Healing Intention and Energy Medicine

This book is a true treasure for anyone with a serious interest in healing, particularly researchers. In numerous dedicated chapters written by (mostly) US experts, much light is thrown on virtually every aspect of healing. Much emphasis is placed on reviewing the results of rigorous clinical trials. Thus, several chapters are devoted to systematic reviews of particular healing practices. The overall conclusions are often positive – more positive than sceptics are likely to tolerate. One can therefore predict that this book will be criticised. For example, most (if not all) of the work towards this book was funded by a donation of Laurence S Rockefeller. Critics would prefer more independent support, and perhaps Mr Rockefeller is an evangelistic believer in healing. The true question, however, is whether or not there is evidence for bias. I did not find much! Of course, one always finds certain terminologies that one would have put differently. But the data are presented fairly and accurately, as far as I can see. My unit has published two trials of healing, neither of which demonstrated efficacy. I am pleased to report that first, these trials are repeatedly mentioned, and second, their results are not distorted by the authors of this book. This is certainly better than other texts in this area have been.

In conclusion, this book is a useful resource for people who are interested in the facts about healing, and this includes the sceptics.