Effects of distant biofield energy healing on adults associated with psychological and mental health-related symptoms: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study

Background
In recent years, popularity of Biofield energy healing therapy has increased tremendously parallel to conventional therapy. However, due to insufficient scientific studies on biofield therapies, authors planned this clinical trial to examine the safety and effectiveness of biofield therapy in treating symptoms of psychological and mental health and to explore parameters for its effectiveness.
Methods
One hundred fourteen participants (55 male, 59 female) underwent clinical trials. This trial was randomized, placebo-controlled, three parallel-groups, double-blind, and single-center with subjects who have one or more psychological and mental symptoms. Two sessions of distant (virtual) biofield energy attunement were given on days 0 and 90 for about 5 minutes to the subjects of biofield intervention group (n=39). Besides, control (n=35) and sham control (n=40) group subjects also received kind of treatment in a similar manner to nullify baseline responses. Subjects were assessed by psychological questionnaire scoring using standard scale of assessment and safety parameters.
Results
Perceived psychological symptoms/scores (fatigue/tiredness, sleep disturbances, stress, cognitive impairment, loss of memory, mental restlessness, emotional trauma, anxiety, depression, confusion, financial crises and dissatisfaction, low libido, motivation, confidence, lack of perception, relationship, and social behaviors, etc.) were significantly (p <.0001) improved in biofield intervention group compared to the naïve control and sham control groups. Besides, biofield intervention did not show any study-related adverse effects in all three groups throughout the trial.
Conclusions
The distant (virtual) biofield energy healing therapy significantly improved psychological and mental health-related symptoms without affecting safety concerns, and improved overall health and quality of life.
1. Koithan M. Introducing complementary and alternative therapies. J Nurse Pract. 2009;5(1):18-20. doi:10.1016/j.nurpra.2008.10.012
2. Feinstein D. The energy of energy psychology. OBM Integr Comp Med. 2022;7(2):015. doi:10.21926/obm.icm.2202015
3. Raco V, Bauer R, Norim S, et al. Cumulative effects of single TMS pulses during beta-tACS are stimulation intensity-dependent. Brain Stimul. 2017;10:1055-1060. doi:10.1016/j.brs.2017.07.009
4. Van den Brink JS. Thermal effects associated with RF exposures in diagnostic MRI: Overview of existing and emerging concepts of protection. Concepts Magn Reson Part B. 2019;2019:9618680. doi:10.1155/2019/9618680
5. Berkelmann L, Bader A, Meshksar S, et al. Tumour-treating fields (TTFields): Investigations on the mechanism of action by electromagnetic exposure of cells in telophase/cytokinesis. Sci Rep. 2019;9(1):7362. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-43621-9
6. Bilgin HM, Çelik F, Gem M, et al. Effects of local vibration and pulsed electromagnetic field on bone fracture: A comparative study. Bioelectromagnetics. 2017;38(5):339-348. doi:10.1002/bem.22043
7. Saad M, de R. Distant healing by the supposed vital energy – scientific bases. In: Complementary Therapies for the Contemporary Healthcare. InTech; 2012. doi:10.5772/50155
8. Trivedi MK, Tallapragada RM. A transcendental to changing metal powder characteristics. Met Powder Rep. 2008;63(9):22-31. doi:10.1016/S0026-0657(08)70145-0
9. Trivedi MK, Patil S, Tallapragada RM. Atomic, crystalline and powder characteristics of treated zirconia and silica powders. J Material Sci Eng. 2014;3(144):144. doi:10.4172/2169-0022.1000144
10. Trivedi MK, Branton A, Trivedi D, et al. Evaluate the safety and efficacy of a biofield energy treated proprietary dietary supplement (TRI 360TM) on psychological symptoms, mental disorders, emotional well-being, and quality of life in adult subjects. Altern Ther Health Med. 2023;29(7):104-113.
11. Trivedi MK, Branton A, Trivedi D, et al. The role of biofield energy treatment on psychological symptoms, mental health disorders, and stress-related quality of life in adult subjects: A randomized controlled clinical trial. J Gen Fam Med. 2023;24(3):154-163. doi:10.1002/jgf2.606
12. Vijayananthan A, Nawawi O. The importance of Good Clinical Practice guidelines and its role in clinical trials. Biomed Imaging Interv J. 2008;4(1):e5. doi:10.2349/biij.4.1.e5
13. Trivedi MK, Branton A, Trivedi D, et al. The use of biofield energy therapy as complementary and alternative medicine in human health care system: a narrative review and potential mechanisms. J Complement Integr Med. Published online April 3, 2024:Epubaheadofprint. doi:10.1515/jcim-2024-0027
14. Lee SA. Coronavirus anxiety scale: A brief mental health screener for COVID-19 related anxiety. Death Studies. 2020;44(7):393-401. doi:10.1080/07481187.2020.1748481
15. Forte G, Favieri F, Tambelli R, et al. COVID-19 Pandemic in the Italian population: validation of a post-traumatic stress disorder questionnaire and prevalence of PTSD symptomatology. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(11):4151. doi:10.3390/ijerph17114151
16. Brown EG, Wood L, Wood S. The medical dictionary for regulatory activities (MedDRA). Drug Saf. 1999;20(2):109-117. doi:10.2165/00002018-199920020-00002
17. Suzuki K, Uchida S, Kimura T, et al. Safety and efficacy of biofield therapy in Japan. Soc Integr Med Jpn. 2009;2:37-43.
18. Walleczek J. Magnetokinetic effects on radical pairs: A paradigm for magnetic field interactions with biological systems at lower than thermal energy. In: Electromagnetic Fields. Advances in Chemistry. Vol 250. ACS Publication; 1995:395-420. doi:10.1021/ba-1995-
19. Siotia S, Kannan V. Biofield therapies: Concept and current status. Int J Adv Multidiscip Res. 2022;9(11):69-74. doi:10.22192/ijamr.2022.09.11.008
20. Coyne JC, Johansen C, Gorski D. Complementary medicine for fatigue and cortisol variability in breast cancer survivors. Cancer. 2012;118(18):4635-4637. doi:10.1002/cncr.27415
21. Cacho V, Lum E, Chiasson AM. Energy Medicine and Sleep Disorders. In: Cacho V, Lum E, eds. Integrative Sleep Medicine. Weil Integrative Medicine Library; 2021:21. doi:10.1093/med/9780190885403.003.0020
22. Castellar JI, Fernandes CA, Tosta CE. Beneficial effects of pranic meditation on the mental health and quality of life of breast cancer survivors. Integr Cancer Ther. 2014;13(4):341-350. doi:10.1177/1534735414534730
23. Lu DF, Hart LK, Lutgendorf SK, et al. Slowing progression of early stages of AD with alternative therapies: a feasibility study. Geriatr Nurs. 2013;34(6):457-464. doi:10.1016/j.gerinurse.2013.07.003
24. Woods DL, Craven RF, Whitney J. The effect of therapeutic touch on behavioral symptoms of persons with dementia. Altern Ther Health Med. 2005;11(1):66-74.
25. Rosada RM, Rubik B, Mainguy B, et al. Reiki reduces burnout among community mental health clinicians. J Altern Complement Med. 2015;21(8):489-495. doi:10.1089/acm.2014.0403
26. Chhabra G, Onyema EM, Kumar S, et al. Human emotions recognition, analysis and transformation by the bioenergy field in smart grid using image processing. Electronics. 2022;11(23):4059. doi:10.3390/electronics11234059