For centuries, traditional healers worldwide have practiced methods of energy healing, viewing the body as a complex energy system with energy flowing through or over its surface (Rakel, 2017).
Until recently, the Western world largely ignored the Eastern interpretation of humans as energy beings. However, times have changed dramatically, and an exciting and promising new branch of academic inquiry and clinical research is opening in the area of energy healing (Oschman, 2015; Shealy, 2011).
- Scientists and energy therapists around the world have made discoveries that will forever alter our picture of human energetics.
- The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is conducting research in areas such as energy healing and prayer, and major U.S. academic institutions are conducting large clinical trials in these areas.
- Approaches in exploring the concepts of life force and healing energy that previously appeared to compete or conflict have now been found to support each other.
With mounting scientific evidence now supporting the efficacy of ancient healing systems, the old paradigms of health care are shifting, and a growing number of researchers, physicians, nurses, and other health practitioners are embracing a new view of healing that includes energy healing. The health care community is combining traditional methods of energy healing with modern medicine. Energy medicine is the medicine of the future (Shealy, 2011).