Energy Medicine: The Scientific Basis

by James L. Oschman

Book Overview

There is growing interest world wide in the field of mind-body medicine and the effect which the natural energy forceswithin the body play in the maintenance of normal health and wellbeing. This in turn has led to interest in how these energies or forces may be channelled to assist in healing and restoration to health. This book, written by a well known scientist with a degree in biophysics and a PhD in biology, brings together for the first time...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0443062617
• ISBN13: 9780443062612
• Release Date: May 2000
• Publisher: Churchill Livingstone
• Length: 292 Pages
• Weight: 1.11 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

expansive, objective, thorough

The problem with many books on all types of energy healing are the moments when well-meaning but hopelessly uninformed authors try to explain the "why" of their practice. Why does energy healing work? What is the physiological mechanism for this phenomenon? While authors whose practice is informed by their psychic knowledge (Barbara Brennan, Rosalyn Bruyere, etc.) are certainly valuable, James Oschman is successful in this book because he is first and only a scientist. He has no agenda to defend the validity of energy healing at all costs. In fact, you get the sense that he would be just as happy DISproving the phenomenon. And his objectivity in showing that in fact there IS a scientific basis for the practice is what makes this book absolutely priceless.The topics covered are surprisingly far-ranging. I was even skeptical of some of the chapter headings, but the author is so reasonable, and his claims so well-documented that even the most open-minded might find themselves taking a new look at topics they never considered. The chapters on crystal healing and the emotional impact of posture, respectively, were for me particularly fascinating. Some of the most fascinating scientific reading I've done in years.His description of the physical body as a liquid crystalline system, the mechanics of how movement strengthens this system, and how the physical liquid crystal interacts with and is the basis for the energetic system is remarkably beautiful. There are many moments where the scientific meets the spiritual in this book and it's so beautiful.What this book is not: This book is not an instruction manual. I noticed at least one other review seemed to say it was an instruction manual. There are no instructions as to how to practice any of the many techniques covered. The book is for people who already know how to do these things or people who don't want to know HOW but rather WHY IT WORKS. A fabulous reference for those who would like to give clients a more lucid explanation for why various forms of energy healing might work, or at least more current theories on the topic.Worth the price of the book for the bibliography alone.

Essential reading in energy medicine

While most people have had a cardiogram, few know that Einthoven won a Nobel prize in 1924 for discovering how to record the electromagnetic field of the heart. Even fewer know that this field is now detectable from 15 feet away from your body and that every cell has an electromagnetic field that can alter its behavior when manipulated. Thus the basic work has already been done to chart the direction for building a StarTrek Tricorder which can detect a diseased energy pattern and manipulate it towards health. Somes devices are already on the market that, while primitive compared to a Tricorder, do the job remarkably well.A previous reviewer mentioned the placebo effect. Most scientists don't know that every patient in Stanford Medical Center when I was there studying biostatistics was in a clinical trial in order to take advantage of the placebo effect on all patients, not just the ones getting a new treatment. The National Institute of Medicine, notes in a recent publication, that the brain changes induced by opiates are the same as that induced by a placebo effect. It is far safer and often more affective to induce a placebo effect, than give a drug with negative side effects, particularly when the response is the same or better.Enough said. These comments suggest that ignorance of the scientific literature in this field is widespread, even among leading scientists, and the first prescription for the brain disfunction resulting from this lack of knowledge is Oschman's book. I recommend it to all my colleagues.

Scholarly exploration of the science of vibrational healing

This text is packed with information and scientific research related to energy medicine, which overlaps with the subjects of vibrational & spiritual healing. As a Reiki healer, I experience electromagnetic sensations routinely, and have no doubt that the flow of energy directed by mind and spirit alters the electromagnetic fields that surround and permeate the body. It's nice to see that there are researchers documenting effects with modern equipment and developing theories that explore holistic, open-systems of life processes. The only things I would like to see to make this book better would be additional research examples, including the work of people like Reich & Rife. Richard Gerber has written a couple excellent books on these subjects, and his books are more affordably priced, so I'd recommend those texts for those working from a limited budget. Nevertheless, this book is a solid text and reference for those validating energy medicine or seeking to gain a deeper understanding of how these methods work.

A Solid Scientific Text

This book is a solid cornerstone of the bridge linking rigorous scientific theory and intuitive, energy healing techniques. I disagree with Paul Budnik's review stating that the Placebo Effect is not addressed in the book. True, it is only mentioned explicitly on page 17 (in as far as I've read so far...) but great lengths are taken to explain how a person's thought processes, including their beliefs about themselves, have a very real physical manifestation in the form of electrical pulses which generate magnetic fields which are detected by and affect the entire body.Energy therapy such as polarity, Reiki, and acupuncture have been shown to work at the same frequency range of the electromagnetic spectrum as pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy. PEMF has been used by Western medicine for some time to aid in the healing of bone which is not healing on its own. (See Bassett C A L 1995 Bioelectromagnetics in the service of medicine. In: Blank M (ed) Electromagnetic fields: biological interactions and mechanisms. Advances in Chemistry Series 250. American Chemical Society, Washington DC, pp 261-275)All in all, a fascinating and thorough exploration of an important, emerging field. A must for anyone involved in or curious about bodywork, energy work, or any form of medicine.