often describe feelings of warmth, coolness, static, and
tingling over the areas of energy "congestion" or "blockage."
(3) Intervention— once a congested or blocked area is located,
the therapist will move his or her hands in a rhythmic motion starting
at the top of the blocked area and moving down and away from your body.
This action, known as unruffling, is repeated until the therapist no
longer senses congestion or until you begin to sense relief. The
therapist will also visualize and transmit life energy to specific areas
of your body, also intended to correct imbalances.
(4) Evaluation/Closure— once you've had a few minutes to
relax, the therapist will ask you how you feel. He or she may recheck
your energy field to be sure that no blockages were overlooked.
What is therapeutic touch good for?
Most studies indicate that therapeutic touch can relieve tension
headaches and reduce pain, such as that associated with burns.
osteoarthritis, or following surgery. It may also speed the healing of
wounds and improve function in those with arthritis.
Therapeutic touch also promotes relaxation. Cancer, heart disease,
and burn patients have reported that therapeutic touch significantly
lessens their anxiety. Generally, the deep relaxation associated with
therapeutic touch reduces stress, lowers blood pressure, and improves
breathing. Being relaxed may also lead to lower cholesterol levels and
also may improve immune and bowel functions. Difficult pregnancies may
also be made a little easier with the help of therapeutic touch.
Together with medical treatment, therapeutic touch can help with many
additional conditions such as the following:
- fibromyalgia
- sleep apnea
- restless leg syndrome (a disorder that causes insomnia)
- allergies
- bronchitis
- addictions
- lupus
- Alzheimer's disease and, possibly, other forms of dementia
Some people indicate that they experience emotional and spiritual
changes after receiving therapeutic touch. These may include greater
self-confidence, self-control, and self-understanding.
There is still controversy, however, as to whether the healing power
of therapeutic touch has anything to do with the "laying on of hands."
Critics suggest that the healing observed after therapeutic touch may be
the result of the relaxing nature of the therapy itself and not the
energy transfer that is believed to occur between the therapist's hands
and the individual's body.
Is there anything I should watch out for?
You may feel thirsty, lightheaded, and a need to urinate.
Lightheadedness generally only lasts for 15 minutes after a session, but
you may feel thirsty for days. According to some practitioners, if you
were flooded with too much energy you might feel increased pain and be
irritable, restless, anxious, or even nauseated. Therapeutic touch may
also worsen fevers and active inflammation; therefore, it is best not to
obtain therapeutic touch when you have either a fever or active
inflammation (such as an acutely swollen joint from arthritis).
Some therapeutic touch practitioners recommend that children, the
elderly, and very sick people be treated for only a short time. Although
there is no actual touching involved with therapeutic touch, talk with
your practitioner about what to expect from a session, particularly if
you have been physically or sexually abused in your past.
How can I find a qualified practitioner?
There is no formal certification program in the United States for
therapeutic touch. Most therapeutic touch practitioners are in the
nursing profession (although some massage therapists, physical
therapists, chiropractors, acupuncturists, and others practice
therapeutic touch as well). Nurse Healers-Professional Associates
International (NH-PAI) recommends that people look for therapists who
practice regularly (at least an average of 2 times per week), have at
least 5 years of experience, and have completed at least 12 hours of
therapeutic touch workshops. To locate a qualified practitioner near
you, contact the NH-PAI at 703-234-4149 or visit their website at
www.therapeutic-touch.org .
What is the future of therapeutic touch?
While there appear to be many potential uses for therapeutic touch,
particularly for chronically ill people, measuring the effectiveness of
the technique is very difficult. Because of this, much of the research
that exists has been criticized. Improved studies may lead to wider
acceptance.
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