Effects of healing touch therapy being studied

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Effects of healing touch therapy being studied

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-07/uoc-eoh070108.php

Often, a gentle hand on your shoulder when you're upset is all it

takes to ease your mind and calm your nerves.

Now, University of Cincinnati (UC) researchers are looking at a

similar occurrence by pairing a complementary therapy known as

Healing Touch with mild sedation to see if the technique truly calms

patients undergoing minor procedures.

Healing Touch is a series of techniques that balance energy for

wholeness within a person's body, mind and soul. It is an energy

therapy that can be used in conjunction with other traditional

medical treatments.

Schmulewitz, MD, the lead author of this investigator-

initiated study and assistant professor of digestive diseases, says

people undergoing procedures often have problems falling asleep

because of anxiety.

Schmulewitz specializes in endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), a technique

for imaging and accessing deep structures in the chest and abdomen

which are near the GI tract. EUS is used as a screening tool for

cancer or other suspicious polyps.

He says if a patient is unable to fall asleep with intravenous

sedation, it might be necessary to use stronger anesthesia which is

expensive and not often covered by insurance companies.

" In addition, stronger sedation can prolong recovery for the patient

and can cause slight amnesia following the procedure, " Schmulewitz

says.

This study is looking at whether coupling Healing Touch with mild

sedation prior to an EUS procedure can help relax patients, avoiding

problems with anesthesia and making the procedure run more smoothly.

Judy Bowers, a nurse at University Hospital, Healing Touch

practitioner and co-author of the study, has been doing this therapy

for about seven years and has administered it to over 40 patients

involved in this study.

" By restoring balance within the energy system, you create an optimal

environment for healing, " Bowers says. " This is complementary

medicine, not alternative medicine, so it can be easily incorporated

in a medical model. "

Although there are many healing touch therapies, this study is only

looking at three: the Chakra Connection, which facilitates movement

of energy from one energy center to another; Magnetic Clearing, which

clears the field of congested energy; and Mind Clearing, which

involves a light touch on the face, head and neck.

As part of the study, a third party calls the patient two days after

the procedure to ask a number of questions about how Healing Touch

affected the patient during the EUS and recovery.

The results are being analyzed, but Bowers says she's observed some

fairly positive responses.

" Some of the patients are asleep before they even receive the

intravenous sedation, " she says, noting that she stays with patients

throughout the procedure in order to continue sharing her energy with

them and maintaining the balance.

Schmulewitz says if the results are positive, this could be an

inexpensive, effective way to reduce costs and improve care at

University Hospital.

" It will be a fairly easy way to enhance patient care with acceptable

and specific means and without increased risk of injury, " he says.