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Therapeutic Touch
Therapeutic Touch is the practice of balancing the human energy field by massaging the field that is 3-5 inches beyond the physical skin surface. It
is based on the assumption that all living things are surrounded by an energy field that can ultimately come into balance. This technique is used for the purpose of
possibly initiating the healing process for an individual who is either ill or injured. This practice was developed by Delores Krieger, RN, Ph.D. in the 1970s while she was a professor of
nursing at New York University. Dr. Krieger's refinement of this treatment was guided by her mentor, Dora Kunz.
Uses/Research Base: In Therapeutic Touch the practitioner uses their hands with the intent to heal. The
practitioner can feel any energy imbalances that are sensed. The healer goes into a meditative state before treating the receiver, which focuses
their consciousness to help or heal the receiver. The healer then assesses the areas of the body that are out of balance and begins to redistribute
the energy around the body, relieving parts of congestion and enhancing those that are lacking energy. Therapeutic Touch is useful for eliciting a
profound relaxation in the patient and in relieving pain. Ultimately the patient heals him or her self, while the healer just accelerates the
patient's own healing process. Studies have shown a decrease in the need for pain medication in post-surgical patients, a greater sense of
well-being, and a lowering of anxiety in various types of patients.
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Sparrow Health System: Center for Health, Humanities and Wellbeing
Content courtesy of Kastner, M., Burroughs, H. (1996). Alternative Healing: The Complete A-Z Guide to More Than 150 Alternative Therapies.
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