title: Effect of Spiritist "passe" (Spiritual healing) on growth of bacterial cultures.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Biofield therapies are approaches that harness energy fields to influence the human body. These therapies encompass Reiki, Qigong, Therapeutic Touch, Johrei and Spiritist "passe", among others. The aim of this study was to evaluate bacterial growth in two groups of cultures subjected to biofield therapy (Spiritist "passe" and laying on of hands (LOH)) in four situations (no intention, intention to inhibit bacterial growth, intention to promote growth, and influence of a negative factor) and compare them with a "no LOH/no treatment" group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bacterial cultures (Escherichia coli ATCC) were randomized and allocated into three groups: Spiritist "passe", "LOH", and "no LOH". Bacterial growth was assessed using the McFarland Nephelometer Scale. A One-way ANOVA was performed to determine group differences in bacterial growth at 48h, and at 1 week after each situation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 11 Spiritist "passe" healers, 10 LOH laymen and "no LOH" tubes were assessed. Under the intention to inhibit bacterial growth condition, statistically significant differences were found between the Spiritist "passe" and "no LOH" Groups (p=0.002 after 48h, and p=0.008 after one week) and also between the Spiritist "passe" and "LOH" Groups (p=0.005 after 48h, and p=0.009 after one week). No statistically significant difference was detected for the other situations tested (no intention, intention to promote growth and influence of a negative factor).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We concluded that Spiritist "passe" effectively inhibited growth in bacterial cultures compared to LOH with intention or no LOH. Further studies comparing different intentions and types of LOH in cultures of cells and microorganisms are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Brazil; São Paulo Medical Spiritist Association, Brazil; Santa Casa of São Paulo, Brazil; João Evangelista Hospital, Brazil. Electronic address: g.lucchetti@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lucchetti
authors.forename: Renata Ferreira
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Juliane Piasseschi de Bernardin
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Suely Mitoi Ykko
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Lycia Mara Jenne
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Mimica
authors.forename: Alessandra Lamas Granero
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Lucchetti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000254:growth & development; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D050296:Microbial Viability; D008875:Middle Aged; D011897:Random Allocation; D026443:Spiritual Therapies; D019124:Therapeutic Touch
keywords: Bacteria; Biofield therapies; Passe; Spiritism; Therapeutic touch