Effects of Healing Touch in Clinical Practice: A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials

Hands-on healing and energy-based interventions have been found in cultures throughout history around the world. These complementary therapies, rooted in ancient Eastern healing practices, are becoming mainstream. Healing Touch, a biofield therapy that arose in the nursing field in the late 1980s, i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of holistic nursing 2011-09, Vol.29 (3), p.221-228
Main Authors: Anderson, Joel G., Taylor, Ann Gill
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Clinical medicine
Clinical randomized controlled trials
Clinical trials
Evidence based
Healing
Holistic Nursing
Humans
Nursing
Nursing Process
Pain
Perception
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Relaxation
Stress, Psychological - nursing
Systematic review
Therapeutic Touch - nursing
Therapy
Touch
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Summary:Hands-on healing and energy-based interventions have been found in cultures throughout history around the world. These complementary therapies, rooted in ancient Eastern healing practices, are becoming mainstream. Healing Touch, a biofield therapy that arose in the nursing field in the late 1980s, is used in a variety of settings (i.e., pain centers, surgical settings, and private practices) with reported benefits (i.e., decreased anxiety, pain, and depressive behaviors; increased relaxation and a sense of well-being). However, clinical trial data concerning the effectiveness of Healing Touch have not been evaluated using a systematic, evidence-based approach. Thus, this systematic review is aimed at critically evaluating the data from randomized clinical trials examining the clinical efficacy of Healing Touch as a supportive care modality for any medical condition.
ISSN:0898-0101
1552-5724
DOI:10.1177/0898010110393353