Ancient Healing With Modern Knowledge

As in other phases of life, health care professionals also seem to be moving further away from the patient.

An increase in paper work and computer entry in the workplace has kept the nurse longer at the desk than at the bedside. Interestingly, as if to balance the increase in technology, there has developed in recent years a movement within healthcare towards the traditional healing arts. There are many books out describing the use of natural foods and herbs, often in conjunction with the high tech mainstream medical treatments.

The use of touch in healing is an ancient art. It continues today in many religions, where there are claims with documented proof of measurable changes following the laying on of hands. Is this fakery at its best or is there some scientific basis to support the evidence that human touch can heal?

Dolores Kreiger PhD Rn, is a professor of Nursing at New York University. And is well known for her research into the effects of touch. She developed a treatment known as Therapeutic Touch which is taught as part of the curriculum for post-graduate Nursing degrees. This treatment is a unique form of touch in that there is no actual skin to skin contact. The touch involves the coming together of energy fields, those around the healer and those around the healee.

There is research going on at present regarding the existence of energy fields around the human body. It is contacting and moving these fields that is the basis of therapeutic Touch. One research project conducted by Dr. Krieger, revealed an increase in the hemoglobin production where therapeutic touch was used. Mumbo- Jumbo?

It may seem that there is something solid, although soft between your hands. To some it feels similar to a pillow with the same kind of resiliency. You are experiencing your energy field.

In the practice of Therapeutic Touch, the client is asked to place himself or herself in a comfortable position. It can be either lying or sitting. There is a brief relaxation period during which the client is asked to breathe deeply and relax. The practitioner also does some form of centering. The first step in the practice I known as "clearing the field". It is here that the practitioner moves her hands approximately three to five inches above the surface of the client’s body, assessing and becoming familiar with the client’s energy field. The problem area feels different to the practitioner than the rest of the body surface. It can be described as a "full’ or "clogged’ feeling., as if something is stopping the free flow of energy.

This energy is what the Chinese refer to as chi. When there is an alteration in the flow of energy, there is disease or disease. Therapeutic touch helps clear away any congestion in the flow of chi or energy, thus improving the state of being. It is used in healing as well as pain control.