Stress

Sandra Utz et al. (2025) · Biomedicines

This prospective observational study followed 101 adults with long-standing fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) through a two-week integrative inpatient stay in Bamberg, Germany, with no control group. FMS is a chronic condition marked by widespread pain, fatigue, sleep problems, anxiety and depression, and the authors describe it as the third most common rheumatic disease. The program was built on classical European naturopathy: water-based therapies and heat, exercise, plant-based nutrition or medical fasting, herbal remedies and mind-body practices such as relaxation. The question was whether such a combined approach would ease symptoms at discharge and six months later. Of 134 patients who joined (127 women, ages 22 to 80), 101 returned questionnaires on admission, at discharge and after six months. During the stay they took part in meditative movement, physical therapy, hydrotherapy, lectures and cooking classes, and some had whole-body heat sessions or a 5-day fast on under 300 kcal a day. Pain, fatigue, anxiety, depression, stress and quality of life were measured with standard questionnaires (such as the HADS for anxiety and depression and the MFI-20 for fatigue) and compared over time with repeated-measures statistics. Overall pain intensity dropped from 71.5 to 63.0 on a 0-100 scale at discharge (a moderate effect, dz = 0.62) and was still lower at six months (64.4). Current pain fell sharply during the stay (6.56 to 4.37 out of 10) but crept back to 5.96 at six months. Fatigue improved from 71.1 to 63.3 and then partly returned (68.0). Anxiety and depression scores each fell by roughly 2.5 points at discharge and were still lower than baseline at six months. Stress and feelings of helplessness improved mainly after discharge, and mental quality of life rose between discharge and follow-up. Patients who fasted kept their pain gains at six months (p = 0.006), whereas non-fasters did not (p = 0.062), although this difference was borderline (interaction p = 0.050) and not randomised. The results come from an uncontrolled, single-centre sample in which a quarter of the participants did not complete the six-month questionnaire, so the changes cannot be attributed to the program alone. More than half the patients reported obstacles to continuing the methods at home, such as lack of time and exhaustion. The authors call for randomised trials with long-term follow-up and propose a follow-up day-clinic programme to help consolidate the learned self-management skills and everyday routines.

Lolita Rapolienė et al. (2026) · BMC complementary medicine and therapies

This multicenter randomized controlled trial of 243 analyzed adults in Lithuania explored whether a short course of balneotherapy, a spa-based therapy using mineral water, therapeutic mud and salt, eases stress, anxiety and depression. Balneotherapy has a long tradition in European spa towns and is increasingly discussed as a complementary approach to stress-related mental health problems. The researchers wanted to know whether an 11-day standardized program works, whether adding a nature walk or an inpatient stay changes the results, and whether benefits last six months. Adults aged 18 to 65 who rated their stress as moderate to high were assigned to one of four groups: outpatient balneotherapy (64 people), outpatient balneotherapy plus nature therapy (63), an inpatient balneotherapy stay (64), or a no-treatment control group (52). The daily program combined a pool session with light exercise, a warm mineral water bath, a 20-minute sapropel mud wrap and 25 minutes of salt therapy. Questionnaires measured stress, depression, anxiety, fatigue, sleep and daily functioning, and saliva samples tracked the stress hormone cortisol, at baseline, right after treatment, and after 3 and 6 months. Right after treatment, people in all three spa groups reported clear improvements. Stress intensity dropped by about 2.6 points on a 10-point scale (p < 0.001), and depression scores fell by 10.7 to 12.5 points on an 80-point scale (p < 0.001), compared with a 1.3-point change in the control group (p = 0.253, no real change). Anxiety, fatigue and sleep problems improved too: fatigue fell by 4.1 to 5.1 points on the 10-50 Fatigue Assessment Scale (p < 0.001) while the control group did not change (p = 0.775), sleep quality rose by about 2 points on a 10-point scale (p < 0.001), and cortisol fell significantly in two of the three groups. Many gains were still present at six months, strongest after the inpatient stay. About 15% of participants had mild skin reactions to the mineral water, and no serious adverse events occurred. The authors suggest balneotherapy could be a safe complementary option for stress. Important limits apply: the paper reports mainly within-group changes rather than direct group comparisons, controls received no treatment, participants knew what they were getting, many people dropped out by six months, spa resources differed by center, and some questionnaires were not formally validated in Lithuanian. The control group also reported lower stress intensity (-1.18 points, p < 0.001), which shows that part of the improvement occurred without treatment. Larger, longer trials are recommended.

Lei Yi et al. (2022) · Journal of translational medicine

This randomized controlled trial with 94 women explored whether a 12-week yoga program could ease symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD, a condition marked by intrusive memories, avoidance of reminders, and heightened arousal following a traumatic event) after a motor vehicle accident. All participants had PTSD tied specifically to a car, motorcycle, or pedestrian accident that occurred at least three months earlier. The intervention used Kripalu yoga, a style emphasizing gentle self-observation and the connection between mind and body rather than intensive physical exertion, compared against an active control condition built around social conversation and board games. Ninety-four women were randomly assigned to a yoga group (47) or control group (47); 37 and 39, respectively, completed the trial through a 3-month follow-up. The yoga group attended six 45-minute sessions across 12 weeks, practicing breath awareness, body-focused attention during postures, and tolerance of physical discomfort under a yoga instructor's guidance. The control group met on the same schedule for daily-life conversation and games. Psychological distress was measured with two self-report instruments, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21) and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), completed at baseline, immediately after the program, and three months later. After the program, the yoga group's total IES-R score, covering intrusion, avoidance, and hyperarousal symptoms, was significantly lower than the control group's (p = 0.01, meaning the difference was unlikely due to chance), with the difference concentrated in intrusion (p = 0.002) and avoidance (p < 0.001) rather than hyperarousal, which did not differ significantly. Intrusion and avoidance remained significantly lower in the yoga group three months later (p = 0.037 and p = 0.005). On the DASS-21, total distress scores were significantly lower in the yoga group both immediately after the program (p = 0.043) and at three-month follow-up (p = 0.024), with depression (p = 0.033, then p = 0.004) and anxiety (p < 0.001, then p = 0.035) each significantly reduced compared with control. The stress subscale of the DASS-21 showed no significant difference between groups at either timepoint. Both groups improved somewhat over time, including the control group, which the authors attribute partly to the social contact built into the comparison condition. The authors describe the results as preliminary evidence that a structured yoga program reduced depression, anxiety, and the intrusion and avoidance symptoms of PTSD in women following a motor vehicle accident, while finding no measurable effect on stress or hyperarousal. The trial enrolled a relatively small, single-site sample of Chinese women, tested only one yoga style, and relied entirely on self-report questionnaires rather than clinician-rated diagnostic measures. The authors point to comparing yoga styles and isolating which specific session components drive symptom change as directions for future research.

Waqar Husain et al. (2026) · Brain and behavior

This systematic review of 105 studies examined how religious and spiritual practices -- meditation, prayer, chanting, ritual, and mystical experience -- show up in brain scans. It pooled evidence across eight traditions (Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Santo Daime, Spiritism, Sant Mat, and mixed traditions) and seven brain-imaging methods, filling a gap left by earlier reviews that each covered only one practice or one faith. Neurotheology, the scientific study of how spiritual experience relates to brain function, asks whether these ancient practices leave a measurable, functional signature on the nervous system. Researchers searched three major databases from their earliest records through mid-2026 and found 450 candidate studies; after removing duplicates and screening for eligibility, 105 studies remained. Each had to study real human participants using an objective brain-measurement tool -- functional or structural MRI, EEG, MEG, PET, SPECT, or similar -- during an actual religious, spiritual, or contemplative practice, not passive exposure to religious words or images. Because the studies varied enormously in tradition, practice, and method, the team combined findings narratively rather than statistically averaging them. Meditation studies (the largest group, 35 studies) consistently found quieter activity in the brain's default mode network, the circuit active during mind-wandering and self-focused thought, alongside more efficient attention-related brain activity in long-term practitioners. Prayer (21 studies) activated brain regions used for understanding other people's minds when prayer was personal and improvised, suggesting the brain treats sincere prayer like a real conversation, and activated reward circuitry during peak spiritual feelings among some worshippers. Chanting and recitation (25 studies) calmed emotional brain circuits -- OM chanting, for example, reduced activity along the same pathway targeted by an approved medical nerve-stimulation therapy. Mental-health-relevant findings (14 studies) included a randomized trial in which loving-kindness meditation eased depression symptoms in diagnosed patients, and a mindfulness program that lowered stress-hormone levels months later. Eleven studies of unusual states -- near-death imagery, ayahuasca ceremonies, and trance -- showed the most widespread brain-network changes of any practice type. The review's authors state plainly that religious and spiritual practices are neurologically real, measurable behaviors, not just subjective reports, and that the brain circuits they engage overlap with those disrupted in depression, anxiety, and addiction. They stop short of claiming these practices treat any diagnosed condition, since most studies involved healthy volunteers rather than patients. The search covered only English-language, peer-reviewed studies, and the wide variety of traditions and methods meant the team could describe patterns but not calculate a single combined effect size.

Genxiang Mao et al. (2017) · International journal of environmental research and public health

This study asked whether older adults with chronic heart failure (CHF) — a serious condition where the heart struggles to pump blood effectively — might benefit from a short forest retreat. Thirty-six CHF patients aged 65 to 80 from Hangzhou, China, were split into two groups: most went on a 4-day trip to a forest park, while a smaller group stayed in an urban area, under otherwise matched conditions (food, activity, lodging). Both groups walked outdoors twice a day for about 90 minutes at a gentle, unhurried pace — safe enough that a nurse and doctor accompanied the walks — and avoided smoking, alcohol, and caffeine throughout the trip. Blood was drawn before and after to check heart-failure markers, blood vessel and hormone factors related to heart disease, inflammation, and antioxidant status, and everyone completed a standard mood questionnaire (POMS) before and after. After the forest trip, participants had a significantly lower level of BNP, a key blood marker doctors use to gauge heart-failure severity, compared with both their own starting level and the city group — whose BNP didn't change. The forest group also had lower endothelin-1 (a blood-vessel-constricting hormone linked to heart disease) and lower interleukin-6 (an inflammation marker) than the city group, along with signs of less oxidative cell damage. Mood improved significantly in the forest group too — less tension, depression, anger, and confusion — while the city group's mood stayed about the same. The forest site's air was dramatically cleaner: about 30 times more of the negative ions associated with fresher air, and a small fraction of the fine-particle pollution found in the city. These early results suggest that even a short, four-day forest trip may offer measurable benefits in people living with heart failure — studied as a complement to regular medical care, not a replacement for it. The study was small (33 people finished it) and short, tested in only one season, and can't fully separate the effect of the forest itself from other differences like travel, group size, or simply a change of routine. Larger, longer trials are needed before forest bathing becomes a standard recommendation for heart failure patients.

Aibo Li et al. (2025) · Frontiers in public health

This study tested whether spending three days in a forest could help lower blood pressure in older adults who already have essential hypertension (high blood pressure with no single identifiable cause). Thirty-six adults aged 60 to 80 with diagnosed hypertension took part: 24 went to a subtropical forest national park in China for a 3-day retreat, while 12 stayed in the city of Hangzhou following the same daily schedule, so researchers could compare the two settings directly. The forest group took part in daily gentle activities designed to immerse them in nature: eight trigrams boxing (a slow, breath-focused Qigong practice), a few hours of guided forest walking, a traditional tea ceremony, and a meditation session. Both groups ate the same meals and kept the same schedule. Before and after the trip, researchers measured blood pressure, heart rate, blood oxygen, heart-rate variability (a marker of nervous-system balance), several inflammation and stress-hormone markers in the blood, and mood using a standard questionnaire. After the trip, the forest group's blood pressure was significantly lower than the city group's, both the top number (systolic, ~134 vs. 147) and bottom number (diastolic, ~78 vs. 85). Inflammation, measured by a sensitive CRP blood test, was also significantly lower in the forest group. Heart-rate variability shifted in a pattern the researchers interpreted as a healthy autonomic-nervous-system adjustment for this population. On mood, the forest group reported significantly less tension and anxiety and significantly more energy and vitality than the city group; other mood measures trended better but weren't statistically significant. Heart rate, blood oxygen, and most other blood markers (IL-6, cortisol, oxidative-stress markers) didn't differ significantly between the groups. These results suggest a short forest retreat combining gentle nature-based activities may meaningfully help lower blood pressure, ease inflammation, and improve mood in older adults with hypertension, as a complement to standard care. Because the forest program bundled several practices together (forest walking, qigong, meditation, tea ceremony) and compared a larger forest group to a much smaller city group in a different location, it's hard to know how much came from the forest setting itself versus the other activities. The trial only lasted three days, so it can't say whether the benefits last, and larger, longer studies are needed before forest bathing becomes a standard recommendation for hypertension.

Hiroko Ochiai et al. (2025) · Scientific reports

This randomized controlled trial with 78 healthy men aged 40 to 70 explored whether walking through a forest affects immune function differently than walking through a city. The researchers focused on secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), an antibody found in saliva that forms part of the body's mucosal immune system — the first line of defense lining the nose, mouth, and airways against viruses and bacteria. They also tracked cortisol, the body's primary stress hormone, and mood, on the idea that stress and immune function are closely linked through the body's hormonal stress-response system. Eighty-four participants were randomly assigned to a 90-minute guided walk, either along a certified forest-therapy trail in a Tokyo forest park or an equivalent route through Tokyo's Ginza shopping district, walked in two 45-minute segments with a shared lunch. Guides kept pace, distance, and rest breaks consistent between groups and encouraged participants to engage their senses with surroundings appropriate to each setting. Saliva and blood were sampled before and after walking to measure sIgA, cortisol, and related markers, and mood was measured with the POMS2 questionnaire. Forest walking significantly increased salivary sIgA compared with urban walking (adjusted difference +32.1 µg/mL, 95% CI 2.3–62.0, meaning a real, though modest, immune-marker boost; p = .035). Cortisol dropped significantly more after the forest walk (p = .007, indicating a stronger stress-hormone reduction), and dopamine — linked to pleasure and motivation — rose more as well (p = .048). Mood benefited too: participants felt more energized (higher Vigor-Activity, p = .001) and less generally distressed (lower Total Mood Disturbance, p = .007) after the forest walk than after the urban walk. Interestingly, white blood cells and certain immune cell counts (CD4+ and CD8+ T cells) rose more after the urban walk, which the researchers link to the body reacting to city air pollution rather than a benefit of urban walking. No one experienced side effects, and everyone who started the walks finished them. These results suggest a single, unhurried forest walk can meaningfully support immune defenses and lower stress compared with an identical walk in the city, at an activity level gentle enough for most adults. The study only tested one walking session in healthy middle-aged and older Japanese men, so it can't say whether the benefits build with regular practice or extend to other groups. Participants and staff also knew which environment they were in, which could shape self-reported mood. Still, it adds solid evidence that time in nature is a low-risk way to support wellbeing.

Imran Amjad et al. (2025) · PloS one

This pragmatic randomized controlled trial with 106 adults explored whether chiropractic spinal adjustments change measurable biological markers, not just how patients feel. Researchers tracked three systems: neuroplasticity (the nervous system's capacity to adapt, measured via brain-derived neurotrophic factor or BDNF — a protein that supports brain and nerve health), stress response (measured through cortisol, the body's primary stress hormone, sampled from blood, saliva, and hair), and inflammation (tracked via cytokines like IL-6 and TNF-α, signaling proteins immune cells use to coordinate the body's inflammatory response). The goal was to see whether chiropractic care's known benefits for pain and function might trace back to changes at this biological level. Pain-free adults aged 20-60 with a history of recurrent (subclinical) spinal discomfort were randomly assigned to 12 weeks of chiropractic spinal manipulation — delivered about three times weekly by a registered chiropractor — or a closely matched sham procedure with no actual spinal thrust. Eighty-eight of the 106 enrolled completed the 12-week assessment. Blood, saliva, and hair samples were analyzed via laboratory immunoassay at baseline, 12 weeks, and a 16-week follow-up. Blinding worked well: 94% of participants in both groups believed they had received real chiropractic care. After 12 weeks, the chiropractic group showed meaningfully higher blood BDNF (up 150 units, p=0.009 — a strong statistical signal this wasn't due to chance) and higher IL-6 (p<0.001) than the sham group, alongside lower TNF-α at both 12 and 16 weeks (p=0.023 and p=0.028). The researchers interpret the IL-6 rise not as harmful inflammation but as a "myokine" effect — the same kind of signal muscles release after exercise — since it appeared alongside lower TNF-α and IFN-γ, the markers more classically tied to harmful inflammation. By 16 weeks, blood cortisol and IFN-γ were lower in the chiropractic group than sham, though this reflected the sham group's levels rising over that period more than a further chiropractic effect. Markers like CRP and several immune cell counts (CD4, CD8, CD56) showed no clear group differences. Only five participants reported mild, short-lived muscle soreness; no other adverse events occurred. This is among the first studies to track chiropractic's biological effects over months rather than single sessions, offering a possible mechanism — neuroplasticity, stress-hormone, and inflammation changes — behind chiropractic's reported clinical benefits. But the effects were modest, confidence intervals were wide, and the single-site Pakistani sample of 88 completers, with over 30% dropout by 16 weeks, limits how far these findings generalize. Larger trials that connect these biomarker shifts to actual pain relief and function are the next step.

John Kavanaugh et al. (2022) · International journal of environmental research and public health

This randomized controlled trial with 34 physicians and healthcare workers (24 in the forest-bathing group, 10 in a waitlist control group who took a day off instead) explored whether Shinrin-Yoku, Japanese for "forest bathing," a guided practice of mindfully sensing a forest environment rather than exercising through it, could ease professional burnout. Burnout was tracked with two validated tools: the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI), which scores exhaustion and disengagement from work, and the Mini-Z, a shorter survey of job satisfaction and burnout risk. Physician burnout affects an estimated 33-50% of doctors and was worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants, health sciences faculty and medical residents at a New Mexico teaching hospital, were randomized through REDCap. The intervention group completed a 3-hour guided walk of under half a mile through a pinon-juniper forest, led by certified Association of Nature and Forest Therapy guides: a 15-minute grounding exercise, several sensory "invitations" to notice their surroundings, a 20-minute solo "sit spot," and a closing gratitude circle with shared tea. Both groups completed the OLBI and Mini-Z before and after their respective activity. Burnout scores stayed high in both groups throughout: median OLBI and Mini-Z scores never dropped below established burnout thresholds, before or after the walk. On the OLBI, there was no significant difference between the forest-bathing group's before-and-after scores, or between the two groups afterward (meaning the walk did not measurably shift standardized burnout scores). The Mini-Z initially showed a significant post-walk improvement in the intervention group versus control, but after adjusting for multiple comparisons (a standard statistical correction to avoid false positives), that difference was no longer significant. Separately, 34% of all participants said they had some burnout symptoms and 12% said those symptoms never let up. Yet the subjective side told a different story: of 20 participants who wrote in after their walk, 19 described feeling calmer, more relaxed, more appreciative, or less anxious; only one felt no different. This gap, unchanged scores next to strongly positive accounts, suggests one forest-bathing session may ease momentary stress without touching the deeper, cumulative syndrome burnout scales measure. The study was small (34 completers of 56 enrolled, notable dropout) and unblinded, testing only a one-time session; the authors and Shinrin-Yoku's founders note the practice is meant to be ongoing, not a single dose. Larger trials of repeated forest-bathing over months are needed before it can be recommended as a standalone burnout treatment, though it may help as a short-term stress reliever alongside other care.

Katarzyna Janda et al. (2020) · Nutrients

This systematic review pooled nine randomised clinical trials to ask whether passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) helps with anxiety, sleep and related neuropsychiatric symptoms. Passionflower is a perennial climbing vine whose aerial parts, flowers and fruit are used medicinally, and whose activity is attributed to flavonoids such as apigenin and luteolin and to flavonoid glycosides including vitexin and isovitexin. The European Medicines Agency recognised it as a medicinal product in a 2014 herbal monograph. The review frames the problem as stress — the body's response to physical and psychological stressors, which becomes pathological when prolonged and can impair concentration and memory. The authors searched PubMed, Embase and ClinicalTrials.gov to October 2019 and screened 417 records down to nine trials run between 2017 and 2019, five of them in Iran. Participants were all adults, between 16 and 128 per trial, and eight of the nine trials enrolled healthy volunteers rather than diagnosed patients. Preparations varied widely — drops, tablets, syrup, a standardised extract and herbal tea — over periods from a single day to 30 days. Anxiety was measured with instruments including the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Corah Dental Anxiety Scale, sedation with the Ramsey scale, and sleep with polysomnography. Most trials found reduced anxiety, though the benefit was smaller in people whose anxiety was mild to begin with. In generalised anxiety disorder, 45 drops daily for 28 days matched oxazepam without impairing work performance. Before surgery, 500 mg tablets lowered anxiety more than oxazepam, and a 700 mg per 5 mL syrup given 30 minutes before spinal anaesthesia reduced anxiety with haemodynamics unchanged. Compared with midazolam before wisdom-tooth extraction, 260 mg gave similar calming with markedly less somnolence (50% versus 82.5%) and no amnesia at all, against 20% on midazolam — although more participants would still choose midazolam again (52% versus 27.5%), which the authors attribute to that same amnesia preventing negative memories. Herbal tea drunk nightly for a week improved self-reported sleep quality by 5.2% over placebo. No adverse effects, memory loss or collapse of psychometric function were reported anywhere in the review. The practical reading is that passionflower performs comparably to two established sedatives for procedural anxiety, with a different side-effect profile — less somnolence, no amnesia — which may matter where alertness is wanted afterwards. The evidence is genuinely limited, though: nine small trials, too heterogeneous to pool statistically, three of them rated low quality, and most never recorded which part of the plant was used. Its anxiolytic action is thought to work through the GABA system. Larger trials across more varied populations are needed before firm dosing guidance is possible.

Kiyoshi Suzuki et al. (2020) · Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.)

This study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of Okada Purifying Therapy (OPT), a biofield therapy, for symptom relief across diverse ethnicities and cultures. The research is significant as it addresses the unclear scientific understanding of biofield therapies and their potential benefits in improving physical and psychological well-being. The findings indicate that a majority of participants reported symptom improvement, particularly in Spanish/Portuguese speaking countries, while confirming the therapy's safety with low exacerbation rates. The study employed a cross-sectional design, involving 11,303 participants aged 16 and older from 14 countries, with no specific exclusion criteria. Participants received a single session of OPT, which lasted 30 minutes or longer, administered by certified practitioners. Outcomes were measured using self-reported questionnaires, including a demographic questionnaire, a 5-point Likert-type scale for symptom severity, and the MQL-10 questionnaire for quality of life assessment, all conducted before and after the OPT session. Results showed that 77.5% of participants reported overall symptom improvement (p < 0.0083), with the highest improvement rates observed in Chile/Peru (95.0%) and the lowest in Japan (72.3%). Secondary outcomes indicated that 75.6% reported improvement in physical pain, 78.4% in anxiety/depression, and 73.8% in dizziness/palpitation, all statistically significant (p < 0.0083). Non-significant findings included gender differences in symptom improvement (males 66.6% vs. females 78.3%, p = 0.051) and no significant age impact (p = 0.40). Adverse events were minimal, with 228 participants experiencing symptom exacerbation, none requiring emergency treatment. The authors suggest OPT may have a role as a noninvasive approach, particularly in culturally diverse settings. The authors note that cultural background appears to influence outcomes. Key limitations include the use of convenience sampling, potential biases in self-reported data, and the absence of a control group. Future research should aim to validate these findings with more rigorous methodologies and explore the underlying mechanisms of OPT's effectiveness.

Madhu Pandey et al. (2025) · Annals of neurosciences

This study explores the therapeutic benefits of 'Vancharya', a nature-based intervention, on the bio-field of young adults. The research involved 50 participants and aimed to assess the impact of this ancient practice on various subtle energy systems, revealing significant improvements in energy metrics and overall well-being. The findings suggest that 'Vancharya' could serve as a valuable therapeutic option for enhancing mental health among young adults. The study employed a non-experimental single-group pre- and post-research design with a sample size of 50 college students aged 17-19. Participants engaged in a seven-day intervention that included activities such as alternate nostril breathing, tree hugging, and listening to bird sounds, all conducted in a mango orchard setting. Outcomes were measured using a Biowell machine, which assessed parameters like aura field, chakra alignment, and stress levels before and after the intervention. Each session lasted one hour and occurred daily for seven consecutive days. Results indicated significant improvements in the aura field (AF: M pre = 36.94, M post = 44.82, t = −12.40, p < .001), overall chakra alignment (OCA: M pre = 63.52, M post = 79.72, t = −7.44, p < .001), and overall chakra energy (OCE: M pre = 4.16, M post = 5.07, t = −8.44, p < .001). However, stress levels (SL: M pre = 6.79, M post = 5.58, p = 1.000) and overall energy levels (OEL: M pre = 45.61, M post = 49.38, p = .133) did not show significant changes. Participants reported qualitative improvements such as enhanced emotional stability and clarity of thought, with no adverse events noted during the study. The findings suggest that 'Vancharya' may enhance emotional regulation and sleep quality among young adults, making it a potential addition to wellness programs aimed at addressing mental health issues. However, the study's limitations, including a small sample size and the lack of significant changes in stress levels, highlight the need for further research. The authors propose 'Vancharya' as a candidate component of mental health interventions, and call for longer intervention durations and more diverse populations to validate these results and understand the mechanisms involved.

Maxime Billot et al. (2021) · Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)

This brief opinion piece asked a practical pandemic-era question: when people with chronic pain cannot reach their usual care, could self-administered Reiki help fill the gap? Reiki is an energy healing practice in which a practitioner — or in this case, the person themselves — places hands on or near the body with the intention of supporting the body's own balance. The authors, pain researchers in France, note two things at once. First, practitioner-given Reiki has shown promising results in studies for reducing pain and psychological distress and improving quality of life. Second, the self-administered version has not been properly tested, and they say so plainly: self-Reiki "needs evidence-based medicine to be disseminated." There is no experiment here — no participants, no measurements, no statistics. The paper is a reasoned argument that self-Reiki is worth studying because it is free once learned, always available, requires no travel or contact, and would run alongside conventional pain treatment rather than replacing it. The takeaway is honest and small: a hypothesis worth testing, not a treatment recommendation. The sensible reading of this commentary is that self-Reiki is a low-risk practice some people with chronic pain report as helpful, while the clinical trials that would prove or disprove its benefit still need to be run.

Natalie L Dyer et al. (2023) · Global advances in integrative medicine and health

This pilot trial evaluated a remote Reiki program aimed at improving health-related quality of life for frontline healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study is significant as it addresses the urgent mental health challenges faced by healthcare professionals due to increased stress and anxiety during this crisis. The study employed a pragmatic within-subjects trial design, involving frontline healthcare professionals from the NHS in the UK, although the specific sample size was not calculated. Participants received distance Reiki sessions for 20 minutes each day over four consecutive days, facilitated by trained practitioners. Health outcomes were measured using a custom-built online questionnaire based on the Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile (MYMOP), assessing parameters such as stress, anxiety, pain, wellbeing, and sleep quality before and after the intervention. Results indicated significant improvements in primary outcomes, with stress decreasing from a median of 4.0 pre-intervention to 2.0 post-intervention (P < .001, r = .634), and anxiety also reducing from 4.0 to 2.0 (P < .001, r = .698). Secondary outcomes showed similar trends, with pain decreasing from 2.0 to 1.0 (P < .001, r = .630), wellbeing improving from 4.0 to 2.0 (P < .001, r = .578), and sleep quality improving from 4.0 to 3.0 (P = .019, r = .371). Qualitative feedback from participants highlighted experiences of improved sleep and reduced stress, with no adverse events reported during the study. The findings suggest that distance Reiki could be a valuable intervention for enhancing the health-related quality of life among healthcare workers, particularly during stressful periods like the COVID-19 pandemic. The study's limitations include a predominantly female sample and the absence of gender analysis, indicating the need for further research to confirm these results across diverse populations. The authors propose distance Reiki as a candidate component of wellness programs for healthcare professionals, and call for studies of the biological mechanisms underlying Reiki's effects and randomized controlled trials of its long-term efficacy.

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.

David Muehsam et al. (2015) · Global advances in health and medicine

The study provides an overview of biofield devices, which are instruments designed to measure or manipulate biofield interactions that influence biological functions and health outcomes. The significance of this research lies in its potential to enhance understanding of the interconnectedness of biological processes and psychosocial factors, thereby advancing clinical applications in health and wellness. The objective is to review existing biofield devices, particularly those supported by peer-reviewed evidence, to identify promising modalities for further investigation. The study emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary research to validate the efficacy and mechanisms of these devices. The methods employed in this study include a comprehensive review of existing biofield devices, focusing on those with peer-reviewed support. The review does not specify a sample size or participant characteristics, as it synthesizes findings from various studies rather than conducting original research. The intervention involves examining the operational mechanisms of different biofield devices and their therapeutic and diagnostic applications. Outcomes are measured through a qualitative assessment of the devices' mechanisms and their clinical implications, with an emphasis on the need for robust experimental protocols. The study highlights the importance of addressing methodological challenges in biofield research. The findings indicate that a variety of biofield devices exist, some with well-understood mechanisms and clinical applications, while others remain poorly understood. The authors interpret these findings as indicative of a biophysical basis for biofield coordination, suggesting that these devices can influence biological processes through subtle signaling. There are potential clinical implications, including the provision of low-cost, personalized diagnostic and therapeutic options. However, the study acknowledges significant limitations, such as the complexity of biofield interactions and the current lack of understanding regarding the mechanisms behind these modalities. Non-significant findings include the absence of specific statistical data, as the review synthesizes qualitative insights rather than quantitative results. In conclusion, biofield devices represent a significant advancement in biofield science, highlighting the need for further research and interdisciplinary collaboration. The development of these devices could lead to more personalized and humane medical practices, enhancing our understanding of interconnectedness within various biological systems. Future research should focus on systematic studies of biofield interactions and their implications for science and medicine. The study emphasizes the necessity for comprehensive investigations and sufficient funding to explore the potential of biofield devices effectively.

Sonia Zadro et al. (2022) · Frontiers in psychology

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Reiki over placebo in treating mental health symptoms, particularly focusing on anxiety, stress, and depression. Given the increasing prevalence of mental health disorders and the economic burden they impose, understanding the efficacy of Reiki could provide a safe and cost-effective treatment option. The findings suggest that Reiki may offer therapeutic benefits, although the overall evidence remains inconclusive due to the limited number of studies and concerns about bias. The study design was a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), including a total of 14 studies with participants aged 18 years or older, both healthy and those with mental health conditions. The intervention tested was hands-on Reiki, where practitioners used specific hand positions either touching or near the participants' bodies. Outcomes were measured using standardized mental health outcome measures, including anxiety, depression, and stress, utilizing validated questionnaires and scales. The duration and frequency of Reiki sessions varied across studies, with specific details not provided. Results indicated that Reiki significantly reduced state anxiety in knee replacement patients (p = 0.004, d = 0.93) and caregiver stress levels (p < 0.001, d = 2.3). Additionally, state and trait anxiety in fibromyalgia patients were significantly reduced after four sessions (p = 0.005 and p = 0.003, respectively). However, no significant differences were found in anxiety or depression for participants with normal mental health scores (anxiety p = 0.295; depression p = 0.102). Participants frequently reported feelings of relaxation and reduced stress levels after Reiki sessions, and no adverse effects were reported in any of the studies. The authors concluded that Reiki shows a moderate to high therapeutic effect on mental health symptoms compared to placebo, suggesting it could be integrated into treatment plans for patients experiencing anxiety, stress, and depression. However, the study is limited by the small number of studies, potential biases, and confounding variables affecting outcomes. Future research should focus on well-controlled double-blind experiments to isolate the mechanisms of Reiki and confirm its efficacy, particularly regarding dose-response relationships and long-term effects.

Janet M Marinelli et al. (2023) · Explore (New York, N.Y.)

This descriptive study with 14 participants explored what people experience during virtual energy healing — sessions held over Zoom, where the practitioner works with a client's biofield (the field of energy and information proposed to surround and permeate the body) while narrating aloud where their hands are working. The practice drew on Therapeutic Touch, Reiki, and Healing Touch, three energy healing methods that share grounding, clearing, and intention-setting for the client's highest good. Participants were members of a spiritually engaged community (average age 66) who each received one structured Zoom session from practitioners with decades of experience. Before and after, they rated their relaxation, well-being, and pain on a 1–10 scale, then answered open-ended questions about what they felt physically, emotionally, and spiritually. All three measures improved significantly. Relaxation rose from 5.0 to 7.9 (p = .0017 — unlikely due to chance), well-being from 5.9 to 8.0 (p = .0001), and pain dropped from 4.0 to 2.3 (p = .004). Just as telling were the six themes in participants' descriptions: embodied sensations such as tingling, warmth, and perceived colors; deep relaxation; release of worries; peace and calm; connection to themselves, others, and something larger; and outright surprise that it worked — several reported feeling the practitioner's hands on their body from miles away. Thirteen of fourteen said they would do it again. The honest caveats matter: there was no control group, the sample was small and spiritually inclined (likely to report favorably), and the design cannot show that energy healing caused the changes rather than relaxation, expectation, or attention. What the study does establish is that virtual delivery is experienced as real and satisfying, including by older adults — a useful foundation for controlled efficacy research on remote energy healing.

Mahendra Kumar Trivedi et al. (2024) · Health psychology research

This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study provides evidence on the effectiveness of distant biofield energy healing for psychological and mental health-related symptoms. The study involved 114 participants (55 male, 59 female) who exhibited one or more psychological symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, and cognitive impairment. Participants were divided into three groups: a biofield intervention group, a control group, and a sham control group. The biofield intervention group received two sessions of distant energy healing, while the other groups received similar treatments to control for baseline responses. Results indicated that the biofield intervention group experienced significant improvements in psychological symptoms, with a p-value of less than 0.0001, suggesting a strong statistical significance. This means that the improvements observed were unlikely to be due to chance. Participants reported reductions in fatigue, sleep disturbances, anxiety, and emotional trauma, among other symptoms. Importantly, no adverse effects were reported in any of the groups throughout the trial, indicating that the biofield therapy was safe. These findings point to distant biofield energy healing as a possible complementary approach in mental health, on this study's evidence. However, it is essential to note that this study was conducted at a single center with a relatively small sample size, which may limit the generalizability of the results. Future research with larger, more diverse populations is necessary to confirm these findings and explore the mechanisms behind the observed effects. In summary, this study suggests distant biofield energy healing may improve mental health and overall quality of life measures; the authors frame it as a complement to conventional treatment.