Alternative
Care for the
Mind and
Body
Session 2
Energy Medicine
Jennifer Kitchen
July 2, 2013
“Healing is a
matter of
time, but it is
sometimes
also a
matter of
opportunity”
Hippocrates
Overview
 Universal
 Benefits
Energy
of Touch Therapies
 Therapeutic
 Healing
Touch
Touch
 Reiki
Universal Energy
Not
directly measurable
Does
not lose power with distance
Cannot
be blocked by barriers

(Micozzi, 2011)
Universal Energy
 Energy
Medicines
 Qigong,
Rieki, and Therapeutic and Healing
Touch
 Based
on philosophy, historical use, and
traditional use
 Interaction

between energy field and intention
(Micozzi, 2011)
Universal Energy
 Aura

Bioenergy
Biofield
 Meridian

Energy Pathway
 Chakras

Local Energy
Fields

 Ki
 Chi
 Qi
 Prana

(Feinstein and
Eden, 2008)
(Micozzi, 2011)
Universal Energy
Six Pillars of
Energy Medicine
 Reach
 Patient
Empowerment
 Efficiency
 Quantum
 Practicality
 Holistic
Compatibility
orientation

(Feinstein and Eden, 2008)
Benefits of Touch Therapies

Promotes health

Balanced energy in



status
the body

Improved over-all health
Reduces anxiety

Reduced blood pressure
Improved muscle

Increased immune
function
relaxation

Enhanced stress

Improved mood
Increased ability to cope
with pain
reduction

Improved functional

Decreased fatigue

(Feinstein and Eden, 2008)
Therapeutic Touch
 The
therapist
 Places
hands on or near the patient's body
 Consciously
 Focuses
directs the patient’s energies
on balancing the energies and
stimulating the body's own natural healing

(The University of Minnesota, 2012)
Based on the assumptions that
 Human
 Illness
beings are open energy systems
is an imbalance in the energy field
 Clearing
or balancing the energy field promotes
health
 All
humans have the natural abilities to heal

(The University of Minnesota, 2012)
 Taught
in many nursing schools,
 Categorized
as a biofield energy therapy by
NCCAM
 Is
not a substitute for medical treatment

It does complement conventional medical care

Is beneficial with other therapies

(The University of Minnesota, 2012)
Healing Touch
A
Healing Touch session
 Practitioner
goes through a centering process
 Practitioner
becomes fully present with the
patient
 Practitioner
focuses intention on patient's
“highest good”

(The University of Minnesota, 2012)
Techniques
A
gentle but firm physical touch
 Placing
of hands in the energy field surrounding
the body
 Continual
reassessment of the client’s physical
indicators

(Wilkinson, Knox, Chatman, et al, 2002)
 Complements
 Conventional
 Other
 Not
other healing techniques
medical practices
Mind/Body oriented therapies
intended as a cure

(The University of Minnesota, 2012)
Reiki
Reiki
The Five Precepts
 Just
for today, do not anger
 Just
for today, do not worry
 Be
 Be
 Be
humble
honest in your work
compassionate to yourself and others

(Arnold and Nevius,1982 & Miles and True, 2003)
Reiki
 Extremely
 Hands
Passive Medicine
gently on patient or just above the body
 No
attempt to adjust or reorganize energy field
 No
attempt to project energy into the body
 Does
not require an assessment of patient energies

(Micozzi, 2011)
Reiki
Induced States of
Awareness

Changes in Physical
Measurements

Novel and
anxiety
paradoxical sensations


Disorientation in space
and time

Altered experience of
self, environment, and
relationships
(Micozzi, 2011)
Skin temperature
lowered


Lowered stress and
Electromyographic
readings lowered

Salivary cortisol level
lowered

(Micozzi, 2011)
Questions
Time to Relax
References








Arnold, L. and Nevius, S., (1982). The Reiki Handbook. ParaScience
International; PA.
Energy Intuitives, (n.d.). Energy Healing. Retrieved from
http://www.energyintuitives.com/sessions/
Feinstein, D. and Eden, D., (2008). Six Pillars of Energy Medicine: clinical
strengths of a complementary paradigm. Alternative Therapies, 14:1,
44-54. Retrieved from
http://www.innersource.net/em/images/6_Pillars_of_EM.pdf
Micozzi, M.S., (2011). Fundamentals of Complementary and Alternative
Medicine (fourth edition). Missouri; Saunders Elsevier.
Miles, P. and True, G., (2003). Reiki—review of a biofield therapy history,
theory, practice, and research. Alternative Therapies, 9:2, 62-72.
Retrieved from http://reikifrank.abmp.com/alt_therapies_reiki.pdf
The University of Minnesota, (2012). Healing Touch. Retrieved from
http://takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/healingtouch
The University of Minnesota, (2012). Therapeutic Touch. Retrieved from
http://takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healingpractices/therapeutic-touch
Wilkinson, D.S., Knox, P.L., Chatman, J.E., Johnson, T.L., Barbour, N.,
Myles, Y., and Reel, A., (2002). The Clinical Effectiveness of Healing
Touch. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 8:1,
33–47. Retrieved from
http://gemini.utb.edu/nurs3304_84/ASSIGNMENTS/Healing%20Touch%20
Effectiveness%20Article_6316003.pdf