Energy Medicine – A Field That Balances Subtle Energies to Foster Physical, Emotional and Spiritual Health
Energy Medicine is a field dedicated to harmonizing subtle energies for optimal physical, emotional, and spiritual health. This practice is safe, natural, and ancient.
This article presents the human energy anatomy by using concepts drawn from several healing traditions that utilize subtle energies for treatments. Additionally, modern electromagnetic techniques will be assessed as to which specific parts of subtle anatomy they affect.
Subtle Energy
Every person possesses a non-physical energy field known as their biofield or aura. This field contains subtle energies that influence our body, mind and environment – but cannot be measured with conventional scientific instruments. Spiritual and holistic traditions refer to these energies as subtle energies such as qi (central to Chinese medicine and many philosophical systems), prana, orgone mesmeric energy or vital energy – they may even contribute to healing processes.
Keeping tabs on subtle energies can be challenging; it requires an awareness that most don’t possess as well as energy to dedicate. But your mind helps by translating vibrations into identifiable sensations such as hums or tension in hands or throat quiverings that you can detect more readily over time. As soon as you learn how to sense them naturally, it will become second nature.
Understanding that health depends on energy flow is a great way to stay healthy and avoid disease. Illness rarely appears out of nowhere; rather, it usually progresses from minor changes in your energy to full-blown illness over time. By being aware of changes early, you can take action to restore balance and prevent future illness.
In 1989, The International Society for the Study of Subtle Energies and Energy Medicine was formed to advance research in this field. Its founders imagined a multidisciplinary organization which would host annual conferences as well as publish a peer-reviewed journal. Subtle Energies & Energy Medicine was published three times each year until its suspension in 2011. This archive includes 21 years of the journal’s content for public access for the first time through this site. Holos University Graduate Seminary has allowed the Society to continue under its auspices as a non-profit public benefit corporation in Colorado, and membership contributions support conference expenses, publishing projects and membership services.
Chakras
Chakras are energy centres that collect and dissipate subtle life force throughout the body, often found in Hindu tradition and yoga practice as well as part of spiritual beliefs of Ayurvedic medicine. Recently they’ve also become popular as alternative wellness practices to treat emotional conditions or physical conditions – though not scientifically proven through studies; some find that doing activities to open or balance chakras helps them feel better emotionally, physically, or spiritually.
Yoga traditions and Eastern healing methods hold that our vital energy (prana) moves through channels known as nadis that connect to chakras in our bodies, as well as through breathing practices like pranayama to balance its flow in chakras. Chakras also act as conduits that collect and distribute hormone production energy; disease or illness is thus seen as being caused by unbalanced or blocked chakras.
The seven main chakras are located along the spine. The root chakra, at the base of the spine, is associated with feelings of groundedness, security and attachment; while throat chakra located between neck and mouth allows us to communicate verbally – any blockages in this chakra could result in trouble swallowing or speaking, difficulty communicating effectively or dominating conversations, as well as decreased empathy toward others. Finally, third eye chakra or Ajna sits between eyebrows representing intuition and self-knowledge which when blocked can result in headaches, an inability to focus or see clearly or loss of spiritual connection – once blocked it can result in headaches from blocking this center!
All seven chakras can become depleted or blocked due to stress, poor diet, unhealthy lifestyle habits and negative thoughts and emotions, trauma or grief. Yoga and other forms of meditation designed to open chakras may help restore energy flow in these centers.
Meridians
The meridians are pathways for energy and blood to move throughout the body, stimulating yin and yang balance, feeding tendons and bones, and lubricating joints. Meridians form the basis of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as well as many Western practitioners incorporating TCM practices into their practices.
Meridians form the basis of some energy healing modalities, including acupuncture and acupressure. These treatments work by clearing away blockages within your meridian system to treat its root cause – making them suitable for chronic illnesses that have failed to respond to other therapies.
Studies on these modalities have been undertaken in order to ascertain their efficacy. Many of these investigations utilize laboratory equipment capable of measuring electromagnetic fields, electrical currents and biophotons – valuable studies indeed, though most still operate under a mechanistic biomedical model that disregards energetic aspects of health and disease.
Energy medicine represents an alternative paradigm. Though only accounting for a fraction of the $2.2 trillion healthcare industry, energy medicine offers unique properties that could augment conventional models of care. Energy medicine addresses biological processes at their energetic foundations and regulates them with precision, speed, flexibility and efficiency – providing clinicians with tools for pinpointing energy patterns causing imbalance and deepening patient-practitioner relationships during healing processes; further fostering wellbeing while preventing illness using self-help strategies readily and economically applied by self-help populations.
Energy medicine promotes a balanced relationship between body, mind, and spirit for greater clarity and focus, increased immunity, and living an engaged life in accord with natural rhythms. With technological innovations and ongoing collaboration among mainstream and alternative healers, its future looks bright.
Aura
Energy medicine practitioners describe an aura as a large, translucent dome of energy that protects and envelopes the physical body. This energy field extends approximately 8 feet outward from its center point and contains electrical, magnetic and photon components as well as emotional and mental state markers.
Aura energy is said to be at the root of each person’s unique personality and plays an integral part in interpersonal relationships, self-esteem, and personal development. Practitioners utilize various techniques for detecting and working with aura energy; positive or negative emotions or stressors may cause it to shift out of balance and reflect physical health issues as well.
Energy healing is not a scientific pursuit, and its non-physical force can make it hard to comprehend. Yet evidence exists to support its efficacy – its holistic nature helping connect mind, body, and spirit; providing evidence that health encompasses more than physical benefits.
Mainstream medical institutions are beginning to incorporate energy-based therapies into their patient care programs, with evidence from studies proving certain energy healing modalities can produce results beyond placebo effect. Furthermore, several research projects are examining whether there might be an energetic component involved with human illness and health.
Acupuncture is one of the oldest forms of energy medicine and falls under the umbrella term of “energy-based healing.” Acupuncture works by rebalancing the flow of energy along meridians, energy centers and aura.
Energy is an integral component of our being and living in such an intricate energy world can be overwhelming at times. Recognizing that diseases typically manifest themselves long before physical manifestation occurs is key for early intervention; that is why it’s so essential to recognize energy imbalances early and address them as soon as possible.
