Dear Sastra: 

Some very good points. 

I’m going to include the journal abstracts below because of complaints that others can’t find them.  Would something like acupuncture be proof of an energetic field?  There are hundreds of randomized studies and dozens of separate Cochrane reviews, only a couple of which gave definitive positive recommendations.  But if acupuncture is proof of an energetic field, then we need go no further.

The Mayo clinic has done an analysis of the acupuncture reviews (yes, it’s an alt. med. journal article, but look who did the analysis) and concluded that the methodology used to even find studies varies.  It is a constant problem that alternative medical treatments are not categorized efficiently on medline.  They may show up with studies and drug interactions under the specific herb, but not show up when searching more broadly. 

If acupuncture doesn’t work for you, what about prayer?  The difficulty with prayer studies is listed out as the problem is getting people to not pray for the control group.   I’m most fascinated with the negative prayer studies, where those prayed for did worse than the control group.  I already cited the current problems with the Cochrane on this subject. 

Your most interesting point was why aren’t physicists interested in the energy fields?  I know many of them are, and there are many discussions online, but I’m going to limit myself to medline.

We all know that the human body gives off energy as heat, and we can detect the human body’s electrical field in a number of ways (EKGs, people).  So has anyone attempted to measure the human energy field using say, actual equipment rather than a child’s hands as Barrett did?

Yes.  (Abstracts are included below)

It turns out some people can alter their electrical output dramatically.  “One subject emitted a magnetic field at the level of 200-300 mT (2-3 mGauss) and the other at 0.13 mT (1.3 mGauss). In both cases, moreover, the magnetic needle compass rotated 30 degrees (this was tested 32 times). When the rotation of the needle occurred, a reproducible magnetic field of 800-1500 mT (8-15 mGauss) was indicated on the digital measuring device (this was tested 12 times). It is concluded that traditional Oriental Qi Gong breathing appears to stimulate an unusually large biomagnetic field emission.”

In an earlier study, the researchers checked 37 people who claimed to be able to do the changes and found that:  “The only 3 subjects of them exhibited strong bio-magnetic field of 2 to 4 mGauss in frequency range of 4 to 10 Hz. This magnetic field strength was greater than that of normal human bio-magnetism by 1,000 times at least.”  So a lot more people think they can do it than actually can. 

So people can make their bodies emit fields, does it have any effect?  How about tested on wound healing?  “At the lowest level DNA* was significantly lower when both fields were present than would be expected from the effects of either field alone. At the highest level, DNA* was significantly higher. There were no significant effects for medium field strengths.”

Ahhh, a test tube effect, but will it have any effect on people?  Cochrane analysis of fibromyalgia:  “Within a multicomponent therapy setting, selective CAM therapies (acupuncture, vegetarian diet, homeopathy, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, music-oriented and body-oriented therapies) can be recommended for a limited period of time.”

 J Altern Complement Med. 2005 Aug;11(4):719-22.

Cochrane systematic reviews in acupuncture: methodological diversity in database searching.

Sood A, Sood R, Bauer BA, Ebbert JO.

Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. Sood.amit@mayo.edu

Comment in:

J Altern Complement Med. 2005 Aug;11(4):723-4.

BACKGROUND: Since the early 1970s, the efficacy of acupuncture for treating clinical conditions has been evaluated in several hundred randomized trials. Results from these trials have been synthesized in systematic reviews. A well-designed systematic review provides the highest level of evidence for establishing the efficacy of a clinical intervention. OBJECTIVES: The present study assesses the source of original literature contributing to Cochrane reviews on acupuncture. Databases searched to retrieve original studies are evaluated. The distribution of controlled trials in acupuncture across different topic areas and journals, the ability of the reviews to provide conclusive results, and the proportion of original studies indexed with MEDLINE are evaluated. METHODS: Systematic reviews on acupuncture were extracted from the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. The key search term used was "acupuncture." When more than one systematic review was retrieved on the same topic, the most recent review was included. Indexing of individual clinical trials with MEDLINE was searched using the Single Citation Matcher in PubMed. RESULTS: A total of 94 papers were retrieved from the Cochrane database, of which 10 were included in the analysis. The most common subject areas were related to chronic pain. Considerable heterogeneity was observed in the number of databases searched (median 5, range 3-12). A total of 69% (74/108) papers were indexed with PubMed. Only 13% (14/108) of the papers were published in the primary acupuncture journals. Conclusive statements about the efficacy of acupuncture were made in only 2 of the 10 systematic reviews. CONCLUSIONS: Considerable methodological diversity exists in the comprehensiveness of database searches for Cochrane systematic reviews on acupuncture. This diversity makes the reviews prone to bias and adds another layer of complexity in interpreting the acupuncture literature.

PMID: 16131298

J Med Ethics. 2006 Aug;32(8):487-90.

Just another drug? A philosophical assessment of randomised controlled studies on intercessory prayer.

Turner DD.

Department of Philosophy, Connecticut College, 270 Mohegan Avenue, New London, CT 06320, USA. derek.turner@conncoll.edu

The empirical results from recent randomised controlled studies on remote, intercessory prayer remain mixed. Several studies have, however, appeared in prestigious medical journals, and it is believed by many researchers, including apparent sceptics, that it makes sense to study intercessory prayer as if it were just another experimental drug treatment. This assumption is challenged by (1) discussing problems posed by the need to obtain the informed consent of patients participating in the studies; (2) pointing out that if the intercessors are indeed conscientious religious believers, they should subvert the studies by praying for patients randomised to the control groups; and (3) showing that the studies in question are characterised by an internal philosophical tension because the intercessors and the scientists must take incompatible views of what is going on: the intercessors must take a causation-first view, whereas the scientists must take a correlation-first view. It therefore makes no ethical or methodological sense to study remote, intercessory prayer as if it were just another drug.

PMID: 16877631

Acupunct Electrother Res. 1996 Jul-Dec;21(3-4):219-27.

Emission of extremely strong magnetic fields from the head and whole body during oriental breathing exercises.

Hisamitsu T, Seto A, Nakazato S, Yamamoto T, Aung SK.

Department of Physiology, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.

This article reports the result of an experiment that was designed to measure the biomagnetic field emanating from two individuals who were practising traditional Oriental Qi Gong breathing exercises. The biomagnetic field was measured with differential coils wound 80,000 turns, a magnetic needle compass and a digital electromagnetic wave detection device. It was found that an extremely strong magnetic field was emitted from the two individuals. One subject emitted a magnetic field at the level of 200-300 mT (2-3 mGauss) and the other at 0.13 mT (1.3 mGauss). In both cases, moreover, the magnetic needle compass rotated 30 degrees (this was tested 32 times). When the rotation of the needle occurred, a reproducible magnetic field of 800-1500 mT (8-15 mGauss) was indicated on the digital measuring device (this was tested 12 times). It is concluded that traditional Oriental Qi Gong breathing appears to stimulate an unusually large biomagnetic field emission.

PMID: 9051169

Acupunct Electrother Res. 1992;17(2):75-94.

Detection of extraordinary large bio-magnetic field strength from human hand during external Qi emission.

Seto A, Kusaka C, Nakazato S, Huang WR, Sato T, Hisamitsu T, Takeshige C.

Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan.

It is generally accepted that more than 10(-6) gauss order magnetism was not detected in normal human condition. However, we detected 10(-3) gauss (mGauss) order bio-magnetic field strength from the palm in special persons who emitted External Qi ("Chi" or "Ki"). This detection was possible by special arranged magnetic field detection system, consisted of a pair of 2 identical coils with 80,000 turns and a high sensitivity amplifier. Each of the coils were rolled 80,000 turns accurately, and were connected in series in opposite direction, actuating as a gradiometer. We measure bio-magnetic field strength in 37 subjects with this detection system. The only 3 subjects of them exhibited strong bio-magnetic field of 2 to 4 mGauss in frequency range of 4 to 10 Hz. This magnetic field strength was greater than that of normal human bio-magnetism by 1,000 times at least. A simultaneous measurement of bio-magnetic field strength and its corresponding bio-electric current was examined in one subject. During exhibiting such strong bio-magnetism, its corresponding electric current was not detectable. Therefore, the extra-ordinary large bio-magnetic field strength can not derive from internal body current alone, hence the origin of the large bio-magnetism is still unknown. We suppose that the extraordinary large bio-magnetic field strength might be originated from "Qi" energy in the oriental medicine or in the oriental traditional philosophy.

PMID: 1353653

Lens Eye Toxic Res. 1989;6(1-2):43-58.

Bio-effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (60 Hz.) on the healing of corneal epithelial wound: an in vitro study.

Basu PK, Menon IA, Chipman M, Avaria M, Hasany SM, Wiltshire JD.

Department of Ophthalmology, University of Toronto, Ontario.

The organ cultures of standardized epithelial wound of rabbit cornea, were exposed to electric and magnetic fields components of the extremely low frequency (60 Hz) sinusoidal electromagnetic field, separately or in combination. The electric field was applied as a pure electric current via an agar-salt bridge, and the magnetic field component was applied as a pure polarized magnetic field by means of a pair of energized coils in a Helmholtz configuration. The two field components were at right angles to each other and in phase (phi = 0 degrees) when applied in combination. Their vectors or planes of polarization were parallel to the surface of the culture dish. The three exposure combinations used were: a) electric current density of 0.19 V/m (30 microA/cm2) and/or magnetic fields strength of 1.0 Gauss. (low intensity) b) electric current density of 0.31 V/m (50 microA/cm2) and/or magnetic fields strength of 1.5 Gauss. (medium intensity) c) electric current density of 0.57 V/m (90 microA/cm2) and/or magnetic fields strength of 2.5 Gauss. (high intensity). After 2 days of exposure the incorporation of radiolabelled thymidine into DNA of the regenerating epithelial cells was determined. Results showed thymidine incorporation (adjusted by regression for differences in the levels of DNA in corneal wound) (DNA*) depended upon the electromagnetic field strength. The only significant effect on this outcome, was an interaction effect between the electric (E) and magnetic (M) fields employed. The size and direction of this interaction depended strongly on the maximum field strengths. At the lowest level DNA* was significantly lower when both fields were present than would be expected from the effects of either field alone. At the highest level, DNA* was significantly higher. There were no significant effects for medium field strengths.

PMID: 2488033

Schmerz. 2008 Jun;22(3):324-33.

[Alternative and complementary therapies in fibromyalgia syndrome]

[Article in German]

Langhorst J, Häuser W, Irnich D, Speeck N, Felde E, Winkelmann A, Lucius H, Michalsen A, Musial F.

Klinik für Innere Medizin V, Naturheilkunde und Integrative Medizin, Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Am Deimelsberg 34a, 45276 Essen. jost.langhorst@gmx.de

INTRODUCTION: Interdisciplinary S3 level guidelines were devised in cooperation with 8 medical, 2 psychological and 2 patient support groups. Results were elaborated in a multilevel group process. METHODS: On the bases of the "Cochrane Library" (1993-2006), "Medline" (1980-2006), "PsychInfo" (2006) and "Scopus" (2006) controlled studies and meta-analyses of controlled studies were analyzed. RESULTS: Only few controlled studies were found supporting in part the effectiveness of CAM therapies in the treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome. Due to the lack of information on long term efficacy and cost-effectiveness, only limited recommendations for CAM therapies can be given. CONCLUSION: Within a multicomponent therapy setting, selective CAM therapies (acupuncture, vegetarian diet, homeopathy, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, music-oriented and body-oriented therapies) can be recommended for a limited period of time.

PMID: 18463899