Energy healing is not new. In fact, the study and practice of energy and spiritual healing have been around for thousands of years. However, energy healing is relatively new to mainstream health and wellness.
In the past decade, many celebrities have turned to spiritual healing to improve their physical and mental wellbeing, and the general population has quickly followed suit.
More and more individuals continue to show interest in energy healing techniques; perhaps you are one of them. You might wonder what energy healing entails, how it works, or even how you can become an energy healer yourself.
In this article, we provide a comprehensive overview of energy healing.
You will learn:
- What is energy healing?
- How it works
- Energy healing benefits
- The most effective energy healing techniques
- How to become an energy healer
- Energy healing alternatives
What Is Energy Healing?
Energy healing is an alternative medicine involving techniques and methods that strive to re-balance the vital energy within the body.
The body runs off energy. This is a shared belief throughout scientific and titled “woo-woo” science communities. This energy allows you to perform specific actions, think thoughts, and so much more.
Specifically, energy healers believe that each body has an energetic force. To obtain optimal health and wellness in the body, this force must remain at a balance.
Energy healers acknowledge that there are a variety of influences that impact the flow of this vital energy throughout the body, including physical, emotional, and spiritual factors. Some examples include how much movement you obtain, what you eat, your relationship with yourself, or your relationship with others.
Think of this energy as a river that flows through your body. Similar to how a river’s channels can become blocked by rocks and debris, energy channels within the body can become blocked by traumatic events, injury, and more.
This can disrupt the normal functioning of your mind, body, and spirit. Ultimately, this can also lead to disease and ill mental or physical health.
Yet, this is where energy healing works its magic.
Energy healers remove these blocks, which stimulates the body’s inherent ability to heal itself. Consequently, you feel good and experience less illness and pain.
So now this leads to an obvious question…
Is energy healing a real thing is there any?
Contrary to popular belief, these concepts are not far off from mainstream scientific theories that scientists consider as valid science. In reality, many individuals learn about these energies in science class. You learn how certain molecules hold different frequencies in terms of their electrons or atoms. In other words, the foundational concept of energy is the same. It’s just another alternative wording for the same thing.
Before the scientific revolution, spiritual healing was one of the main pathways that healers use to use to relieve illness and improve health.
For instance, traditional Chinese medicine refers to this energy as the “qi.” Ayurvedic medicine, a medicinal system that is over 5000 years old originating from India, refers to this energy as “prana.”
Again, energy work is not a new modality by any means. It has been around even before the existence of written records.
Does Energy Healing Work?
By now, you may be wondering, “Does energy healing actually work? Is there proof?”
A scientific review was published in the Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine in 2017. It concluded that Reiki, a type of energy work, was better than a placebo when it came to healing.
Reiki effectively lowered blood pressure, reduced resting heart rate, decreased pain, reduced depression and anxiety symptoms, and improved fatigue.
Another study explored how acupuncture had the potential to reduce stress over time. Researchers have also found acupuncture to provide relief for non-specific pain.
A 2011 study explored reflexology and its impact on women undergoing chemotherapy. Reflexology helped reduce symptoms, such as shortness of breath, and improved overall quality of life scores.
Generally, there is a ton of evidence indicating the potential of various energy healing techniques. At the same time, there is also evidence demonstrating its ineffectiveness.
For instance, an older study on Reiki showed that it had next-to-no effect on the recovery of patients in post-stroke rehab.
A 2010 study also demonstrated how Reiki had no impact on the pain levels of fibromyalgia patients. Additionally, you can find many anecdotal pieces stating how energy healing failed to work for certain individuals.
So, does it work? For the most part, energy healing research demonstrates its effectiveness, but it does leave some questions.
Another research dove into how perceived outcomes may impact spiritual healing and its success.
It appeared that handling expectations and feeling empowered by making a change potentially impacted the effectiveness and success of spiritual healing.
It echoes similar findings to the patient-practitioner relationship. When this relationship is nurtured in most Western medicinal practices, improved outcomes frequently result.
All in all, the only way to truly find out if energy healing works for you is to try it.
Energy Healing Health Benefits
Energy healing has many associated benefits, including advantages for physical illness, psychological issues, and spiritual growth. We discuss these in more detail below.
Energy healing for physical illness
Energy healing can ease various symptoms associated with physical illness. Some common ones include:
- Fatigue—In a 2018 study, Reiki, alongside massage therapy, helped reduce pain, nausea, and fatigue in hospitalized patients.
- Nausea—In 2017, researchers used reflexology to decrease the development and distress of nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. Bariatric surgery patients in a 2015 study also reported significant decreases in nausea, pain, and anxiety.
- Physical Pain—Traditional Chinese medicine methods, including acupuncture, acupressure, and cupping, were effective in a 2015 study in helping reduce pain and disability associated with lower back and neck pain.
- Heartburn—Research showed that qigong improved physical symptoms in chemotherapy patients, including pain, numbness, heartburn, and dizziness.
- Physical Symptoms of Non-Communicable Diseases—In a 2016 study, energy healing techniques demonstrated improvements in the physical symptoms of people living with non-communicable diseases.
Energy healing for psychological issues
When it comes to psychological issues and emotional pain, energy healing has also gained traction. The following offers an overview of what psychological problems energy healing may help:
- Depression—Researchers demonstrated how energy healing after six weeks reduced psychological distress and symptoms of depression.
- Anxiety—Studies indicate that Reiki may be effective for anxiety-related issues. In a 2014 study, qigong exercises showed to help reduce stress and anxiety in healthy adults.
- Stress—A 2010 study indicated how Reiki reduced the perceived stress of registered nurses.
Energy healing for spiritual growth
Energy medicine can also do wonders for your spiritual growth. By alleviating physical and psychological pain, you can develop a deeper connection with yourself.
These energy medicine techniques guide the body back into harmony by removing energy blockages. This may help you gain new perspective, strength, and help you lead an overall happier and more fulfilling life.
For instance, you may struggle with your life’s purpose or the meaning of your life. Spiritual healing can help you find that by re-aligning your energy. In turn, it may help you heal from trauma or other life events and changes.
Eight of the Most Effective Energy Healing Techniques
What are some of the most effective energy healing techniques used today? We have eight of the most popular ones listed below.
Reiki healing
Reiki is a form of energy healing where the practitioner holds their hands over the top of the body part or gently places their hands on the body part to cause a transfer of energy to take place. This helps improve the flow of energy and removes any blockages in the client.
Many individuals report benefits of undergoing Reiki sessions, including decreased pain, anxiety, fatigue, and depression, as well as improved mood.
Reflexology
Reflexology involves energy healing through the application of pressure to the hands, feet, and ears. As part of the traditional Chinese medicine system, reflexology has been shown to help alleviate PMS pain, anxiety, and stress.
Qigong
Qigong is another energy therapy that is rooted in traditional Chinese medicine. Essentially, qigong is a type of exercise involving meditation, slow movements, and controlled breathing. It is often compared to tai chi, but the two energy therapies are different. Where tai chi focuses on form, qigong is more of a free-flowing practice.
According to a scientific review about qigong and the studies completed on it, this energy technique can help improve balance, enhance psychological wellbeing, and improve cardiovascular fitness.
Acupuncture
Traditional Chinese medicine also introduced the modern world to acupuncture. The theory is that by inserting tiny and sterile needles into the body that the energy, the “qi,” becomes rebalanced.
There is an abundance of scientific evidence to support acupuncture and its use. Acupuncture is useful when it comes to treating low back pain, neck pain, osteoarthritis, headaches, and more.
Crystal healing
Crystal healing is considered an energy medicine borrowed from Buddhism and Hinduism. This energy therapy is thought to work by harnessing the healing properties of the crystals, which helps ward off negative energy and illness.
Unfortunately, there is very little evidence to support this type of energy-healing technique. Therefore any claims that pose as true, it would typically be attributed to cognitive bias.
Emotional freedom technique
Emotional Freedom Technique (or EFT tapping) involves finger tapping to once again achieve energy balance within the body. Often, this is combined with affirmations. EFT has been found to help decrease anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and pain, as well as increase happiness.
Pranic healing
Pranic healing is an energy therapy that uses the body’s energy, “prana,” to accelerate healing.
Similar to other energy healing techniques, it involves no touch. Instead, the pranic healing practitioner scans the human aura, detecting any energy imbalances. A cleansing technique is then used to strengthen the aura and chakras, as well as reinstate the flow of energy within the body.
Quantum healing
Quantum healing involves the use of breathing and visualization to rebalance the energy in the body.
Research indicates that this type of energy healing may have a positive effect on the immune system, aiding in the treatment of autoimmune diseases and infectious diseases. However, more research is needed to confirm this.
How to Become an Energy Healer
Energy healing is not a regulated profession. Thus, it is a fairly simple process to become an energy healer. You do not need a degree.
Usually, a certification is enough to start practicing, with many certification courses taking place over a weekend or a couple of weekends, depending on the level you wish to achieve.
For example, Reiki certification usually has three different levels. Yet, you can often begin practicing on others once you have completed your Level 1 certification.
You can expect an energy healing course to cost between $200 to $1000. Sometimes, it may cost more if you wish to level-up or further your education.
When choosing which modality you wish to practice, do your research. Watch videos on YouTube, go to a few sessions and try it out yourself. Ask yourself, “Does this resonate with me?” If so, it might be the route you want to take.
What Are the Energy Healing Alternatives?
Maybe you are not entirely sold on energy healing. Perhaps you are open to other modalities that can help you sort through your emotional and mental blocks.
Rapid Transformational Therapy® (RTT®) is a worthwhile alternative to explore.
Created by Marisa Peer, a celebrity therapist, published author, and motivational speaker, RTT® combines cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), hypnotherapy, psychotherapy, and neuroscience.
Marisa Peer developed this therapy over 30 years, taking the very best that these individual techniques had to offer.
RTT® works by harnessing the power of your mind, tapping into your subconscious, and releasing past trauma, fears, and disempowering stories. Meanwhile, these negative thoughts or events are replaced with new and empowering stories that allow you to reprogram your mind for success.
This allows individuals to move past negative events and forward into a better future, free from the chains that are holding them back.
RTT® can help a person quit smoking, reduce anxiety, lose weight, eliminate fears, and even thwart a porn addiction.
If you are interested in uncovering how RTT® can help you, find an RTT therapist today.
Energy Healing vs. RTT®: Which is Right For You?
Ultimately, the choice is yours. Consider what your inquiries and preferences are. RTT® may prove to be a better option for you. If you’re interested in exploring RTT® as a career option, find out more information about RTT®.
Begin your journey towards becoming a Rapid Transformational Therapy® therapist where you can make lasting changes in other people’s lives.
