Dear Editorial Staff, 8/20/2006 `
In her article in
Massage Today magazine entitled “Taking the "Magic" Out of Energy
Work” August 2006 Julianna Holden, advocates marketing energy work sans mysterious
and metaphysical labeling to reach people off put by “hooey” speak. This could
result in significantly reducing the efficacy of the practice at least
according to one of our great American Scientists and statesmen Benjamin
Franklin (1706-1790) who scientifically studied the “energy work” of the
physician and famous healer Franz Friedrich Anton Mesmer (1734-1815).
Franklin was asked by King Louis XVI (1754–1793) to investigate scientifically,
Mesmer claims, to determine whether or not he had discovered a new force in
physics. Mesmer called this force “animal Magnetism” and claimed that he could
pass this energy thru his body and then thru the air in to the body of another.
Since he also believed that illness was the result of an imbalance in the energy
channels within the patient, Mesmer thought, his animal magnetism could restore
homeostasis. Countless healings of serious illness were reported all over
France and even the King’s wife Queen Marie Antoinette was a Mesmer fan.
Franklin’s
commission (1784) was composed of many of the top scientists of the day and
after much investigation concluded that there was no new force in physics and
that the power Mesmer had discovered was within the individual and not within
Mesmer. Mesmer created a state of extreme suggestibility or relaxed
attentiveness within his patients.
Mesmer’s patients then became exceeding vulnerable to suggestion. The
healing effects then, Franklin concluded were, not generated by some power, within
Mesmer, passed thru the air but rather generated by Mesmer‘s suggestions.
Therefore by suggesting that energy work is magical makes it magical to someone
who is susceptible to suggestion. Complex and hidden homeostatic imbalances may
be corrected if someone thinks that Tibetan healing bell, for example, is
beneficial to them. By taking the Magic out of energy work Ms Holden may be
reducing the healing effect of the practice.
In
1841 Dr. James Braid (physician) (1795-1860) witnessed Mesmerism and would
subsequently coin the term and invent the procedure known as hypnotism. Dr.
Braid would have agreed with Franklin that there is no energy transfer thru the
air into the patient. He also noted that relaxed attentiveness is necessary and
gives potency to subsequent suggestions. Complex physiological and unconscious
imbalances were noted and corrected by the physicians Sigmund Freud (,
1856–1939) and Joseph Breuer (1842-1925) “father” & "grandfather"
of psychoanalysis respectively. Carl Gustav Jung (1875– 1961) emphasized the
potency of symbols, symbol systems and ritual practices in the healing process.
Mesmer himself used incense, which mimicked a catholic mass. Mesmer also
emphasized a ritualistic tone with astrological symbols, dark lighting,
mirrors, and ethereal music (Armonica).
Modern
research studies that have investigated the claim of Therapeutic Touch
practitioners (Nursing Practice of Energy Work) that human energy fields can be
detected and manipulated. In 1998 a study by Rosa L, Rosa E, Sarner L, Barrett
S. published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)[1] concluded that “Twenty-one experienced TT
(Therapeutic Touch) practitioners were unable to detect the investigator's
"energy field”. The practitioners correctly located the hand of the
researcher only 122 (44%) out of 280 trials, which is no better than would be
expected by guessing. Dolores Krieger, Ph.D., R.N., a faculty member at New
York University's Division of Nursing, and the Founder of Therapeutic Touch
(1970's) was offered $1,000,000 by James Randi to demonstrate that she, or
anyone else for that matter, can detect the human energy field. Ms Krieger has
not contacted Mr. Randi. This supports Benjamin
Franklin, James Braid, Sigmund Freud, Joseph
Breuer, and Carl Gustav Jung in their conclusion that the healing power of
energy work is within the patient and not within the practitioner who then
transfers their healing power to the patient.
It
may be that energy work is still effective without all of the colorful and
metaphysical packaging. Ms. Holden’s experience seems to indicate as much. We
cannot be certain of the effectiveness of any of these practices including
practices of manual medicine or medical massage therapy without more research.
It appears though that the necessary ingredients for effective healing at least
when it comes to energy work is simply relaxed attentiveness on the part of the
client while the practitioner offers suggestions (that could be indirect &
nonverbal), which would reinforce, improved health. It is unlikely though that
healing practitioners will refrain from offering this diverse array of exotic
approaches to healing.
A quick review of
techniques will make your head spin; reiki's radiance technique, pranic
healing, and Theta Healing, conscious-mind therapy, Energy Psychology, EFT
(Emotional Freedom Technique), TAT (Tapas Acupressure Technique), Ki
Energetics, Tolle’s Presencing techniques, faith healing, Aura healers and
chakra healers, and therapeutic touch. These techniques probably evolve as a
result of market pressure. Consumers buy what that think will help them. Modern
Allopathic Medicine simply does not meet the needs of all consumers and so they
shop elsewhere.
Survey research
published in the New England Journal of Medicine[2]
and Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)[3]
revel the multi million-dollar market of alternative medicine, which has only
grown over the past 15 years and will probably continue to grow in the future.
It is in the economic best interest of physicians to understand Alternative
Medicine and utilize practitioners where possible. More research may be needed
to convince them. Many doctors who have read their own journals are already
incorporating some alternative approaches in their practice such as acupuncture
and massage. Since Medicine is a business doctors simply cannot afford to be
non-competitive.
The diversity of
healing techniques should underline our need for the miraculous,
which reflects marketplace purchasing better than any scientifically controlled
opinion study. After all as Pliny the Elder (Gaius Plinius Secundus, (23–79)) [4] the Roman Natural philosopher said we must be kind to each
other for we all carry a great burden.
We like superheroes because the miracle of their power lifts those
burdens from us. Learned helplessness teaches people that they have no power to
heal themselves. It is just not enough for most of us to accept these burdens
alone. It never occurs to many of us that we are in fact our own heroes. We are
able through some complex and unknown process to heal ourselves. Ms. Holden
offers the reminder, that we are all, powerful, referring with a caution to
some healer’s tendency to view his or her own powers as a special gift from
above or as a result some special training which imbued them with titles
(Master) for a hefty price. It is true that self-referential egotists or the
entrepreneurial training of spirituality may be off putting. The self
proclaimed or Master anointed healer does project confidence, though. The
healer’s power to heal may in fact embody the superhero the client is longing
for. Mesmer was famous for his theatrics, steady gaze (Mesmerize), and
confidant hubris. People loved Mesmer for the theater until they found out
paradoxically that the power was within them all along. Energy workers and
healers can teach this lesson of self-healing, to their clients with only one
caveat. You may loose a client who becomes his or her own healer/hero. This may
be the greatest healing of all.
Ms. Holden wishes to
reach out to doctors and other skeptics who may not accept the above compelling
scientific and economic evidence and rationale. These doubters would not
respond to this theater absurd. Ms. Holden proposes a neurological sounding
theory, which she hopes will help repackage energy work in more scientific terms.
Ms. Holden’s theory is neurologically improbable. Simply stated the theory
says; through the body workers voluntary nervous system (“Somatic Nervous
System”) thru touch and or with “thoughts of release “ the client’s autonomic
nervous system is stimulated to cause a release of muscle tightness. In Ms.
Holden’s view muscle tightness is the problem and the clients muscles can be
relaxed if the therapist uses their conscious intent (therapist holds “thoughts
of release” in their mind), which thru their touch will affect the persons
autonomic nervous system to reduce the neurological innervation of the muscle.
This returns us to the same idea Mesmer promoted only we substitute “thoughts
of release” for “animal magnetism”. These thoughts of release travel through
the massage therapist’s somatic nervous system jump across the gap of air
between the massage therapists hands and the clients body and then stimulate
the clients autonomic nervous system which then relaxes the clients muscles.
There is no evidence in the history of medicine that neurologically generated
impulses (action potentials) from one person can pass thru the air and
stimulate action potentials in another person’s autonomic nervous system.
Even if this were
possible, muscles are tightened by innervation of the motor neurons, which are
part of the somatic (voluntary) branch of the peripheral nervous system. The
autonomic nervous system’s primary function is not to tighten or relax muscles
but to prepare out bodies for “fight or flight” in service of our evolutionary
need to avoid being eaten by predators. The autonomic nervous system in short
gets our internal organs “pumped up” for action but lets the brain decide thru
the somatic (voluntary) nervous system what that action is. Rhythmic, soothing
touch with soft hands probably does relax muscles thru the reflex arc that the
sensory nerves make with the motor nerves in the spinal cord. If you have ever
touched a “hot plate” you know about this reflex arc because it helps you pull
your body away from something that is hurting you. This same sensory/motor
reflex arc probably relax the muscle if the skin is soothed. Both the sensory
and motor nerves are part of the somatic nervous system, which does not need
the person’s autonomic nervous system to relax muscles. In short Ms. Holden’s
theory is not supported by the neuroanatomical facts.
Neurological theories
aside, the simple explanation to doctors and skeptics are the abundance of
medical history from Franklin to Freud, which demonstrates the miraculous
healing power within. Energy work or laying on of hands may be all the body
needs to initiate complex, unconscious, homeostatic process which can in fact
heal the nasty misery that can burden us. As a first try conservative treatment
strategy why risk the side effects of medications or sometimes uncertain
outcome of surgery if the less invasive approach works. This does not mean
Doctors & Hospitals will have to accept Shaman Mystery Dancers burning sage
and dancing down their corridors. But it probably is true that some cultures
and people respond to ritual symbols, which provide effective suggestive
healing. The Skeptics might need a toned down version of this healing magic, as
Ms. Holden suggests, but for those who need and want it, break out the Crystals
from Atlantis, the Peruvian Mystery Stones, and happily bang on that Tibetan healing bell.
Sincerely
Ted Nissen M.A. M.T.
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