Energy therapy is founded on the premise that vital life force flows throughout and around our bodies, disrupted by illness or discomfort.
Energy therapies include Reiki, Therapeutic Touch and Qigong – three noninvasive energy practices which may help relieve stress while improving relaxation and sleep quality.
What is Energy Therapy?
Energy therapies are complementary and alternative medicine practices that focus on manipulating the energetic fields within and around the body, according to proponents of energy therapies. According to their supporters, imbalances or blocks in these fields contribute to illness and pain, so practitioners use noninvasive techniques such as light touch or sweeping hand motions over the body to influence energy flow; common examples include Reiki, Therapeutic Touch and Qigong. Although scientific research on energy therapy remains limited, some studies have reported positive outcomes such as stress reduction and pain management.
Energy therapies often supplement other forms of treatment. If individuals considering receiving energy therapies are pregnant or taking medications, it’s essential that they consult their healthcare professional prior to beginning this type of therapy. Although generally considered safe, energy therapies can sometimes have serious side effects including an allergic reaction.
Energy healing modalities like acupuncture and acupressure involve manipulating specific points on the body’s surface known as energy points, believed to correspond with physical or emotional conditions. Acupuncture may help alleviate carpal tunnel pain while some low-quality trials suggest it could improve mood and stress levels.
Many practitioners incorporate multiple energy healing modalities into one session, sometimes also including massage or acupuncture treatments. Acupuncturists who are licensed by their state require at least a master’s degree and often possess additional training in pain and stress management.
Energy therapies typically work by opening, connecting and balancing your child’s energy system – in turn supporting their body’s natural healing processes. Children usually tolerate this form of therapy well; rarely does anyone report negative experiences from it; however if negative energy comes pouring out during or after a session our team is available to help them cope.
Reiki
Energy healing techniques are founded upon the belief that our bodies contain subtle energy fields. Practitioners believe disruptions in these energy fields may cause pain, illness or fatigue – gentle touches or near-body movements can be used to influence this flow – such as Reiki, Therapeutic Touch and Qigong are some examples.
These practices vary in their techniques used and philosophical underpinnings; some are spiritual while others derive from traditional Chinese medicine. Most offer stress reduction and relaxation while some also claim to treat specific diseases or conditions.
Reiki (pronounced ray-key) is an energy therapy practiced in Japan that utilizes hands-on contact between practitioners and fully clothed patients to channel universal life force energy to aid the body’s innate healing processes.
Studies on this CAM modality are limited, yet preliminary evidence shows it to promote relaxation and reduce psychological distress. Furthermore, studies indicate this practice improves measures of the autonomic nervous system like blood pressure and heart rate1.1
Acupuncture is another form of energy therapy, practiced since ancient Chinese medical history. Acupuncturists stimulate specific body acupoints to increase the flow of qi or energy. Acupuncture has proven successful at treating various health conditions including stress and anxiety reduction and improved sleep quality.
Energy therapies are generally safe when performed by trained professionals and should be seen as complementary treatments alongside more conventional ones, such as medicines and surgeries. For your own safety, please speak to your healthcare provider before trying any non-traditional remedies for ITP.
If you are interested in energy therapy for ITP treatment, we advise locating a practitioner with experience treating ITP and inquire into their training and background as well as reputation.
Therapeutic Touch
Most forms of energy therapy involve some form of light touch or sweeping hand motions above the body, with the theory being that practitioners can influence an energy field by opening, connecting, and balancing it to help your child heal more quickly.
People have used energy therapies for millennia. Energy therapies are founded on the idea that there is an energy force flowing throughout and around our bodies known by various names – including chi or prana – which practitioners believe causes illness or imbalances due to blocked biofields or interruptions, thus encouraging natural healing abilities within ourselves. Energy therapies seek to balance and harmonize these fields to encourage the body’s ability to heal itself naturally.
No one fully understands how energy healing works, but practitioners believe that stress, pain and illness alter the flow of energy through one or more areas of the body resulting in imbalanced energies which cause physical symptoms to arise. Energy therapies aim to restore this equilibrium by encouraging relaxation while supporting natural healing abilities of your child.
Energy healing encompasses an expansive field with many diverse practices, traditions, and interpretations. Some examples are Reiki from Japan and Therapeutic Touch from nurses; during an energy healing session with your child on a massage table, an energy healer will apply gentle pressure onto various locations on or above their body in a series of locations to redirect and balance energy flows and encourage rebalancing.
Energy Therapy can complement and supplement traditional medical treatments, like medications or surgeries. But before embarking on any new regimen for your child’s healthcare provider to discuss, ensure it covers all their needs comprehensively.
Energy therapies tend to be relatively safe, with minimal risks or serious side effects; however, it’s wise to consult your child’s healthcare provider prior to beginning any energy therapies, especially if using these therapies along with other treatments or being pregnant/breastfeeding.
Qigong
Qigong is an ancient Chinese practice which combines slow movements with meditation and deep breathing exercises in order to cultivate and balance vital energy called “qi” or “prana.” Practitioners seek to achieve physical and emotional wellness; some practitioners may incorporate acupuncture, in which needles are inserted at specific meridians (energy channels) within the body.
These practices operate under the pseudo-scientific assumption that human bodies contain an energetic “life force” and energy centres (chakras) which keep it healthy. Chakras act to channel this universal life force to heal blockages and promote natural healing processes in the body.
Studies suggest that these therapies could improve stress and mood while alleviating physical symptoms like fatigue by helping people relax more. More research needs to be conducted.
Most people utilize complementary healing modalities in conjunction with conventional medical care, though they should not be seen as replacing conventional medical treatments or care; nor should they be used for serious or life-threatening ailments.
There is a wide array of energy healing techniques, with methods and beliefs differing widely between practices. Popular examples include Reiki, Therapeutic Touch and acupressure; regardless of which technique practitioners choose to employ they act as facilitators to rebalance clients’ energy fields and provide relaxation, anxiety reduction and stress relief for clients.
Although some studies indicate these modalities could be helpful, results of studies on biofield therapies vary widely. A 2016 review of 27 studies discovered some benefits for depression, anxiety, quality of life issues and pain relief, although any effects were relatively small.
Experiencers of energy therapy usually report positive benefits, including relaxation and decreased stress. But for some individuals it can be overwhelming when too much energy is released during a session, and so it is wise to consult a qualified healthcare professional prior to using any energy therapies as these professionals can offer advice and recommendations about safe usage as well as whether these therapies may be right for them individually.
