|
Results from a new study, which analyzed 23 previous studies including
over 2,700 patients, show that patients who practice "distance
healing" including prayer, "laying on of hands,"
or therapeutic touch may benefit from it. Five of the studies examined
the effect of prayer by one individual on another's behalf, 11 examined
the effect of non-contact therapeutic touch, and 7 studies examined
the effect of various other types of distance healing such as "remote
mental healing" and "laying on of hands."
Non-contact therapeutic touch is based upon the belief that the
patient has an energy field, which can be modified as the practitioner
moves his or her hands over the patient's body. In 57% of the studies,
patients appeared to have some benefit, such as a reduction in pain
or accelerated wound healing.
Annals of Internal Medicine 2000;132:903-910.
| 