In 2019, colleagues at the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS) embarked on one of the largest and most complex research projects in its history: the Exceptional Healers Pilot Study. This innovative pilot study was designed to evaluate the impact of a selected set of exceptional healing practitioners on pain outcomes, with a special focus on developing a standardized suite of subjective and objective measures.
Led by biofield science researcher and CHI Scientific Advisory Council member Garret Yount, PhD, and clinical researcher and CHI collaborator Helané Wahbeh, ND, MCR, the research study evaluated a selected set of 17 energy medicine practitioners reputed to have exceptional skills treating human participants with pain who administered a 30-minute session to 193 participants with carpal tunnel pain. To assess the impact of the Biofield Healing session the researchers used self-report measures of pain, expectancy, well-being, general health, affect, compassion, creativity, and belief, and heart rate synchrony (between the participant and practitioner). Environmental measures collected included potential changes in: water pH, water conductivity, water evanescence, quantum noise, magnetic field, and psychic perception.
The researchers found that the energy healing had statistically and clinically significant impacts on pain levels (p < 0.00005) across all three timepoints and sleep quality (p = 0.01), compassion (p = 0.001), as well as improvements in self-transcendence (p < 0.00005), interconnectedness with nature (p = 0.0021), and interconnectedness with others (p = 0.0045). The study also found that overall heart rate and respiration decreased during the healing session, while heart rate variability and synchrony increased, indicating greater coherence between healer and subject as the session progressed.
Learn more about the impacts of the measures collected by reading the publication here!
Become a CHI contributor and watch a recent webinar featuring Dr. Wahbeh discussing the results of this innovative pilot study with Dr. Shamini Jain, CHI CEO and Founder.
Learn More About the Scientists
I would be happy to be studied…
I see it working very often. My son is one of those being able to “scan” the body for the possible disease, even on distance or from the photograph. The same for the healing. Whenever I am in pain, he helps. Only our close friends and family knows about it, because he doesn’t want to be looked at like some kind of weirdo. He also probably is on the autism scale. Sensitivity trough the roof.
Yes, Elvira – many are born within the spectrum of Autism – with the life mission to heal and help others heal… your son is not the only one who keeps it quiet for the fear of being ridiculed, many more are in the same position. But when the more urgent time comes, these large groups of healers will recognize each other – as large groups, to help healing and bringing consciousness in grand scale – all over the world. Give him a hug for me please. Love
This is very Interesting and beneficial. Could help with the opioid crisis in our world.
Thanks for the study! I am a biologist who used to work in wildlife rehabilitation and emergency animal medicine….I utilized energy healing (Reiki), herbal medicines, Bach Flower remedies, homeopathy, etc. and had a very high survival rate for healing incredible injuries. I know that energy medicine works and I wish I had known bout some of the new things I’ve learned since, such as ‘tuning’ forks!
Thank you continuing to bring these modalities into mainstream…
Have you considered adding the energy healing modality called Esoteric Healing to your study?
I am very excited and grateful that this study has been conducted and with the kind of outcomes I would have anticipated. I practice distance Craniosacral therapy and get fantastic results with human and animal clients. Your research will really help validate the great work that we do.
This is all so late in the day in the West….but better late than never! The ancient civilizations all over the world were firmly established in these modalities until the modern era banished’ them as so called ‘woo woo’ practices. I am a BWY Hatha Yoga. Tai Chi/Qigong teacher and Alternative therapist in London, I’ve always noticed that my Reiki touch assisted my students to release, relax and even free themselves of niggling pain areas during a session. There is always another way.
My name’s Victor Tyrrell, I have been a Bio-Energy Healing Practitioner for 16 years now. I have had many great results with adults, children, babies and dogs. I have found that when beings surrender to their feelings during and after the sessions without taking anything to dampen their senses they tend to get the best results. I have just put up a post on Facebook.com/ bioenergybelfast about a dog called Charlie. He was diagnosed with cancer 5 years ago and was supposed to be dead within weeks. He is alive and happy. If you get a chance please read the testimonial on my page. Thank you for all your research.