Energy healing is a broadly defined field within the complementary and alternative healthcare umbrella. It’s a field still in its research infancy and paradoxically is thought to be among the oldest healing method.
We’re just recently starting to see research results supporting the benefits. One of the things I love about energy healing is the variety of self-healing methods that offer benefits and convenience.
The term energy healing is often used to convey a nonphysical approach to healing. As we see an increase in awareness of it, it’s an excellent time to define what it is and what it is not.
Some of the titles I see being used are mind-body techniques, vibrational medicine, subtle energy therapy, energy psychology(tapping), energy healing, and biofield therapy. Each of these titles encompasses a variety of modalities with some overlap.
There’s a lot of variation in the descriptions of energy healing, but most include a reference to the movement of life force energy or chi. This includes hands-on healing, distance healing, and self-healing.
More common modalities are Reiki, EFT, Therapeutic Touch, Healing Touch, Qi Gong, meditation, prayer, intention, spiritual healing, Shamanic healing, and energy healing. The multitude of methodologies makes comparing research and making correlations challenging.
The other major piece is the understanding of how energy healing works. The subtle energy that exists in all humans is believed to be the mechanism by which energy healing works. We have a bio-energetic field that is impacted by emotional, social, environmental, and psychological influences. Energy healing is thought to shift stagnant energy, allowing health to be restored.
There are many ways to weave in energy healing, particularly self-healing, to keep things flowing well, heal a subconscious belief or thought pattern, support physical healing, clear out a sense of being stuck or getting centered. I am a firm believer in regular energetic hygiene, but that’s a topic for another day.