r example, acupuncture is based on the idea that the body has identifiable energy channels called meridians. Of special interest, however, are those therapeutic approaches that are completely non-invasive. In these approaches, an energy healer transmits healing energy to supplement the client's own vital energy. The additional energy provided by the healer helps unblock the flow of energy within the clieEnergy medicine refers to a large group of complementary and alternative healing therapies. Although these therapies have attracted a lot of attention in the last few years, most have their roots in the world's oldest medical systems and early spiritual traditions. Like their ancient counterparts, all such therapies begin with the assumption that there are subtle energies that surround and penetrate everything in the universe. The focus for modern practitioners of energy medicine is the invisible vital energy, or life force, that is said to flow throughout the body. It is this energy, which has been called qi, ki, and prana, that influences the person's health.

According to practitioners of energy medicine, energy flow within the person creates a "biofield" that can be sensed. Some energy healers sense temperature variations corresponding to different areas of the body. Other energy healers see an aura surrounding the body. Still others simply intuit fluctuations in the biofield. In any case, when the internal flow of vital energy is balanced and unimpeded, the biofield is said to be harmonious and health is at an optimum level. Alternatively, a disruption or disturbance in a person's biofield indicates the presence of a physical or psychological condition that supports illness. During therapeutic sessions, energy healers attempt to interact directly with a client's biofield. Their goal is two-fold: to identify biofield disturbances and to rebalance the flow of energy within the person.

There are many complementary and alternative therapies that accept the basic principles of energy medicine. For example, acupuncture is based on the idea that the body has identifiable energy channels called meridians. Of special interest, however, are those therapeutic approaches that are completely non-invasive. In these approaches, an energy healer transmits healing energy to supplement the client's own vital energy. The additional energy provided by the healer helps unblock the flow of energy within the clien

ing in the universe. The focus for modern practitioners of energy medicine is the invisible vital energy, or life force, that is said to flow throughout the body. It is this energy, which has been called qi, ki, and prana, that influences the person's health.

According to practitioners of energy medicine, energy flow within the person creates a "biofield" that can be sensed. Some energy healers sense temperature variations corresponding to different areas of the body. Other energy healers see an aura surrounding the body. Still others simply intuit fluctuations in the biofield. In any case, when the internal flow of vital energy is balanced and unimpeded, the biofield is said to be harmonious and health is at an optimum level. Alternatively, a disruption or disturbance in a person's biofield indicates the presence of a physical or psychological condition that supports illness. During therapeutic sessions, energy healers attempt to interact directly with a client's biofield. Their goal is two-fold: to identify biofield disturbances and to rebalance the flow of energy within the person.

There are many complementary and alternative therapies that accept the basic principles of energy medicine. For example, acupuncture is based on the idea that the body has identifiable energy channels called meridians. Of special interest, however, are those therapeutic approaches that are completely non-invasive. In these approaches, an energy healer transmits healing energy to supplement the client's own vital energy. The additional energy provided by the healer helps unblock the flow of energy within the clie

temperature variations corresponding to different areas of the body. Other energy healers see an aura surrounding the body. Still others simply intuit fluctuations in the biofield. In any case, when the internal flow of vital energy is balanced and unimpeded, the biofield is said to be harmonious and health is at an optimum level. Alternatively, a disruption or disturbance in a person's biofield indicates the presence of a physical or psychological condition that supports illness. During therapeutic sessions, energy healers attempt to interact directly with a client's biofield. Their goal is two-fold: to identify biofield disturbances and to rebalance the flow of energy within the person.

There are many complementary and alternative therapies that accept the basic principles of energy medicine. For example, acupuncture is based on the idea that the body has identifiable energy channels called meridians. Of special interest, however, are those therapeutic approaches that are completely non-invasive. In these approaches, an energy healer transmits healing energy to supplement the client's own vital energy. The additional energy provided by the healer helps unblock the flow of energy within the clie

es the presence of a physical or psychological condition that supports illness. During therapeutic sessions, energy healers attempt to interact directly with a client's biofield. Their goal is two-fold: to identify biofield disturbances and to rebalance the flow of energy within the person.

There are many complementary and alternative therapies that accept the basic principles of energy medicine. For example, acupuncture is based on the idea that the body has identifiable energy channels called meridians. Of special interest, however, are those therapeutic approaches that are completely non-invasive. In these approaches, an energy healer transmits healing energy to supplement the client's own vital energy. The additional energy provided by the healer helps unblock the flow of energy within the clie

r example, acupuncture is based on the idea that the body has identifiable energy channels called meridians. Of special interest, however, are those therapeutic approaches that are completely non-invasive. In these approaches, an energy healer transmits healing energy to supplement the client's own vital energy. The additional energy provided by the healer helps unblock the flow of energy within the client and allows the client's own internal healing processes to function more efficiently. The three most popular, non-invasive forms of energy healing include Reiki, Therapeutic Touch, and Healing Touch.

Reiki – Reiki is a form of energy healing that developed in Japan in the late 1800's. In this approach, a practitioner acts as a conduit to channel universal life energy to the client. The practitioner transmits this energy to the client though a specialized form of "laying on of hands". The practitioner typically follows a prescribed sequence of hand positions, working from head to foot. Training to become a Reiki healer generally involves a series of ritualistic attunements which are said to allow the healer to tap into the life force of the universe.

Therapeutic Touch – Therapeutic Touch is similar in many ways to Reiki, but was developed within the American nursing tradition in the 1970's. In Therapeutic Touch, generally, there is no physical contact between the practitioner and patient. Instead, the practitioner works with the biofield a few inches above the patient's body. Using long, slow hand motions, the practitioner searches for blockages and constrictions in the biofield. When such problems are detected, the practitioner attempts to smooth out the constrictions and restore the free flow of energy. Therapeutic Touch is now taught in a number of nursing schools throughout the world.

Healing Touch – Healing Touch is a variation of Therapeutic Touch that emerged in the 1980's. Healing Touch uses both light touch and near touch to clear and balance the biofield. Again, the idea is to s