Each person possesses an energy field around them that can be harnessed to address imbalances and promote homeostasis in their bodies. Energy medicine techniques work with this subtle energy source to therapeutically treat imbalances and return the body back into balance.
Here are a few energy healing therapies you could try; but always check with your healthcare provider first before initiating any new treatments.
Acupuncture
Energy medicine may seem strange to some people, but it can help treat various conditions and complement other forms of treatment such as Western Medicine.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) employs acupuncture to restore equilibrium to one’s energy, also known as qi or chi. Practitioners believe this energy circulates along pathways called meridians; any disruption of this flow results in illness and practitioners believe stimulating specific acupuncture points, known as acupoints, will restore it.
Acupuncture is one of the oldest healing practices known. Its foundation lies in the belief that our bodies are filled with an invisible life-force known as qi or chi that makes up an essential element in health and disease, when this flow works properly you feel more healthy; when it doesn’t, illness increases.
Science backs up acupuncture’s claims that it can stimulate qi, or vital energy, through stimulation at certain acupoints. Acupuncture can prompt natural painkillers in the brain to be released more readily for relief.
When seeking acupuncture treatments, it’s essential that a licensed practitioner be chosen. Most states require them to complete an intensive education program and pass state licensing exams prior to practicing acupuncture.
As scientific communities become more accepting of energy healing techniques, these ancient modalities may become mainstream therapeutic tools. Researchers such as Hans Selye have convinced biomedical science of their effectiveness; clinical practice is beginning to embrace them too. For now though, energy healing should be seen as complementary therapy used alongside holistic modalities and traditional medical care.
Reflexology
Reflexology is an ancient healing art based on the principle that certain zones or points on feet, hands and ears correspond with different areas of the body. Practitioners utilize these reflex areas to promote healing and relaxation – often used as stress relief as well as managing various health conditions like depression, migraines, arthritis, chronic fatigue and digestive issues.
Reflexology is a form of massage in which pressure is applied to specific points on the feet, hands, and ears. Reflexologists believe these areas represent a map of your entire body. By stimulating them with pressure applied directly onto them, overall health improves as a result of Reflexology treatment.
Studies on reflexology are limited, but evidence suggests it may help relieve both pain and anxiety, reduce migraine headaches and help people sleep more soundly.
Instead of conventional medicine’s focus on diagnosing and treating physical symptoms, energy medicine seeks to assess the state of one’s energy system and promote wellness. Energy medicine shouldn’t replace traditional medical care; rather, it serves as an adjunct.
The main goal of Energy Medicine (EM) is to balance energy systems through vibrational resonance. A variety of techniques is discussed here, such as those targeting meridians and chakras, while providing a framework for understanding their subtle anatomy as well as exploring EM’s potential to address imbalances that cause disease or illness. They draw evidence from three sources – basic science research into EMF; subjective sensations experienced during sessions; as well as clairvoyant observations into human biofield dynamics.
Reiki
Reiki (pronounced ray-key) is an energy healing practice involving lightly placing one or both hands lightly over or slightly above the body, and following Eastern belief systems about an energy supporting natural healing mechanisms of our bodies. While no definitive evidence has shown it to work for any particular health purpose, studies suggest it could potentially help with pain reduction and anxiety reduction; in addition, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment have begun receiving Reiki treatments to see if it boosts immune systems while decreasing side effects.
At a Reiki session, the practitioner moves through specific standard hand positions starting at either the head or feet, with some clients experiencing mild warming sensations or nothing at all but relaxation. A typical session typically lasts 60 to 90 minutes while keeping fully clothed client.
Practitioners typically discuss what their client hopes to gain from a Reiki session with each client, whether that is improving general wellness, treating specific illnesses or symptoms like pain, anxiety, nausea, fatigue and irritable bowel syndrome; or as an accompaniment for traditional or alternative treatments. It should be noted that Reiki should not be seen as an alternative form of medical care but as an effective complement.
Studies conducted between 2021-2025 demonstrated that patients who underwent six Reiki sessions reported increased quality of life and less fatigue compared to those receiving guided imagery only. Another 2021 cancer patient study demonstrated how Reiki could reduce pain and anxiety before heart surgery or endoscopy procedures; however, researchers in these studies noted their results were limited and of poor quality.
Healing Touch
Healing Touch and Therapeutic Touch utilize gentle touch techniques to cleanse, energize, and balance energy fields surrounding the body, supporting its natural ability to heal itself. Research suggests these energy therapies can effectively decrease pain and anxiety levels while simultaneously decreasing nausea/vomiting levels, relieving fatigue symptoms and improving measures of autonomic nervous system functioning such as heart rate and blood pressure levels.
Healing Touch and Therapeutic Touch are both grounded in the belief that free flow of energy is integral to health and healing, developed in the 1970s by Delores Krieger (RN, Professor of Nursing at NYU, energy healer Dora Kunz). Both practices represent modern interpretations of ancient laying-on-of-hands healing practices.
While modern medicine can be very effective at treating acute conditions, many of us also suffer from chronic issues, including persistent pain or feelings of disconnection and disempowerment. Energy healing provides a way to tap into our own innate healing potential and connect to inner wisdom for support.
Energy healing can help you feel at ease and more empowered to make changes in your life. Additionally, energy healing may also help manage any side effects from medications or other treatments that you are receiving.
There is a widespread misperception that in order to receive energy healing treatments, you need to be spiritual. This is simply not true. Everyone has an energetic body which needs balancing and caretaking on a regular basis. Certain energy healing modalities like Reiki can even be received remotely since energy transcends time and space; however, its effectiveness can be enhanced further if you focus on receiving healing energy with intention. Your intentions send a signal out into the universe that you intend on receiving healing energy through intention alone.
Light Therapy
People possess electromagnetic fields on both a macro- and micro-scale that have been described over millennia as mana, prana, chi, qi and other culturally specific terms. Energy healing therapies aim to access this field and bring it into balance through energy therapy techniques; potentially leading to healing.
These therapies may include acupuncture, PEMF therapy, polarity therapy, healing touch, Reiki and therapeutic touch to restore flow, balance and harmony to your body’s energies. Physical symptoms like stomachaches can provide insight into where imbalance exists but should not be the focus of treatment.
Light therapy (also known as phototherapy) has proven its efficacy for treating many conditions through artificial or natural lighting, including sleep/wake cycle disruption, improving mood and relieving pain from muscular-skeletal issues like back or neck problems. Furthermore, light therapy has also proven useful for managing seasonal affective disorder by increasing exposure to bright lights daily.
Another popular form of energy medicine uses plant extracts to treat health conditions. Practitioners believe these substances contain specific frequencies of energy which may aid healing. Energy modalities are not traditionally considered herbal remedies; however, many people utilize them instead or in addition to conventional medical treatments. Most energy therapies don’t cause side effects and don’t interfere with conventional healthcare services. Before embarking on energy therapies, people should consult with a physician. This is particularly important if taking prescription drugs or suffering from serious health conditions like cancer; to determine how energy therapies may interact with these conditions and potentially alter them further. A doctor may suggest seeking alternative forms of treatment such as traditional medicine should additional forms of help be needed.
