Studies and Progress Notes (March 2007)

* *  SPIRITUAL AWARENESS AND WHOLISTIC HEALING * * 

Reiki treatment on bacterial cultures 

Objective:  To measure effects of Reiki treatments on bacterial growth, and to determine the influence, if any, of healing context and practitioner psychosocial well-being.
Materials and Methods:  E. coli K12 culture samples were heat-shocked prior to Reiki treatment, which was performed for up to 15 min, with untreated matched controls.  Plate count assay using an automated colony counter determined the number of viable bacteria per sample.  14 Reiki practitioners each completed 3 runs (n = 42 runs; nonhealing context), and another 2 runs (n = 28 runs) in which they first treated a pain patient for 30 minutes (healing context).  Psychosocial questionnaires were administered to practitioners pre-post each session. 
Results:  No difference was found between the Reiki and control plates in the nonhealing context.  In healing context, the Reiki treated cultures overall showed more bacteria than controls (p< 0.05).  Practitioner social (p<0.013) and emotional wellbeing (p<0.021) correlated with Reiki treatment outcome on bacterial cultures in the nonhealing context.  Practitioner social (p<0.031), physical (p<0.030), and emotional (p<0.026) wellbeing correlated with Reiki treatment outcome on the bacterial cultures in the healing context.   For practitioners starting with diminished wellbeing, control counts were likely to be higher than Reiki counts.  For practitioners starting with a higher level of wellbeing, Reiki counts were likely to be higher than control counts. 
Conclusion:  Reiki improves growth of heat-shocked bacterial cultures in healing context.  Changes in practitioners’ well-being correlate with the outcome of Reiki on bacterial culture growth.  The practitioner’s initial well-being is key to the outcome on bacterial growth.
Source:  Beverly Rubik. In vitro effect of Reiki treatment on bacterial cultures , Abstract presented at 2nd Annual ISSSEEM Research Symposium on Energetic and Spiritual Processes in Healing, June 24, 2005, Colorado Springs, CO

IJHC – WHR Observations

It is helpful to have further confirmation of healing effects, demonstrating that bacterial growth can be enhanced by Reiki.

It is further helpful to have confirmation of anecdotal reports that the psychological states of the healers may influence the results of their healing treatments.

 * *  FUTURE RESEARCH IN WHOLISTIC HEALING * * 

The IJHC/WHR E-Zine features monthly suggestions for future research in healing.
READERS ARE INVITED TO SUBMIT SUGGESTIONS FOR TOPICS TO STUDY
If your topic is chosen, you ill receive free access to the IJHC for a month, including the current issue and all back issues.
 
Energy reversals and blocks to emotional releases with Energy Psychology (EP)/ Meridian Based Therapies (MBTs)

Speaking with Lee Pulos (a hypnotherapist involved in EP) a few days ago, I was struck by some of the differences in our practices of MBTs. Lee was describing his methods of addressing bioenergetic reversals, which can block a person from releasing negative feelings and cognitions as they are using MBTs. Lee uses a simple series of tapping on various acupressure points, reporting a very high rate of success in dealing with these blocks (also called resistances in the terminology of EP).

I was bemused, because I am familiar with energetic reversals, yet have not found it necessary to address these in doing WHEE – the Wholistic Hybrid derived from EMDR and EFT.  If a resistance does not respond to massage of the sore spot (just below the midpoint of the collarbone), I find that there is almost always a residue of one or more past emotional issues related to the current issue, blocking the current issue from releasing. (My understanding of psychodynamics leads me to postulate that the current issue most probably arose as a way for the unconscious mind to bring the earlier issue to our attention.) When the earlier issue is released with WHEE, then the current issue is no longer blocked and will dissipate. I have had virtually 100 percent success with treating people with WHEE over the past several years, using this approach. (I have grown so confident, that in workshops I run myself, I offer a money back guarantee if people have used WHEE as prescribed but feel they have had no benefits. I have yet to have someone take me up on this offer.)

I propose that the energetic reversal is the bioenergetic counterpart of the cognitive block to releasing the current issue, due to the earlier issue that has not been addressed.

It will be relatively easy to test this theory:
1. Check whether people who are blocked in the course of their MBT treatment by a resistance and have energetic reversals also have underlying old issues that are related to the issue in their current life that they are working on.
2. Check whether people who are blocked in the course of their MBT treatment by a resistance and have underlying old issues that are related to the issue in their current life that they are working on also have energetic reversals.
3. Observe whether an energetic reversal is normalized with the release of an underlying old issue;
4. Observe whether there is a decrease in intensity of feelings attached to an underlying old issue when a person whose progress in MBT treatment is blocked by a resistance undergoes the procedures for energy rebalancing of a reversal.

* *  WHOLISTIC APPROACHES * * 

Early family experience can reverse the effects of genes, UCLA psychologists report

The short form of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) is a predictor of being at risk for depression, clearly a hereditary trait. UCLA psychologists have found that a warm and supportive home that provides nurturing for these people can prevent the occurrence of depression in people carrying this gene. Conversely, children raised in homes that are emotionally cold and unsupportive are at higher risk for having depression, especially when anger and conflicts were significant features in their early childhood experiences.
One of the principal investigators, Shelley E. Taylor, UCLA distinguished professor of psychology summarizes: "Genes are not destiny…"
Source:  UCLA News  http://newsroom.ucla.edu/page.asp?RelNum=7399

IJHC – WHR Observations

It is helpful to find evidence that psychological influences in a person’s life can overcome genetic tendencies towards depression. In the wholistic approaches to life, it is anticipated that any of the factors of body, emotions, mind, relationships and spirit may tip the balance towards health or illness. These factors act in concert, the balance being tipped towards those with the stronger influence. This research suggests that it is possible to tip the balance further through deliberate healing practices and therapies.

 * *  COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES * * 

New source for CAM research reviews

The National Library for Health Complementary and Alternative Medicine specialist Library (NeLCAM) is available through the Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital in England at:
www.library.nhs.uk/cam
NeLCAM will be continuously developed and updated and welcomes comments and suggestions from users. If you would like to contribute to the development of the CAM Specialist Library or would like further information please email Anelia Boshnakova anelia.boshnakova@uclh.nhs.uk

IJHC – WHR Observations

It is most helpful to have systematic reviews of CAM research, as articles may be published in diverse sources that are sometimes difficult to find and expensive to obtain. One must be cautious, however, in accepting reviews of unknown reviewers. I have seen scathing dismissals of many CAM modalities by skeptics, and uncritical acceptance by others.

I have long held that it would be extremely helpful to readers of articles and reviews to know the beliefs and backgrounds of the authors and reviewers. This would help to place the reviews in perspective. I have myself been criticized for being a believer in spiritual healing, and therefore have also had questions raised about the validity of my reviews and critiques of research in spiritual healing. As I indicate and illustrate clearly in Healing Research, Volume I (referenced later in this eZine) in my review of 191 controlled studies of healing, the research evidence is just facts and figures. Readers must interpret these in the light of their understandings and beliefs about the subject. My way of addressing this in this book is to provide two critiques of each study – one from the vantage of a believer, another from that of a skeptic. Readers are then free to find the ‘truth’ that suits their own belief systems somewhere between the two.

More CAM reviews at
www.naturalhealthvillage.com
www.mdlinx.com/FamilyMDLinx 
 www.ucalgary.ca/~camig/litsearch.html
AMSA website
www.amsa.org/humed/camresources/camnews.cfm

* * TECHNOLOGY * *

Liver cells grown from cord blood

A research team in Newcastle University in England report they have created tiny sections of human liver, using stem cells from umbilical cords. They are hopeful it will be possible to use these ‘mini-livers’ to test drugs, avoiding risks to humans and animals in exploring effects of new medications. But other experts caution that the work is still early and has not been published, making it impossible to assess the value of this report.
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6101420.stm

IJHC – WHR Observations

This would be a major step forward in reducing the use of animals to test drugs, and in reducing risks to the early human users of new medications. The possibility of using such stem cells to repair or create new organs to replace diseased or injured organs may one day be explored as well.

* *  ENVIRONMENT (HEALING OUR PLANET) * *

Biofuels

Biofuels are any kind of fuel made from living things, most commonly ethanol and diesel, made from crops such as corn, sugar cane and rapeseed. These are more environmentally friendly than fossil fuels such as oil and coal, because a significant net absorption of carbon dioxide occurs of in the growth of plants.

Brazil is a world leader in biofuels, producing about 16 billion liters of ethanol annually from sugar cane. More than half of the new cars on the market today can run on a mix of gasoline and about 15 percent ethanol.

The downside is that if we increase production of just a few crops for economical production of biofuels, this will be at the cost of decreasing biodiversity.

The best approach is to energy use is to decrease fuel consumption.

IJHC – WHR Observations

With global warming being the number one threat to survival of life on our planet, every possible approach to decreasing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere must be implemented on a major scale immediately. There is no time to waste. Even if we do everything we can, everywhere on the planet, there is no guarantee that we still won’t see major effects of global warming.

 * *  HUMAN ECOLOGY* * 

Loneliness may increase risk of alzheimer disease

“A total of 823 older persons free of dementia at enrollment were recruited from senior citizen facilities in and around Chicago, Ill. Loneliness was assessed with a 5-item scale at baseline (mean ± SD, 2.3 ± 0.6) and annually thereafter. At death, a uniform postmortem examination of the brain was conducted to quantify AD pathology in multiple brain regions and the presence of cerebral infarctions.:

“Results  During follow-up, 76 subjects developed clinical AD. Risk of AD was more than doubled in lonely persons (score 3.2, 90th percentile) compared with persons who were not lonely (score 1.4, 10th percentile), and controlling for indicators of social isolation did not affect the finding. Loneliness was associated with lower level of cognition at baseline and with more rapid cognitive decline during follow-up. There was no significant change in loneliness, and mean degree of loneliness during the study was robustly associated with cognitive decline and development of AD. In 90 participants who died and in whom autopsy of the brain was performed, loneliness was unrelated to summary measures of AD pathology or to cerebral infarction.”

Source: Wilson, Robert S. et al, Loneliness and risk of alzheimer disease, Arch Gen Psychiatry 2007;64:234-240.
http://archpsyc.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/64/2/234?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=
&fulltext=Robert+Wilson&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0
&resourcetype=HWCIT

IJHC – WHR Observations

Interpreting this study is a challenge. It may be that early, pre-clinical Alzheimer’s Disease, leads people to feel isolated, rather than that the feelings of isolation are a causal factor in the development of AD. Well worth following up on, because if the latter is true, then we may have a way to reduce or slow the development of AD – by addressing people’s sense of isolation.