The focus will be on efficacy of Healing Touch on pain, stress and anxiety symptoms in cancer patients undergoing treatment. The group size will be 20-25 people.

The final analysis and results are expected to be in early 2026!

Healing Touch has been shown to reduce depressive symptoms and preserve natural killer cell cytotoxicity in women with cervical cancer receiving chemoradiation. Chemotherapy and radiation therapies have effects on various metabolic functions in the human body such as glucose metabolism, mitochondrial function, and production of radical oxygen species. 

Blood samples from 51 women with cervical cancer were collected prior to, during (4 weeks), and post- (6 weeks) chemoradiation. Patients were randomized to a Healing Touch, relaxation, or usual care condition. HT or relaxation therapy was provided 4 times per week during the 6 weeks of chemoradiation. 

The analysis evaluated the potential protective effects of Healing Touch on these metabolic processes and compare these effects with the relaxation and the usual are groups.  Preliminarily, statistically significant findings in metabolite profiles were not identified between healing touch and usual care patients in the results to date. However, they found clear differences in correlation structures and patterns that indicate shifts in metabolic functioning that could be further explored in future studies.

The abstract will be uploaded when the paper has been accepted for publication. 

Abstract

Title: Effects of Healing Touch on Postoperative Pain and Anxiety in Adults.

Outcome: The learner will describe results from a research study examining the effects of Healing Touch intervention on pain and anxiety in adult surgical patients.

Purpose: The primary aim of this study was to identify if there was a difference in post-surgical patients’ pain or anxiety after experiencing Healing Touch (HT).

Background: Research has examined HT in cancer patients, outpatient, and coronary bypass surgical patients, as well as those with persistent pain. It is noninvasive and no studies have noted negative outcomes. Reductions in pain, anxiety and improved quality of life have been found in participants receiving HT, although results have not always been statistically significant.

Problem: Post-surgical patients often experience high levels of pain, anxiety, and sleep disturbance, especially in the orthopedic and spine populations. Non-pharmacologic interventions are not consistently used as adjuncts to medications to help manage these symptoms.

Methodology: A one group pre-post exploratory design was used. Patients who may benefit from HT were identified by the patient’s primary nurse and referred to the HT Practitioner per the standard process in this organization; prior to intervention, the HT Practitioner inquired if the patient was interested in participating in the research study and obtained consent. Participants completed a survey pre and post HT, reporting pain and anxiety on a 0-10 numeric rating scale. Descriptive data will be used to present demographic data. Data for the pre and post surveys will be summarized and analyzed using the paired t-test.

Sample size: A convenience sample of 40 post-operative inpatients. Thirty-four, (85%), had undergone orthopedic (28) or spine (6) procedures.

Results: The mean pain score prior to HT was 6.9 (SD 2.3) and post HT 4.1 (SD 2.3), demonstrating a significant decrease p<.001. Mean anxiety scores decreased significantly after HT from 7.1 (SD 2.8) to 2.9 (SD 2.1) p<.001.  Thirty participants identified sleep as a goal of HT. Ten fell asleep, awoke as the session ended, returning to sleep. Three remained sleeping post session.

Limitations: Setting was one community hospital. There was variation in when HT was conducted for each participant following surgery.

Conclusions: On average, participants in this sample had moderate to severe pain prior to HT. Pain and anxiety scores decreased significantly following HT sessions and several participants were able to fall asleep.

Implications: Healing Touch, a holistic, non-pharmacological approach, in addition to standard care, can be used to help with pain, anxiety and sleep in post-surgical patients, especially those with high pain ratings.

This study evaluated the effect of Healing Touch (HT) on Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) of patients with breast cancer. It assessed and compared the effects of HT on HRQoL and stress, the incidence of radiation treatment delays, blood pressure and pulse, as well as the levels of salivary cortisol in determining stress – all on participants who received weekly HT with those who did not.

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The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate if two CAM modalities, Hypnosis and Healing Touch provide any benefit, assessed by decrease in postoperative pain and perioperative anxiety in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis undergoing posterior spinal fusion surgery. All patients received standard pain management. Significant difference was observed in anxiety scores between the control group and HT group. No difference in cortisol levels was observed between groups in the preoperative and intraoperative periods However, the HT group demonstrated lower cortisol level on postoperative day two, which returned to the same level as the other two groups at the time of follow up visit. However, a trend towards reduction in postoperative cortisol level in the HT group on postop day-2 and reduced anxiety on follow up visit was observed.

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Secrets of Energy Healing
Energy healing and biofield therapies – is there any evidence to support these therapies? Can we detect when healing is occurring? Recent evidence suggests that magnetic field activity in the healing space is a reliable measure of changes that occur during energy healing. When the healer “centers” or quiets themselves to prepare for healing, the magnetic field activity in the room becomes less “noisy”. As a healer works with a client, magnetic field oscillations in the room build in intensity and then release, which closely corresponds to the buildup and release that healers can feel and have reported. Thus, the two “secrets” of effective healing, “quieting the space” and “initiating the charge/discharge process”, can be measured scientifically with a magnetometer.

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The primary purpose of the study was to ascertain the experiences of spiritual development of Healing Touch practitioners/instructors and how they live their holistic philosophy and spiritual practices underpinning Healing Touch in their lives. The two phases of the study were: Phase 1 in which retreat attendees completed an emailed pre-retreat questionnaire, 3 weeks prior to the retreat. Phase 2, the retreat attendees participated in one of 6 focus groups responding to questions derived from the pre-retreat questionnaire. Two additions focus groups were in Chicago with 8 pre-questionnaire and Brisbane, Australia with 4 participants.

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This study evaluated the impact upon the physiology and state of consciousness of recipients of Healing Touch offered by a certified practitioner.

In randomized controlled study of 68 subject’s, 56% of the subject’s female, 44% were male. Age 18 to 91 years of age. The study measured changes in 5 parameters: electroencephalography (EEG), skin conductivity, blood volume and pulse (BVP), respiration, and temperature. These measurements were recorded constantly during each 28 minute session. The procedure consisted of recording 2 minute baseline EEG readings: with eyes closed, then with eyes open. Control Group then relaxed for 20 minutes while the Intervention Group received a 20 minute treatment of Healing Touch. The session concluded with a repetition of the 2 minutes baseline. The Intervention Group had increased activation in all brainwaves patterns, demonstrating a statistically significant difference (p = .03) in the decrease of anxiety compared to the control group, with a CI of 95%.

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The department of neurology is conducting a research project aimed at the evaluation of the protective and healing effect of Healing Touch against heat stress using a nerve cell model.

Affiliate: The Shiley Center for Orthopaedic Research and Education Scripps Clinic 
Principal Investigator: Mary E. Hardwick, MSN, RN
Date: 2007

The primary aim of the proposed prospective randomized, experimental, single center study is to use Healing Touch in addition to standard pharmacologic intervention to improve pain management in bilateral total knee replacement patients. The secondary aims of the proposed study are to; 1 to utilize nursing expertise in initiating a nursing modality for pain control, 2 provide pain relief without pharmacologic agents, and 3 involve bed side nurses in a research project that could make a difference in the quality of patient care.

Affiliate: University of Oklahoma Health Science Center College of Nursing
Principal Investigator: Valerie Eschiti
Date: 2007

The purpose of this qualitative research study is to describe the lived experience of woman who are receiving Healing Touch after their mastectomies.

Affiliate: Stanford University Medical Center
Principal Investigator: Kathy Turner, RNC, NP, CHTP
Date: 2007

To conduct a controlled trial of Healing Touch during chemotherapy infusions for women with breast cancer at Stanford University Medical Center. The study is to determine 1) what effect, is any, Healing Touch has on their quality of life, anxiety, depression, nausea, and fatigue and 2) the feasibility of delivering Healing Touch at the bedside in the Infusion Center.

Affiliate: Touchstone Mental Health
Principal Investigator: Kara Vangen
Date: 2006

To measure ths impact of Healing Touch in reducing secondary symptoms of chronic stress related to mental illness and / or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. To introduce and educate therapy providers in the mental health system to Healing Touch to give them a working understanding of its benefits for referral purposes and to collaborate with them to support the therapy process.

Affiliate: Wayne State University
Principal Investigator: Judith M. Fouladbakhsh
Date: 2004

The purpose of this research study is to analyze data collected through a retrospective record review of client records at the Healing Touch center in Farmington Hills, MI. To gather preliminary data about the outcome of pain with Healing Touch intervention and other research.

Affiliate: Texas A & M University
Principal Investigator: Dr. Donna Crowley
Date: 2004

The use of Healing Touch protocol techniques as viable treatment modality on fibromyalgia patients.

Affiliate: Community Care Corporation, Minneapolis, MN
Principal Investigator: Karen Vangen, Birgit Kelly, Helen Raleigh
Date: 2004

To measure the impact of Healing Touch has on the reduction of secondary symptoms of mental illness, including depression, anxiety, agitation, poor sleep, etc. The project will service to introduce other service providers (in the mental health community) to Healing Touch and the benefits of integrative medicine in treating clients with mental illness.

Affiliate: Way Station, Inc.
Principal Investigator: Francy Williams, RN, MS, CHTP
Date: 2002

TBA

Affiliate: Baptist Children’s Hospital, Miami, FL.
Principal Investigator: Rebecca J McPherson, M.D., Susan Golembeski Ph.D., RN, Lauralyn Bunn, M.A., CHTP, LMT
Date: 2002

This research project to determine if a Level 1 Healing Touch protocol is significantly effective with reducing pain and stress in the care of premature infants.

Progress Update:

Eighteen nurses and one doctor took a Healing Touch Level 1 class with more wanting to take it also. Nurses practiced Healing Touch sessions on 3 non neonates and 2 neonates, these sessions were supervised. The qualitative feedback from many staff members and nurses is that they are seeing a positive affect on the babies receiving Healing Touch.

Affiliate: St. Mary’s Hospital, Center for Complementary Therapies
Principal Investigator: Sr. Rita Jean DuBrey, CSJ, RN, MSN, CHTO/I
Date: 2001

Click here to read the article: "The Role of HEALING TOUCH in the Treatment of Persons in Recovery from ALCOHOLISM"