Prana

Vinu V et al. (2026) · Cureus

This qualitative study with 12 Pranic Healing facilitators (PHFs) from across India explored what practitioners themselves experience while performing Pranic Healing (PH), a non-touch energy-healing practice built on the idea of prana, a life-force energy that several traditions describe as flowing through the body and supporting health. PH works with the aura (the body's energy field) and chakras (energy centers), which practitioners say they can sense with trained hands. Most prior PH research measured outcomes in people receiving healing; this study instead asked the healers what happens to them. Researchers conducted 60- to 90-minute telephone interviews with 12 certified facilitators (six women, six men, average age 49, with 6-26 years of practice) from six regions of India, using 13 open-ended questions covering their experiential, psychological, and self-development perspectives. Responses were analyzed through inductive thematic coding, then reinterpreted using a critical-realist framework that separates what people directly experience, what actually happens during a session, and what deeper mechanism might explain both, building toward a layered model of the Pranic Healing process. Facilitators consistently described sensing energy through their palms during three practice steps: scanning (assessing a person's energy field), cleansing (clearing "depleted" or "congested" energy), and energizing (projecting fresh prana, sometimes visualized in specific colors), reporting sensations like warmth, tingling, pressure, and color perception. Beyond these practice-related experiences, facilitators reported broader personal change: greater calm and emotional stability (hedonic well-being, meaning feeling good) and a stronger sense of purpose, confidence, and compassion (eudaimonic well-being, meaning functioning well and realizing one's potential), which the authors frame as psychological flourishing. Several also linked their own recovery from minor complaints, like allergies or migraines, to self-practice, and a few described brief, uncomfortable sensations such as skin irritation or localized pain during sessions, managed with rituals like salt-water rinses. The authors stress these are the facilitators' own retrospective impressions, not measurements taken by researchers. The resulting model proposes that Pranic Healing techniques act as a trigger that interacts with body sensation, energy-field beliefs, psychological traits, and awareness to produce these reported experiences (a theory for future testing, not a proven mechanism). With only 12 participants, all experienced volunteers from one training organization in one country, the findings cannot be generalized to new practitioners, other cultures, or to people receiving PH as patients. No health condition was tested or treated in this study; it describes practitioner experience only, and future research with objective measures is needed.

Tiffany J Barsotti et al. (2023) · Explore (New York, N.Y.)

This exploratory study investigates the effects of encountering a sacred object, specifically the Sri Yantra / Durga Stone, on human biofield responses. The significance of this research lies in its potential to bridge traditional healing practices with modern scientific understanding, particularly in the context of enhancing well-being through sacred objects. The study aims to explore how such encounters influence emotional and physical health, addressing a gap in existing literature regarding the biofield and sacred spaces. The study employed a pre-post single group design with a sample size of 17 participants, aged 38 to 79, consisting of 12 women and 5 men, all of whom provided informed consent. Participants engaged with the sacred object by placing their hand on the Sri Yantra / Durga Stone for up to 3 minutes, optionally reciting a mantra. Outcomes were measured using a Bio-Well device, which assessed emotional pressure, energy levels, and readings from various organ systems before and after the encounter. The intervention was conducted at the Sri Narayani Golden Temple in Vellore, India, with no specific treatment provided beyond the encounter itself. Results indicated a significant increase in the overall Bio-Well energy state, with baseline levels of 53.78 significantly lower than pre-exposure levels of 60.54 (p = 0.005) and post-exposure levels of 66.78 (p < 0.001). Significant changes were also observed in cardiovascular (F(2,32) = 11.441, p < 0.001) and endocrine system assessments (F(2,32) = 10.34, p = 0.001). However, emotional pressure and left/right symmetry measures did not show significant changes (p = 0.017 and p = 0.156, respectively). Participants reported enhanced feelings of energy, emotional balance, and a sense of peace, with no adverse events noted during the study. The findings suggest that exposure to sacred objects may enhance emotional and physical well-being, indicating potential therapeutic applications in clinical settings. However, the study's limitations include the absence of a control group and the short duration of exposure, which may affect the validity and generalizability of the results. Practitioners may consider incorporating similar interventions into therapeutic practices to explore their benefits further. Future research should include control conditions and longer engagement times with sacred objects to better assess their effects on the human biofield and overall health.

M K S Vinushree et al. (2025) · Global advances in integrative medicine and health

This 2024 exploratory pilot study investigated the relationship between the Ayurvedic concept of Tridosha and the perception of Pranic Energy Sensations (PES) among Ayurveda students. In Ayurveda, the three doshas (Tridosha) are Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, which govern physiological activity. Vata is composed of space and air elements and governs movement and nervous system functions; Pitta is composed of fire and water elements and governs digestion and metabolism; Kapha is composed of earth and water elements and provides structure and stability. Ninety-one healthy Ayurveda students (mean age 24.86 ± 2.32 years, 68% female) participated in this single-arm study conducted at a Government Ayurveda Medical College in Mysuru, Karnataka, India. Participants engaged in the Energizing Prana Technique (EPT) and reported their experiences of PES, which were measured using a Likert scale. Results indicated that higher Body Vata scores were significantly correlated with stronger PES intensity (ρ = .224, p ≤ .05), suggesting that individuals with Vata dominance may have heightened sensitivity to subtle energy flows. Additionally, Body Pitta scores also showed a positive correlation with PES intensity (r = .209, p ≤ .05). Conversely, higher Mind Vata scores correlated negatively with Positive State of Mind scores (ρ = −.373, p ≤ .01), indicating that elevated mental Vata may be associated with reduced psychological well-being. The study also found significant correlations between Body Vata and physiological parameters, including forehead temperature (pre: ρ = .282; post: ρ = .348, p ≤ .01), and Body Kapha with Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (ρ = .206, p ≤ .05). These findings suggest that biofield therapies such as Pranic Healing may be more effective when tailored to an individual's Ayurvedic constitutional type. However, this was a small pilot study without a control group and utilized convenience sampling from a single institution. Larger randomized controlled trials with diverse populations are needed to validate these preliminary results and establish causality.

Vinu Vijayakumar et al. (2024) · F1000Research

This preliminary study aimed to investigate the duration of biofield experiences and the relationship between learning styles and these sensations. Using a randomized placebo-controlled trial with 88 participants, the study found significant differences in biofield sensations between experimental and sham groups, with specific average times recorded for experiencing various sensations. The findings underscore the effectiveness of Master Choa Kok Sui's hand sensitization technique in eliciting biofield sensations. The study was a randomized controlled trial involving 84 healthy pre-service teachers aged 18-24, who were randomly assigned to either an experimental group practicing Master Choa Kok Sui's hand sensitization or a sham group performing similar but altered activities. The intervention included abdominal breathing, connecting the tongue to the palate, pressing the palms, and positioning palms facing each other while moving them slightly. Outcomes were measured using self-administered questionnaires, including the Learning Styles Questionnaire, Six Letter Cancellation Test, Ruler Drop Test, and Sensation of Hands Timing Questionnaire, assessing learning preferences, attention, reaction time, and experiences of sensations. The total duration of the practice was approximately 6 minutes, with three sessions of 120 seconds each. The primary outcome revealed that 81.81% of the experimental group reported magnetic sensations compared to 15.91% in the sham group (χ² = 38.247, p ≤ .001). Secondary outcomes indicated that 47.72% of the experimental group experienced physical sensations of energy versus 13.6% in the sham group (χ² = 12.02, p ≤ .001), while 93.18% of the sham group reported pain sensations compared to 9.09% in the experimental group (χ² = 62.259, p ≤ .001). Non-significant findings included no differences in BMI (p = .232), learning styles (all p > .5), and performance tests (SLCT p = .070, RT p = .917). Qualitative feedback highlighted feelings of calmness, improved respiration, and reduced stress, with no adverse events reported. The study indicates that hand sensitization can enhance the perception of biofield sensations, suggesting potential therapeutic benefits for physical and psychological well-being. Practitioners may consider incorporating biofield sensitization techniques into therapeutic practices to improve patient well-being. However, key limitations include the unstandardized questionnaire and the narrow age range of participants, which may affect the generalizability of the findings. Future research should explore the duration of biofield sensations and investigate the neuropsychological mechanisms underlying these experiences.

Shamini Jain et al. (2015) · Global advances in health and medicine

This study explores the concepts of consciousness and subtle energy within Indo-Tibetan philosophical and medical systems, aiming to enhance cross-cultural dialogue on the biofield. By examining the similarities and differences among Vedic, Jain, and Tibetan traditions, the research seeks to inform contemporary biofield science and improve understanding of health and healing practices. The integration of traditional knowledge with modern scientific methods is emphasized as a means to bridge the gap between ancient wisdom and contemporary health sciences. The study employs a descriptive analysis to investigate the relationship between ancient Indo-Tibetan systems and modern biofield science. It does not involve a specific intervention or treatment but rather focuses on the philosophical concepts related to consciousness and subtle energy. The research highlights the importance of introspective inquiry in these ancient systems, paralleling modern scientific findings in health and wellness. The objective is to foster deeper cross-cultural dialogue and enhance understanding of biofields through the exploration of these traditional concepts. The findings indicate that there are significant similarities and differences in the understanding of biofields across the three traditions studied. The authors suggest that integrating traditional diagnostic methods with contemporary biomarkers could inform treatment options and improve health outcomes. However, limitations include the need for more empirical studies to validate the proposed connections and the challenges of integrating diverse methodologies. The study aligns with previous research that has explored genetic and metabolic differences associated with traditional medicine systems, suggesting a valuable intersection between traditional and modern approaches. The implications of this research are significant for practitioners and researchers in health and healing. By incorporating holistic approaches and traditional diagnostic methods alongside modern biomarkers, practitioners may enhance health assessments and treatment options. Key limitations include the necessity for empirical validation of the proposed links and the challenges in integrating methodologies from Eastern and Western perspectives. Future research should focus on empirical investigations of biofield practices and their effects on health outcomes, particularly regarding the mechanisms of subtle energy interactions.

Luís Carlos Matos et al. (2021) · International journal of environmental research and public health

This narrative review examined how scientists have tried to measure what happens during non-contact energy healing practices such as Reiki, external Qigong, Therapeutic Touch, Healing Touch, and Johrei. These practices rest on the idea of a biofield — a proposed field of energy and information within and around the body — known in traditional systems as qi (the vital functional energy of Traditional Chinese Medicine), ki (its Japanese counterpart), or prana (the life force in Ayurvedic and yogic traditions). Practitioners work near the body, or even at a distance, holding a focused intention to support healing. Rather than running a new experiment, the authors gathered decades of quantitative studies and organized them by measurement strategy: physical detectors (electromagnetic, acoustic, and thermal instruments), chemical reaction dynamics, biological materials such as cultured cells and bacteria, living sensors like plants and seeds, and measurements taken on the human body itself. The collected findings are striking but inconsistent. One laboratory reported that external qi sped a glucose-oxidase chemical reaction by up to 400% from several meters away. A Reiki study found increased light emission and cartilage-related gene activity (collagen II and aggrecan, p < 0.05 — meaning unlikely due to chance) in cultured cells. One biofield treatment study reported 41% more cancer-cell death alongside 64% less death in healthy brain cells. Yet replication kept failing: an initial Qigong effect on cell growth (p = 0.036) vanished across 60 repeat experiments (p = 0.465), and Johrei produced no reproducible cellular response at all. A Brazilian team found laying-on-of-hands with inhibitory intention slowed bacterial growth (p = 0.002), but only when that specific intention was held. The honest picture: laboratory signals exist, replication is the field's central problem, and no clinical treatment claim can be made from this evidence. The authors call for standardized designs, ways to verify practitioner competence, and focused research on intention — useful directions for anyone following the science of energy healing.

Manasa Belal et al. (2023) · Global advances in integrative medicine and health

This systematic review synthesizes data from studies on perceptions of subtle pranic energy and the effects of biofield therapies, aiming to enhance understanding of their physical and emotional impacts. The research is significant as it bridges traditional healing practices with modern scientific inquiry, potentially benefiting integrative medicine. The study design involved a systematic review of qualitative and mixed-method research, analyzing nineteen relevant studies published between 1990 and 2022. The sample size varied across studies, focusing on individuals who reported experiences with subtle pranic energy. The intervention tested was not a specific treatment but included various biofield practices such as Reiki, Qigong, and Pranic Healing, with outcomes measured through qualitative interviews and surveys assessing physical, mental, and emotional changes. No specific duration or frequency was detailed as this was a review of existing studies. The meta-synthesis revealed significant experiences of pranic energy during biofield therapies, with participants reporting sensations of energy, including temperature variations and positive physical and psychological effects. Primary outcomes indicated that participants experienced awareness of pranic energy sensations, with no specific statistics provided. Secondary outcomes showed improvements in emotional well-being and physical comfort, although cognitive awareness during therapy did not demonstrate significant change. Qualitative findings highlighted participant-reported outcomes such as increased awareness of energy presence, physical sensations like warmth and tingling, and improved emotional well-being. Importantly, no adverse events were reported during the studies reviewed. The findings suggest that individuals across diverse demographics can benefit from biofield therapies, which may enhance mental and physical well-being. Practitioners could consider incorporating these therapies into their practices to improve patient outcomes. However, the study's limitations include a lack of rigorous empirical data to support personal reports of benefits and insufficient exploration of the mechanisms behind the reported sensations. Future research should focus on investigating these mechanisms and the relationships between different experiential themes to substantiate the therapeutic applications of biofield practices.