Energy medicine developed from the Holistic World View. Previous to this development the influence of the Cartesian paradigm of medical thoughts resulted in the so called biomedical model which constitute the conceptual foundation of modern scientific medicine The human body is regarded as a machine that can be analyzed in terms of its parts; disease is seen as the malfunctioning of biological mechanisms which are studied from the point of view of cellular and molecular biology; the doctor’s role is to intervene, either physically, of chemically, to correct the mal-functioning of a specific mechanisms.

But the developments in Physics, especially quantum theory, Psychosomatic medicine, Psychoneuroimmunology, Parapsychology and the influence of Eastern methods of treatment such as Yoga, Acupuncture, Ayurveda etc. played an important role in changing from the mechanical view of body to the holistic view of health.

New models of holistic health demonstrate that matter is neither absolute nor immutable- matter can be both transformed into energy and created from energy. This means that when we give energy to diseased person, the deficiency can be restored. In Energy medicine there is a direct transmission of psychic energy for therapeutic purposes. Now these Energy patterns can be photographed through KIRLIAN photography. It is a diagnostic method which photographs the Coronae discharge of ‘bio-energy’ around the body. There are two forms of Energy Medicine which is very popular and has been endorsed by medical people and scientists-

     (1) Therapeutic Touch        (2) Reiki.

Therapeutic Touch was developed by Dora Kunz and DR. Dolores Kriegar. The practice of Therapeutic Touch is based on the fundamental principle of unity or dynamic wholeness. This means that within every human being, body, mind and spirit are completely inter-related. It also means that there is an inter-relationship between human beings & all other organism in the environment. During the process of Therapeutic Touch the practitioner, with a clear, focused intention, channels life energy through himself to the patients. He also helps the patients to absorb the energy by releasing congestion and balancing disharmonious rhythms. To date Dr. Kriegar has taught this system of healing to over 43,000 professional persons in the health field. In fact, it is a compulsory subject for Nurses in New York State University.

There are “Pear Therapeutic” groups active in several countries that are focused on health problems afflicting persons – these may be premenstrual symptoms, dead fingers of Raynaud’s disease, Cancers of many kind, bilateral amputation Grave’s disease (goiter) and AIDS etc. So we see that Therapeutic Touch is becoming a worldwide movement for helping people in distress.

REIKI – At hospital and clinics across America, Reiki is beginning to gain acceptance as a meaningful and cost effective way to improve patient care. The popularity of Reiki seems to have no bounds. This form of energy medicine which is being used millions of people throughout the world stands out as probably the most simple yet immensely effective healing. The most common effects of a Reiki session are deep Relaxation and a sense of inner peace.

This creates an ideal environment in which the body can maximize its natural healing process.

Otelia Bengsstan, M.D. conducted an experiment with a group of 79 sick patients. Together the patients had a wide range of diagnosed illnesses including pancreatitis, Brain tumor, emphysema, multiple endocrine disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, and congestive heart failure. Laying-on hands treatments were given to 46 with 33 as controls. The treated patient showed significant increases in hemoglobin values. The effect was so pronounced that even cancer patient who were being treated with bone marrow-suppressive agents, which predictably induced decreases in hemoglobin values, showed an increases. The majority of patients also reported improvement or complete disappearance of symptoms. Both these experiments demonstrate that healers are able to induce actual biological improvements in the patients they treat rather than simply create a feeling of well-being.

Julie Motz, a Reiki trained healer, has worked with Mehmet Oz, M.D., a noted cardiothoracic surgeon at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York. Motz. uses Reiki and other subtle energy techniques to balance the patient’s energy during operations. She has assisted Dr. Oz. in the operating room during open heart surgeries and heart transplants. Motz reports that none of the eleven heart patients so treated experienced the usual post-operative depression, the bypass patient had no post-operative pain or leg weakness, and transplant patients experienced no organ rejection.

Reiki can be learnt in three stages to master art of Reiki. The first and second stage can be learnt in a two-day workshop. The third is master, training which requires at least one year of training in traditional Reiki. Most of the People who are practicing Reiki have done only the first two stages. Energy Medicine is being used by many medical people in India also. Thus we find that Energy Medicine is playing an important role in alleviating the suffering of human beings as a complementary therapy to Modern Medicine.