Related Experiment Videos
The healing presence: can it be reliably measured?
Wayne B Jonas1, Cindy C Crawford
1Samueli Institute for Information Biology, Alexandria, VA, USA.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (New York, N.Y.)
|January 15, 2005
Summary
This study explores objective measurement of a healing presence, moving beyond comparative tests to real-time indicators. It discusses healer-identified components and new methods for reliably quantifying this phenomenon.
Area of Science:
- Integrative Medicine
- Complementary Therapies
- Parapsychology
Background:
- Spiritual and religious traditions worldwide describe a healing presence.
- Practitioners are often believed to exude a unique healing presence.
- Current research often focuses on comparative outcomes rather than direct measurement of presence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the possibility of objectively and reliably measuring a healing presence.
- To identify key components of a healing presence as described by healers.
- To review existing measurement attempts and propose new approaches.
Main Methods:
- Discussion of healer-identified components of a healing presence.
- Summary of historical and current attempts to measure healing.
- Description of two recent approaches for objective, real-time measurement.
Main Results:
- Healers identify specific components contributing to a healing presence.
- Existing measurement methods are often comparative and statistical.
- New approaches show potential for objective, real-time indicators.
Conclusions:
- Objective, real-time indicators are necessary for sensitive and reliable measurement of healing presence.
- Further research into novel measurement techniques is warranted.
- Quantifying a healing presence could advance the study of complementary therapies.