Not Woo-Woo: Why Science Is Paying Attention to Energy Healing

Myth: “Energy healing is mystical nonsense.”Reality: Harvard Medical School, NIH, and others study biofield therapies like Reiki. Research shows measurable benefits to heart rate variability, stress reduction, and inflammation.Cite: Harvard Health, NCCIH, peer-reviewed biofield research.

Not Woo-Woo: Why Science Is Paying Attention to Energy Healing

Energy healing has long been dismissed by skeptics as “woo-woo” or pseudoscience. But that narrative is changing fast. Today, top research institutions like Harvard Medical School, the NIH, and University of Arizona’s Center for Consciousness Studies are exploring what ancient cultures have always known: the human body is more than just physical, it’s energetic.

What Is the “Biofield”?

The biofield is a term used by scientists to describe the complex electromagnetic and energetic field surrounding and permeating the body. While invisible to the naked eye, it can be measured using instruments like EEGs, EKGs, and GDV cameras.

Energy healing modalities like Reiki, Healing Touch, and Therapeutic Touch aim to restore harmony to this field. Research shows that imbalances in the biofield may correlate with stress, inflammation, or emotional trauma.

What the Studies Say

• A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on Reiki published in Pain Management Nursing (2014) found significant reductions in pain, anxiety, and depression.

• The NCCIH has funded multiple studies on biofield therapies, citing their potential in cancer support, PTSD, and chronic pain.

• A study at Harvard’s Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine links energy work and relaxation therapies with lowered cortisol and improved gene expression related to stress resilience.

From Theory to Practice

• Hospitals and hospices are using energy healing to support recovery, reduce the need for pain medications, and ease emotional distress.

• Veterans Affairs Medical Centers are incorporating energy therapies for veterans with PTSD and chronic pain.

• Medical schools are including integrative medicine tracks that cover the science behind mind-body and energy practices.

Why This Matters

Energy healing is not about belief, it’s about balance. And science is finally catching up to what many healers have known for centuries.

At Medergetics Healing, we use energy work not as a replacement for medical care but as a way to help your system return to a state of inner harmony and wellness. It’s not “woo.” It’s the wisdom of energy + evidence.

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