Therapeutic Touch
Therapeutic touch, a contemporary interpretation of several ancient healing practices, is a consciously directed process of energy exchange during which the practitioner uses the hands as a focus for facilitating healing. It is a modern variation of the "laying on of hands". It was developed in the early 1970s by Dolores Krieger, PhD, RN, and Dora Kunz, a "natural healer". This technique is one of the most controversial alternative therapies. Practitioners claim they can heal by correcting the imbalances in the body's external energy field. However, critics say that there is no evidence of an energy field and that any benefits must be attributed to a positive psychological response.
Therapeutic touch rarely involves physical contact between the practitioner and the patient. Instead, the practitioner moves his/her hands just above the patient's body to establish any blockages in the patient's energy field. Then, the practitioner moves his/her hands in a flowing motion to relieve the blockage. This treatment is based on the principal of energy exchange between people. The treatment lasts from ten to thirty minutes. It is often used as a supplement to traditional medical therapies.
Research and experience have shown its effectiveness in: promotion of relaxation and reduction of anxiety, changing the patient's perception of pain, and facilitating the body's natural restorative processes. The effectiveness of this technique in treating epilepsy has not been documented. Exercise caution when seeking out a therapeutic touch practitioner, since there is no certification required to practice the technique in Ontario. Therapeutic touch is being taught and practiced throughout the world. It is taught at numerous universities and colleges in the United States and Canada and is being accepted as a nursing intervention in an increasing number of hospitals in Ontario. It is suggested that you choose a practitioner who has completed a workshop in therapeutic touch and has practiced the technique for at least one year under the guidance of a mentor.
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