Prospective empirical test suite for energy practitioners.

OBJECTIVE: To design a set of measures which were portable and cost-effective that scientists could use to determine competence of Energy Practitioners so that qualified practitioners could be employed in improving ongoing research accuracy. DESIGN: This was a prospective study with sample of convenience. SUBJECTS: 213 subjects, 185 women and 28 men, were tested in this study. OUTCOME MEASURES: Empirical outcome measures included Triaxial Extra Low Frequency Magnetic Field meter, Data Logging Multimeter, RF Field Spectrum Analyzer, Acoustimeter, Broadcast Frequency counter, digital pH meter, digital TDS meter, GDV and physiology suite including heart rate variability, galvanic skin response, respiration, EMG, EKG, temperature and blood volume pulse. Additional questions on ethics and body reading were included in the test. RESULTS: Results suggest a range of tests which could be used to determine practitioner competence. Many of the energy practitioners tested consistently produced changes in the areas being measured past the error rate of the devices being used. Across the 13 measures, practitioner success ranged from 56.8% on the Acoustimeter to 100% on the Broadcast Frequency Counter measures with 95% CI. Tri Axial ELF magnetic field meter showed significance with practitioners producing oscillations of amplitude from the L hand at p< 0.01 with and effect size D of 1.5 and R hand p< 0.001 and an effect size D of 1.6. Practitioners demonstrated the ability to produce a change in pH beyond ±.1pH in 10 minutes at a Mean of 0.5 and a SD of 0.4 at a 95% CI of 0.48-0.58 and changes in TDS beyond+/-2% at a Mean of 36.7 and a SD of 35.2 at a 95% CI of 31.9-41.5. Other measures are discussed in detail. CONCLUSIONS: This test presents a possible way to demonstrate a level of practitioner competence and improve the selection of energy practitioners for use in scientific studies of energy healing in the areas of full spectrum healing, laying-on-of-hands healing, Reiki, Qi Gong and Tai Chi.

Effects of energy enhancer patches on cortisol production, peripheral circulation, and psychological measures: a pilot study.

CONTEXT: LifeWave Energy Enhancer (LEE) patches (LifeWave Corp, San Diego, CA, USA) on skin produce some changes that are consistent with increased energy production, but little is known about their effects on cortisol concentrations or the peripheral circulation. OBJECTIVE: The study intended to assess the effects of LEE patches on salivary cortisol, peripheral circulation, and psychological measures on healthy adults. METHODS: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized pilot study was performed. SETTING/LOCATION: Measurements were made in the laboratory at Mind-Body-Science (Tucson, AZ, USA). Participants collected some of the saliva samples at work or home. PARTICIPANTS: To obtain pilot data, 20 healthy individuals with no chronic conditions were recruited-5 males and 15 females-aged 30-69 y. INTERVENTION: Participants completed baseline psychological questionnaires and provided saliva samples for hormonal analysis. The next day, fingertip microvascular perfusion was measured, LEE or placebo patches were applied to participants' wrists, and perfusion scans were repeated, first immediately after and then 10 min after application of the patch. Saliva samples were collected, and questionnaires were completed. Participants returned at noon and 4:00 PM for further scans, and at the end of that time, the patches were removed. The protocol was repeated the following day using new patches. OUTCOME MEASURES: The research team analyzed the saliva samples for levels of cortisol and measured the percentage changes in cutaneous microvascular perfusion. The participants completed the energy visual analog scales (eVASs) and the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability survey. RESULTS: After the first patch application, the active group showed significantly higher cortisol concentrations than the placebo group, both at noon-2.39 ± 0.17 ng/mL vs 2.15 ± 0.27 (P = .0360), respectively-and at 4:00 PM- 2.02 ± 0.24 vs 1.67 ± 0.31 (P = .0155), respectively. No consistent changes occurred in perfusion. The eVAS score decreased significantly compared with baseline in the placebo group but not in the active group. CONCLUSION: Cortisol concentrations and eVAS scores showed significant differences between groups, which is consistent with the patches increasing energy production, warranting further testing.