title: Effects of healing touch in clinical practice: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials.
abstract: Hands-on healing and energy-based interventions have been found in cultures throughout history around the world. These complementary therapies, rooted in ancient Eastern healing practices, are becoming mainstream. Healing Touch, a biofield therapy that arose in the nursing field in the late 1980s, is used in a variety of settings (i.e., pain centers, surgical settings, and private practices) with reported benefits (i.e., decreased anxiety, pain, and depressive behaviors; increased relaxation and a sense of well-being). However, clinical trial data concerning the effectiveness of Healing Touch have not been evaluated using a systematic, evidence-based approach. Thus, this systematic review is aimed at critically evaluating the data from randomized clinical trials examining the clinical efficacy of Healing Touch as a supportive care modality for any medical condition.
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0782, USA.
authors.forename: Joel G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Ann Gill
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D018939:Holistic Nursing; D006801:Humans; D009736:Nursing Process; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000451:nursing*; D019124:Therapeutic Touch / Q000451:nursing*