There has been quite an interesting new trend in traditional medicine. Recently, respected scientists and physicians have been conducting research to create a scientific basis for the use of an assortment of treatments and healing techniques called holistic, complementary, or alternative therapies.
In layman’s terms this means that scientists are conducting studies to try to explain why various non-scientific healing methods are effective. According to the World Book Encyclopedia, the term holistic means, “Looking at a whole culture or organism is a more fruitful field of study than looking its parts or symptoms.” The word “complementary” means that doctors and nurses use holistic treatment methods together with traditional medical treatment.
The main idea of holistic medicine is to focus on health instead of symptoms or disease. According to a 1997 survey, over $22 billion has been spent in the United States on various alternative treatments. Americans often have paid for these services out of their own pocket, as until recently these therapies were not covered by medical insurance. Many insurance companies have recently changed their policy, finding it cheaper to provide this coverage.
Popular demand may partially explain why more and more traditional nurses now take courses to prepare them to administer complementary therapies, such as Reiki, acupuncture, empowerment healing, touch healing, acupressure, hypnosis, or healing by spiritual direction. Many traditional nursing schools now endorse holistic methods and offer courses and certification to their students. Healing techniques, which used to be commonly available only from alternative medical practitioners, shamen and even witch doctors, are now increasingly used in mainstream medical practice.
Former Head Nurse of the University of California Medical Center in Irvine, California, Nancy Romberg, says, “I always had a desire and drive to be involved with medicine and I hoped to become a doctor at a time when women did not generally go into that field. I finally dropped my sights and aimed for nursing. I grew up in Ireland, where "folk medicine" was the norm, and not the exception, so I have been involved with holistic health most of my life.”
“First, I became a nurse, and later a critical care specialist. I was the House Supervisor at the University of California Medical Center in Irvine for 18 years. Nine years ago I retired from active hospital administration and took a teaching position at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach and joined the faculty of Concorde Career College as a theory instructor where I still teach. I am affectionately referred to as the ‘fish oil nurse’ cuz it fixed almost anything."
“I combine holistic forms of health care in my teaching along with traditional western approaches to nursing. I am also a member of the Holistic Nurses Organization, and travel to speak at conferences on alternate methods of healing for the mind-body connection. I have qualified for and practice touch healing for more than 23 years. I hold a Reiki level one certificate and my daughter, Beth, is a full Reike master.”
Associate Professor Ruth Lindquist says, “Holistic therapies have a long tradition of use in nursing. Nurses have conducted research on selected complementary therapies. Nursing is in an excellent position to be a leader in integrating these therapies into the Western biomedical health model and in continuing the research that will provide a better scientific base for the use of complementary therapies.”
Dr. Lindquist is the Division Head of Adult, Geriatric, and Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing at the University Of Minnesota School Of Nursing and a faculty member at the Center for Spirituality and Healing in the Academic Health Center.
Reiki is an ancient Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that is said to promote healing. The treatment involves “laying on hands" and is based on the idea that the unseen "life force energy" that flows through us can be stimulated in this fashion. The idea is that if one’s "life force energy" is low, we are more likely to get sick and become stressed. When our life force is strong we are relaxed, happy, and healthy.
The purpose of the Reiki treatment is to stimulate a healthy life force. This purpose or intent is projected and focused on the patient by the mind and will of the therapist. It is said to also help if the patient focuses their intent on “wellness.”
I decided to personally investigate Reiki. I called the Nirvana Alternative Healing Center in Temecula, California and arranged to attend one of their classes. I arrived at the door, and the owner, Jenny Wright, called out, "Come on in, Catherine, I would know you anywhere!” I came into the center where several women were sitting relaxing. I sat down and chatted with them on their comfortable couches. The center is arranged as in an intimate living room with many shelves of books and artifacts of interest to anyone who would like to learn about alternative healing, or psychic awareness. Many of the books and other items on the shelves are for sale. We discussed Reiki for a while and got to know one another. Then Sandra Haro, offered to give me a Reiki healing free of charge. I agreed and was taken to another room which was full of various interesting implements and decorated in soft relaxing colors. I layed down on a massage table and was made comfortable with small pillows. Some inspirational music was playing and the air was fragrant with floral incense. I was given a Reiki healing session, which I will not try to explain in detail, as my eyes were shut and my experience was subjective and personal. I would, however, encourage anyone to explore this unusual experience for themselves. What I can tell you is that I noticed some results. I am a chronically restless sleeper (I never usually sleep more than a few hours without restlessly waking) and I was surprised to sleep 12 hours that night following the treatment without waking and felt very relaxed the next day. My son finally woke me up, worried, because he had never seen me lie still for so long.
Scientific research in Reiki and other holistic techniques has been conducted for some time. There are now numerous research studies that show the usefulness of Reiki and other holistic healing techniques.
One study, “Autonomic Nervous-System-Changes During Reiki Treatment: A Preliminary Study,” was published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, Volume 10, Number 6. Forty-five healthy people were divided into 3 groups of 15 each. One group received Reiki and rest, another group received a placebo Reike treatment and rest. The placebo treatment was given exactly the same way as the Reiki treatments were given in the first group, except that those who gave them had not had Reiki training. The third group, the control group, received only rest.
The results show a significant reduction in diastolic blood pressure and heart rate in the Reiki group which did not appear in the placebo group or the control group. This was thought to show that Reiki created an effect that could not have been caused by suggestion.
A Reiki study done at the Helfgott Research Institute at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine showed that Reiki has a measurable effect on the immune system. The study measured the effect of Reiki on the white blood cell counts of volunteers who were randomized into three groups: (1) the first group received Reiki, (2) the second group just relaxed, and (3) the third group did not receive Reiki or relaxation.
Blood was drawn from each volunteer before the treatment, immediately after treatment, and again four hours after treatment. The laboratory results showed a significantly higher number of white blood cells in those who received Reiki, indicating the treatment enhanced the immune system by increasing the number of white blood cells.
Available research shows that there are similar positive results in literally hundreds of studies published in respected medical journals. Holistic medicine still raises a few concerns. No one seems certain exactly why or how these techniques work. Some holistic therapies seem to embrace a pagan religious system. For this reason, some Christians hesitate to implement alternative treatments. How can we evaluate the effectiveness of a practice that seems to be so unconventional?
The main reason many people turn to alternative medicine is that it offers hope when traditional medicine seems to have failed. There are hundreds of verifiable accounts showing holistic methods have provided miracle recoveries from cancer and other diseases after medical science has completely given up on that individual.
Experts recommend the wisest choice may be to evaluate alternative therapy options with an open mind, choosing therapies that are endorsed by qualified medical research and controlled testing.
What does seem to be clear is that traditional medicine which focuses on crisis intervention, life-threatening illnesses, prescription medicine, and hospitalization has become more and more expensive. Alternative or holistic therapy with its focus on wellness may represent a real bargain in healthcare.
