Clinical effectiveness of an integrative psychotherapy technique for the treatment of trauma: A phase I investigation of Heart Assisted Therapy.

There is a need for more effective clinical interventions to assist individuals in healing from lingering negative and traumatic experiences. Furthermore, healing from such experiences and coping with residual symptoms are conceptionally separate yet important outcomes in psychotherapy. This report describes a Phase I investigation that evaluates an innovative integrative psychotherapy technique that promotes healing in addition to providing a method of coping while treatment is in progress. 43 patients were treated by 2 separate psychologists using Heart Assisted Therapy (HAT) in their private practices. There was a total of 81 specific upsetting and/or traumatic life events treated. All patients completed a standardized form to rate their degree of distress before and after HAT for each life event. Follow-up data were also collected ranging from 3 months to over 18 months post-treatment. Data analysis revealed the average number of HAT sessions for a treated incident was 3 - 4. The mean distress level was 7.55 before HAT and 0.00 after HAT for an exploratory study (n=13; p < .0000001), and 8.31 before HAT and 0.02 after HAT for a confirmatory study (n = 30; p < .0000001). These improvements were replicated across therapists, gender, and veteran status. The combined findings suggest that the integrative Heart Assisted Therapy model has important practical as well as theoretical significance. Future Phase II and Phase III studies can be performed to confirm the large magnitude of the patients perceived clinical effects and evaluate potential moderating variables such as expectancy.

A computer-automated, multi-center, multi-blinded, randomized control trial evaluating hypothesized spirit presence and communication.

The gold standard in biomedical research is the multi-center, multi-blinded, randomized control trial (RCT). In pharmacological research the RCT is termed a Phase III clinical trial. This paper presents the core goals and RCT methods developed to investigate automated spirit presence and communication. The goals are: (1) to use currently available, reliable, and affordable technology (total hardware cost per system less than $4,000; these systems will be provided free to collaborating laboratories), (2) to automate data collection and real-time analyses employing specially designed software, (3) to only require a quiet space (used at night) in collaborating laboratories, (4) to not necessitate human subjects committee approvals at collaborating institutions (because the participants are hypothesized spirit participants), and (5) to enable international collaboration regardless of the investigator's personal beliefs about the hypothesis. The research design and methods meet a phrase popularized by Carl Sagan: "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." The design minimizes false positives and false negatives. University affiliated investigators in established laboratories who regularly publish in peer reviewed journals, and are interested in collaborating in this RCT, are invited to contact the author.

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.

Behavioral Medicine: a retro/prospective view of the field.

The year 2017 was the 40th anniversary of the convening of the Yale Conference on Behavioral Medicine (Schwartz and Weiss, 1977). In honor of this defining moment in the history of the birthing of behavioral medicine as a formal integrative field of biobehavioral theories, research and applications, we were invited by the editors to take a retrospective and prospective look at the field. Recognizing that much has been written about this history over the years, we decided to write about the "back-channel," presenting never-before shared events associated with the birthing and evolution of the field in a way that would be fun to write and read. In the process we look back at the evolving definitions of behavioral medicine in light of contemporary advances and controversies in science. Our review includes a discussion of some of the present challenges/opportunities, and then considers the future with some "outside the box" possibilities. We outline some of the enormous advances which have taken place in technology since the 1970s and consider how such technologies can be transformative in redefining our field.

Developmental Contributions to Emotional Awareness.

The Levels of Emotional Awareness Scale (LEAS) has received considerable support as a reliable and valid measure of individual differences in emotional awareness (EA) since the original report involving 40 participants (Lane, Quinlan, Schwartz, Walker, & Zeitlin, 1990 ). However, the hypothesized developmental nature of EA (conceptualized as a cognitive skill) has thus far only been examined in that 1 early study. Here we report multiple regression analyses on the entire sample of 94 participants who completed the LEAS as part of that original study, as well as the same developmental and affective measures used in the original report. We first observed that different developmental measures, including the Object Relations Inventory and the Sentence Completion Test of Ego Development, accounted for unique portions of the variance in LEAS scores. We also observed that higher LEAS scores were associated with greater within-category variance in the self-reported positive and guilt- and shame-related emotions people reported experiencing on a typical day. Based on these findings, we introduce a 3-dimensional cognitive-developmental framework that LEAS scores plausibly track, including (a) the transition from focusing on external/physical to internal/psychological characteristics, (b) greater conceptual complexity, and (c) self-other differentiation. We then discuss the implications of this framework for understanding the nature of EA and for future research.

Human Subject Effects on Torsion Pendulum Oscillations: Further Evidence of Mediation by Convection Currents.

CONTEXT: When a human subject sits beneath a wire mesh, hemispheric torsion pendulum (TP) a rapid-onset series of oscillations at frequencies both higher and lower than the fundamental frequency of the TP have been consistently observed. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to replicate and extend prior findings that suggest the human subject effect on TP behavior is due to subject-generated, heat-induced convection currents. DESIGN: Effects on pendulum behavior were tested after draping an aluminized "space blanket" over the subject and by replacing the subject with a thermal mattress pad shaped to approximate the human form. SETTING: Experiments were performed in a basic science university research laboratory. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Real-time recordings and Fast Fourier Transform frequency spectra of pendulum oscillatory movement. RESULTS: The space blanket blocked, while the mattress pad mimicked, the human subject induced complex array of pendulum oscillations. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support and strengthen previous results that suggest the effects of human subjects on behavior of a torsion pendulum are mediated by body-heat-induced air convection rather than an unknown type of biofield.

Using Literature Review and Structured Hybrid Electronic/ Manual Mortality Review to Identify System-Level Improvement Opportunities to Reduce Colorectal Cancer Mortality.

BACKGROUND: Despite colorectal cancer (CRC) screening and survival rates exceeding national averages in the United States, Kaiser Permanente Southern California (KPSC) aimed to identify system-level improvement opportunities to further reduce mortality from CRC. METHODS: To examine modifiable factors contributing to CRC mortality, a structured hybrid electronic/manual mor- tality review was used to examine 50 randomly selected cases among 524 individuals aged 25-75 years diagnosed with stage II, III, or IV CRC after July 2008 who subsequently died. Physicians conducted chart reviews using a standardized data extraction tool based on evidence-based best practices. RESULTS: Eighty-six percent (43) of the 50 decedents were initially diagnosed with stage III or IV CRC; two cases of appendiceal cancer were excluded. Thirty-one percent (15) of the remaining 48 cases presented with no history of screening; 15% (7) had documented iron deficiency anemia and abdominal pain or rectal bleeding; and 6% (3) had no follow-up colonoscopy after positive screening. Eleven (52%) of the 21 patients with initial stage II-III CRC received appropriate surveillance after curative surgery; 57% (12) developed metastases. Adjuvant chemotherapy was offered to 88% (14/16) of patients with stage III (node-positive) CRC; chemotherapy initiation was delayed in 6 patients. Missed opportunities for surgical oncology evaluation occurred among 61% (11/18) of patients with liver metastases at diagnosis. Failure to report clinically significant features on pathology occurred in 2 patients; they received appropriate treatment for other reasons. CONCLUSIONS: Improvement opportunities existed at multiple stages of care, including screening, evaluation of symp toms, timeliness of care, use of adjuvant chemotherapy, and surgical oncology practices.

What is the Nature of a Post-Materialist Paradigm? Three Types of Theories.

What does it mean to have a post-materialist theory? I propose that there are three classes or categories of theories. (1) Type I post-materialist theories: neo-physical theories that are derived from materialist theories, where the materialist theories are still seen as primary and are viewed as being fundamentally necessary to create "non-material" (yet physical) phenomena such as consciousness. (2) Type II post-materialist theories: post-materialist theories of consciousness existing alongside materialist theories, where each class of theories are seen as primary and are viewed as not being derivable from (i.e. are not reducible to) the other And (3) Type I post-materialist theories: where materialist theories are derived from, and are a subset of, more inclusive post-materialist theories of consciousness; here post-materialist theories are seen as primary and are viewed as the ultimate origin of material systems. Type I theories are the least controversial, Type III are the most controversial. The three types of theories are considered in the context of the history of the emergence of post-materialist science.

Enhancement of adaptive biological effects by nanotechnology preparation methods in homeopathic medicines.

Multiple studies have demonstrated that traditional homeopathic manufacturing reagents and processes can generate remedy source and silica nanoparticles (NPs). Homeopathically-made NPs would initiate adaptive changes in an organism as a complex adaptive system (CAS) or network. Adaptive changes would emerge from several different endogenous amplification processes that respond to exogenous danger or threat signals that manufactured nanomaterials convey, including (1) stochastic resonance (SR) in sensory neural systems and (2) time-dependent sensitization (TDS)/oscillation. SR is nonlinear coherent amplification of a weak signal by the superposition of a larger magnitude white noise containing within it the same frequencies of the weak signal. TDS is progressive response magnitude amplification and oscillatory reversal in response direction to a given low dose at physiological limits with the passage of time. Hormesis is an overarching adaptive phenomenon that reflects the observed nonlinear adaptive dose-response relationship. Remedies would act as enhanced micro- and nanoscale forms of their source material via direct local ligand-receptor interactions at very low potencies and/or by triggering systemic adaptive network dynamical effects via their NP-based electromagnetic, optical, and quantum mechanical properties at higher potencies. Manufacturing parameters including dilution modify sizes, shapes, and surface charges of nanoparticles, thereby causing differences in physico-chemical properties and biological effects. Based on surface area, size, shape, and charge, nanoparticles adsorb a complex pattern of serum proteins, forming a protein corona on contact that constitutes a unique biological identity. The protein corona may capture individualized dysfunctional biological mediator information of the organism onto the surfaces of the salient, i.e., resonant, remedy nanostructures. SR would amplify this weak signal from the salient remedy NPs with protein corona adsorbed, leading to sensitized nonlinear dynamical modulation of gene expression and associated changes in biological signaling pathways. When the system reaches its physiological limits during a homeopathic aggravation or the natural disease state, the amplified remedy signal triggers a nonlinear reversal in dynamical direction back towards health.

Comparison of physical therapy with energy healing for improving range of motion in subjects with restricted shoulder mobility.

Two forms of energy healing, Reconnective Healing (RH) and Reiki, which involve light or no touch, were tested for efficacy against physical therapy (PT) for increasing limited range of motion (ROM) of arm elevation in the scapular plane. Participants were assigned to one of 5 groups: PT, Reiki, RH, Sham Healing, or no treatment. Except for no treatment, participants were blinded as to grouping. Range of Motion, self-reported pain, and heart rate variability (HRV) were assessed before and after a 10-minute session. On average, for PT, Reiki, RH, Sham Healing, and no treatment, respectively, ROM increased by 12°, 20°, 26°, 0.6°, and 3° and pain score decreased by 11.5%, 10.1%, 23.9%, 15.4%, and 0%. Physical therapy, Reiki, and RH were more effective than Sham Healing for increasing ROM (PT: F = 8.05, P = 0.008; Reiki: F = 10.48, P = 0.003; RH: F = 30.19, P < 0.001). It is possible that this improvement was not mediated by myofascial release because the subjects' HRV did not change, suggesting no significant increase in vagal activity. Sham treatment significantly reduced pain compared to no treatment (F = 8.4, P = 0.007) and was just as effective as PT, Reiki, and RH. It is the authors' opinion that the accompanying pain relief is a placebo effect.

Rare medical conditions and suggestive past-life memories: a case report and literature review.

We aim to report the case of a 38-year-old male with suggestive past-life memories during a regression session and to show how these memories were related to unusual medical conditions: (1) isolated obstruction of the right coronary artery in a young patient, (2) omental infarction, and (3) right aortic arch with isolation of the left subclavian artery. These conditions were related to the following suggestive past-life memories: (1) a priest who committed suicide with a crucifix nailed to his chest and (2) a medieval weapon (skull flail) hitting his cervical and left back region. There was an intriguing relation between the patient's suggestive past-life memories and rare medical conditions. In this article, the authors highlight possible explanations, rarity of findings, and similarities/differences from previous cases and potential pitfalls in this area.

Advances in Integrative Nanomedicine for Improving Infectious Disease Treatment in Public Health.

INTRODUCTION: Infectious diseases present public health challenges worldwide. An emerging integrative approach to treating infectious diseases is using nanoparticle (NP) forms of traditional and alternative medicines. Advantages of nanomedicine delivery methods include better disease targeting, especially for intracellular pathogens, ability to cross membranes and enter cells, longer duration drug action, reduced side effects, and cost savings from lower doses. METHODS: We searched Pubmed articles in English with keywords related to nanoparticles and nanomedicine. Nanotechnology terms were also combined with keywords for drug delivery, infectious diseases, herbs, antioxidants, homeopathy, and adaptation. RESULTS: NPs are very small forms of material substances, measuring 1-100 nanometers along at least one dimension. Compared with bulk forms, NPs' large ratio of surface-area-to-volume confers increased reactivity and adsorptive capacity, with unique electromagnetic, chemical, biological, and quantum properties. Nanotechnology uses natural botanical agents for green manufacturing of less toxic NPs. DISCUSSION: Nanoparticle herbs and nutriceuticals can treat infections via improved bioavailability and antiinflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects. Recent studies demonstrate that homeopathic medicines may contain source and/or silica nanoparticles because of their traditional manufacturing processes. Homeopathy, as a form of nanomedicine, has a promising history of treating epidemic infectious diseases, including malaria, leptospirosis and HIV/AIDS, in addition to acute upper respiratory infections. Adaptive changes in the host's complex networks underlie effects. CONCLUSIONS: Nanomedicine is integrative, blending modern technology with natural products to reduce toxicity and support immune function. Nanomedicine using traditional agents from alternative systems of medicine can facilitate progress in integrative public health approaches to infectious diseases.

Acute electroencephalographic effects from repeated olfactory administration of homeopathic remedies in individuals with self-reported chemical sensitivity.

BACKGROUND: Homeopaths report that individuals with heightened self-reported environmental chemical intolerance (CI) exhibit increased reactivity to homeopathic remedies. Persons high in CI sensitize their electroencephalographic (EEG) alpha responses to repeated intermittent chemical exposures. PRIMARY STUDY OBJECTIVE: The present feasibility study explored interactions between CI and one of two specific homeopathic remedies over time (Sulphur or Pulsatilla nigricans [Pulsatilla]). DESIGN: This study used a two-arm, double-blind, placebo-controlled repeated measures design. Intervention Participants underwent a series of three once-weekly sessions during which they repeatedly sniffed one remedy (6c, 12c, 30c; one potency per week) matched to their Homeopathic Constitutional Type Questionnaire (CTQ) type and two solvent controls (distilled water and a waterethanol [95%] solution). Within sessions, remedies and control solvents were administered via 2-second sniffs (eight sniffs of each of four different succussion levels per potency, in randomized order). PARTICIPANTS: Participants were college student volunteers (N = 96, ages 18-30, both sexes), screened for good health and relatively elevated Sulphur or Pulsatilla symptom pattern scores on the Homeopathic Constitutional Type Questionnaire (CTQ). Participants also completed a validated trait CI scale. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Average 19-lead relative EEG alpha power (alpha 1 8-10 Hz; alpha 2 10-12 Hz). RESULTS: Trait CI interacted significantly with time factors for each remedy (both over visit weeks and over sniff cycles during sessions). The patterns were nonlinear and differed between the two remedies. Individuals high in CI showed greater variability over time in remedy EEG alpha effects than did those low in CI. CONCLUSION: The data suggest that CI, with an underlying susceptibility to time-dependent sensitization and oscillatory responses, could contribute to nonlinear dose-response patterns and inconsistent reproducibility of homeopathic clinical care and research.

Adaptive network nanomedicine: an integrated model for homeopathic medicine.

This paper presents an evidence-based model for the nature and mode of action of homeopathic remedies. Recent studies reveal that homeopathic remedies contain nanoparticles (NPs) of source materials formed by "top-down" mechanical grinding in lactose and/or succussion (forceful agitation) in ethanolic solutions. Silica nanostructures formed during succussions in glass and/or biosynthesized by specific plant extract tinctures also may acquire and convey epitaxial information from remedy source materials into higher potencies. NPs have enhanced bioavailability, adsorptive capabilities, adjuvant reactivity, electromagnetic and quantum properties compared with their bulk forms. NPs induce adaptive changes in the organism at nontoxic doses (hormesis), serving as salient, low level danger signals to the biological stress response network. Activation of stress response effectors, including heat shock proteins, inflammasomes, cytokines and neuroendocrine pathways, initiate beneficial compensatory reactions across the interconnected networks of the organism as a complex adaptive system. Homeopathic remedies act by stimulating hormetic adaptive rather than conventional pharmacological effects. Updating terminology from "homeopathy" to "adaptive network nanomedicine" reflects the integration of this historical but controversial medical system with modern scientific findings.

Practicing Reiki does not appear to routinely produce high-intensity electromagnetic fields from the heart or hands of Reiki practitioners.

OBJECTIVES: The study objective was to determine whether Reiki practice increases the electromagnetic field strength from the heart and hands of Reiki practitioners. RATIONALE: This study repeated experiments performed 20 years ago that detected exceptionally high-strength electromagnetic fields (100 nT) from the hands of several energy healers. The equipment used was far more sensitive than in the original studies. DESIGN: Using a Magnes 2500 WH SQUID, the electromagnetic field from the hands and heart of each of 3 Reiki masters was measured when they were (1) not practicing Reiki, (2) sending Reiki to a distant person, and (3) sending Reiki to a person in the room. Similar measurements were made on 4 Reiki-naïve volunteers before and after they received a Reiki training/attunement enabling them to self-administer Reiki. SETTING/LOCATION: The study setting was the Scripps Institute, San Diego, CA. OUTCOME MEASURES: Magnetic field intensity of hands and heart recorded over 5-minute sessions with corresponding frequency spectra. RESULTS: For all subjects, under all conditions, sensors closest to the heart and the hands produced spikes of 2 pT corresponding to the heartbeat. Recordings from 2 Masters and 1 volunteer showed a low-intensity sine wave oscillation of 0.25-0.3 Hz (intensity 0.1-0.5 pT) whether or not they were practicing Reiki. This oscillation probably reflected respiratory sinus arrhythmia, judged by comparison with recent previous studies. These signals were not detected in the original studies. In the current study, no electromagnetic field intensities greater than 3 pT were observed in any of the recordings. CONCLUSIONS: Practicing Reiki does not appear to routinely produce high-intensity electromagnetic fields from the heart or hands. Alternatively, it is possible that energy healing is stimulated by tuning into an external environmental radiation, such as the Schumann resonance, which was blocked in the present study by the strong magnetic shielding surrounding the SQUID.

Physiological changes in energy healers during self-practice.

OBJECTIVE: The physiological status of energy healers during self-practice (activating the healing state without the presence of a recipient) has rarely been examined. This study assessed self practice-related changes in autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity in Reiki Masters and advanced Reconnective Healers. DESIGN: Measurements of heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV) and cutaneous blood perfusion of the fingers, of 31 Reiki masters and 50 experienced Reconnective Healers were made before, during and after self-practice. Corresponding measurements were made on 32 control subjects, who gazed at a calming picture in place of self-practice. SETTING: Experiments were conducted in a laboratory setting. RESULTS: During self-practice by Reconnective Healers, the average HR did not change significantly compared to control subjects but the average HRV and the root mean square of successive differences in inter-beat interval (RMSSD) decreased by 11ms (95% CI 0.6, 4.6, p=0.009) and 13ms (95% CI 0.2, 4.1, p=0.031) more than in control subjects, respectively, indicating reduced parasympathetic nervous activity. Reiki Masters showed no significant change in HR, HRV or RMSSD compared to control subjects. Cutaneous blood perfusion increased during self-practice relative to control subjects in both Reconnective Healers (6.5%; p=0.012) and Reiki Masters (13.7%; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Contrary to expectations, neither Reconnective Healers nor Reiki practitioners appear to enter a more physiologically relaxed state during self-practice although there is a local peripheral vasodilatation that is probably mediated by humoral agents.