Therapeutic touch as energy exchange: replication and extension

Area of Science:

• Integrative medicine
• Psychophysiology
• Energy healing research

Background:

• Previous research suggested therapeutic touch (TT) involves an energy exchange.
• The Rogerian conceptual system implies that direct contact is unnecessary for therapeutic effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To replicate and extend research on therapeutic touch and energy exchange.
• To test the theorem that eye and facial contact are not necessary for TT's anxiety reduction effect.

Main Methods:

• Replication and extension of prior therapeutic touch studies.
• Testing a specific theorem derived from the Rogerian conceptual system.
• Investigating the necessity of eye and facial contact in therapeutic touch.

Main Results:

• The theorem that eye and facial contact are unnecessary for anxiety reduction was not supported.
• Eye and facial contact appeared necessary for the observed effects.
• Medication effects were identified as a pervasive confounding factor.

Conclusions:

• The necessity of eye and facial contact challenges energy exchange theories of therapeutic touch.
• The study design, investigator effects, and particularly participant medication complicate interpretation.
• Medication's influence is highlighted as the most probable explanation for the unexpected results.