" The biofield concept has been studied and debated by researchers of distinct areas of expertise, and although the phenomenon was sometimes described as physically related to electromagnetics, other factors such as “subtle energy” and focused intention might be involved. These nonconventional practices integrate contact and non-contact techniques, and those dealing with so-called distant healing interventions are perhaps the most difficult to understand and accept. Practitioners describe these so-called nonlocal interventions as involving intentional factors and particular states of consciousness ... This work also aims to stimulate the reader’s mind with the raised hypotheses, catalyzing further research on the subject to confirm or deny the reported outcomes." {Credits 1} Some of the experiments reported have measure electromagnetic changes, for example: " The hypothetical mechanisms through which intention has a physical effect on the target are still under debate. Some authors suggest that this process may be related to the ultraweak photon emission naturally occurring in all living organisms [ 71 ]." {Credits 1} " Moreover, some anatomical locations, such as the palm of the hands and the forehead, which are thought to be strong emitting areas, are typically associated with acupuncture and “Qigong” essential points." {Credits 1} " In a study conducted by Moga et al. [ 25 ] on the effects of hands-on healing and distant healing of mice with induced tumors, the authors found anomalous magnetic field activity during the intervention. The peak-to-peak variations of magnetic field (MF) oscillations were higher than baseline and had asymmetrical wave-like appearance, resembling discrete packets of sinusoidal waveforms, decreasing and increasing in frequency over time. Using Fast Fourier transform analysis, the authors found that in the beginning, the frequency was 20 to 30 Hz, slowing to 8 to 9 Hz and then to less than 1 Hz, and from this point, th wave reversed and increased again. The MF oscillation ranged from 1 to 8 mG in strength with a duration of 60 to 120 s" {Credits 1} " The magnetic field oscillations (peak-to-peak) amplitude was significantly greater during the healing touch session and post-session periods than in the pre-session period. Peak-peak showed no significant change across the guided progressive relaxation periods. Large-amplitude magnetic field oscillations > 1.0 milliGauss during healing touch were associated with healer/client qualitative reports of emotional release and clearing of the biofield [90]." {Credits 1} " Unusual large body voltages have also been reported during therapeutic touch practitioners’ treatments. Considerable anomalous body potential surges ranging from - 4 V to - 190 V in therapeutic intervention and from - 4 V to - 221 V, lasting from 0.5 to 12.5 s in meditation, were measured at the ear lobe with an electrometer. On average, these electrical signals were 103 times larger than psychophysiological galvanic skin potential changes associated with emotional responses, 105 times larger than electrocardiographic voltages, and 106 times larger than electroencephalographic voltages [ 91 ]." {Credits 1} " Measurable changes have been reported, such as: modified far-infrared radiation emitted at a distance of 50 cm from the palm of a “Qigong” practitioner, with variations in intensity as high as 80% at a frequency of 0.3 Hz, which contrast with the control group (non-practitioner) that showed almost no difference in intensity." {Credits 1} " ... changes in the magnetic field during “qi” emission, in well-controlled conditions in a zero-magnetism laboratory, with signals reaching 105 nT and contrasting with the weak ones emitted by non-practitioners; infrasonic sound pressure measured in acupoints during “qi” emission by experienced practitioners (48.8 to 54.7 dB) higher than those emitted by the control group (40.6 to 43.6 dB), reproducible in other studies where “Qigong” masters were able to increase these signals above 70 dB with a dominant peak frequency in the range 8 Hz to 12.5 Hz, which coincides with the frequencies of electroencephalography (EEG) alpha wave." {Credits 1} " In 3 out of 37 cases, the authors observed a 4 to 10 Hz oscillation in the magnetic field, with a peak-to-peak magnetic field strength of 2 to 4 mG [ 26 ]. Such results represent an increase in strength 1000-fold higher than usual, as the human body radiates magnetic fields of less than 10 to 6 gauss [ 95 ]. Similar magnetic field strengths during healing practices have been reported by other authors [ 25 ]. Although this phenomenon’s origin is not yet understood, the physical effects seem measurable [93,96,97]." {Credits 1} {Credits 1} 🎪 Matos, L.C.; Machado, J.P.; Monteiro, F.J.; Greten, H.J. Perspectives, Measurability and Effects of Non-Contact Biofield-Based Practices: A Narrative Review of Quantitative Research. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 6397. © 2021 The Author(s). This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. |
Last modified on 25-Jun-21 |