Infrared Spectra Alteration in Water Proximate to the palms of Therapeutic Practitioners (PDF)

ABSTRACT

Through standard techniques of infrared spectrophotometry, sterile water samples in randomly selected sealed vials evidence alteration of infrared (IR) spectra after being proximate to the palms of the hands of both Practising and Non-practising Therapy Practitioners, each of whom employed a personal variation of the Laying-on-of-Hands/Therapeutic Touch processes. This pilot study presents 14 cases, involving 14 Practitioners and 14 Recipients. The first hypothesis, that a variation in the spectra of all (84) Treated spectra compared with all (57) control spectra would be observed in the 2.5 – 3.0 micrometer range, was confirmed (p = 0.02). Ten per cent (15) of the spectra were done using a germanium Internal Reflection Element (IRE). Ninety per cent of the spectra (126) were done with a zinc selenide IRE, and the difference in refractive index between the two IREs skews the data. The zinc selenide IRE spectra alone yield p = .005. The authors believe the most representative evidence for the effect appeared in the sample group of Treated vs. Calibration Controls using the zinc selenide IRE (p = 0.0004). The second hypothesis, that there existed a direct relationship between intensity of effect and time of exposure was not confirmed. This study replicates earlier findings under conditions of blindness, randomicity, and several levels of controls. Environmental factors are considered as explanations for the observed IR spectrum alteration, including temperature, barometric pressure, and variations dependent on sampling order. They do not appear to explain the effect.

Publication history: Subtle Energies. (1990) Vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 43-72. A preliminary version of this paper was presented at the 29th Annual Parapsychological Association Annual Meetings, 5-9 August 1986. See Proceedings pp. 257-282. An abstract of the final paper is published in Research in Parapsychology 1986, (Meutchen: Scarecrow, 1987). This version of the report was presented as an Invited Paper at the Society for Scientific Exploration Sixth Annual Meeting 29 May 1987, and a slightly edited version was presented at the Federation of American Chemical Societies Meetings 1987.

Therapeutic Intent and the Art of Observation (PDF)

Excerpt:

Therapeutic Intent. The idea that consciousness can have a direct effect on a living organism is an ancient and culturally universal belief. The shamanic cave art of Altimira, Tres Freres, and Lascaux presents compelling testimony that our genetic forbearers had a complex view of spiritual and physical renewal, one that has survived to the present unchanged in at least one fundamental respect. The intent to heal, either oneself or another, whether expressed as God, a force, an energy, or one of many gods, has consistently been believed to be capable of producing a therapeutic result. Why?
The answer must surely be that regardless of ideology or religion, culture, or race, the manifested result of Therapeutic Intent has compelled belief. It has survived and been used for thousands of years because people get better and the various practices seem worth preserving from generation to generation. This can be said, while still acknowledging that many people get well simply because of the self-correcting nature of Nature; or, to a more limited degree, from psychophysical self-regulation. And, from at least the third millennium BCE on, many more have regained their health because of the intervention of their civilization’s health system. The high civilizations of the past, like those of the present, possessed a very sophisticated armamentarium. How they got it may still hold lessons worth learning today.

Publication History: A slightly different version appeared in the Journal of Subtle Energies, vol. 1, no. 1, 1998 pp. ii-viii.