Self-Reported Effects of Energy Healing: A Prospective Observational Study With Pre-Post Design

Area of Science:

• Complementary and Alternative Medicine
• Patient-Reported Outcomes
• Integrative Health

Background:

• Healing is utilized by a notable portion of the population, with higher prevalence in specific patient groups.
• Understanding patient-reported symptoms and outcomes is crucial for evaluating complementary therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document initial symptoms presented by patients seeking healing for the first time.
• To assess the subjectively experienced benefits and risks associated with healing sessions.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire-based observational study involving 92 adult participants in southern Norway.
• The Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile (MYMOP) questionnaire was used to collect pre- and post-treatment data.
• Symptoms were categorized into pain, psychological problems, fatigue, and other.

Main Results:

• Participants, predominantly women with chronic conditions, reported an approximate 50% improvement in symptoms, well-being, and activity levels.
• Women reported greater improvement than men.
• Adverse effects were reported by 40% of participants, typically mild and short-lived.

Conclusions:

• Healing sessions were associated with substantial self-reported improvements in symptom burden, well-being, and activity levels.
• The observational design precludes definitive conclusions on treatment specificity or mechanisms of action.