In the News: ‘Scientific evidence proves why healers see the “aura” of people’

I stumbled across this post from Psypost entitled “Scientific evidence proves why healers see the ‘aura’ of people,” published May 5, 2012.  The post says that researchers at the University of Granada have been able to explain the claims of healers of being able to see the aura around people.

I am all for scientific research and curiosity.  If eventually science is able to explain the aura and other such things, then great.  That’s fine and dandy.  However, I have some serious doubts that this “scientific evidence” holds much credence.  Not only does it sound as if the “research” extends to nothing more than interviews with “healers,” but there does not seem to be any measurable scientific evidence presented at all–at least in this posting. I’m no scientist, but from what I understand of scientific research, you need quantifiable data to examine, and it sounds like their “data” is taking the word of people who claim to be healers and able to see the aura.

University of Granada researchers affirm that healers present synesthesia, a neuropsychological phenomenon involving a “mingling” of the senses. The results of this study have been published in the prestigious journal Consciousness and Cognition. The authors remark the significant “placebo effect” that healers have on ill people.

I do believe it’s possible to see auras.  I do believe healers exist and that energy healing exists.  I couldn’t do what I do in spells if I didn’t believe it’s possible to manipulate energy to achieve a specific goal.  Sure, it sounds crazy.  I’m fully aware of how utterly quacked it sounds, as are a number of people I know who work spells.  It sounds mad.  But I also can’t deny that I and others have achieved results by working energy.  The aura is basically a type of energy field.  It’s not a leap for me to go from working spells to seeing the aura (although I, at present, cannot).  I would trust this research a lot more if they had included data from aura photographers.  Those who have been in that business for many years would be able to give scientists boatloads of data, I’m sure.  Then include the healers.  But then they would also have to define what a healer is, what “healing” means, what “aura” is, and so on.  I don’t know if these researchers did any of this–I haven’t been able to get my hands on the original paper–but it doesn’t sound as if they did.

My point here, I suppose, is that science is more than welcome to attempt to prove things like auras, ghosts, ESP, and all the rest, but if they’re going to do so, then stick to actual science and proper scientific method.

Medicine and Healing

Conventional medicine is used by the majority of people in this country.  However, some people completely shun conventional medicine (i.e., doctors, hospitals, pills of any kind, etc.) in favor of holistic healing and natural medicine.  Others make an attempt to combine the two.

I lean more toward the third option of combining the two.  My personal choice is that conventional medicine and alternative medicine both have their place, and both have benefits and drawbacks.  That’s the position I choose for myself.

I do personally know some people who shun modern medicine, usually from a sense of great distrust.  The recent upheavals in the economy and health care industry likely have not helped matters at all.  And that’s fine for them to make that choice.  If they don’t want to see a doctor, I certainly will not force them or condemn them for the choice.  I may not agree, but it’s not my life, so I don’t have to.  However, I do take issue with those people who choose to not see a doctor for themselves but make the same choice for children who cannot make the choice for themselves or for elders who are old enough to make the choice, but may not be in a position to get themselves to the doctor without aid.

There is something to be said for not using modern medicine.  Modern medicine largely seems to consist of drugs and overmedication, which causes problems when it comes to viruses, for example.  There is also a danger with prescription medicine abuse.  That being said, herbs used for medicinal purposes can sometimes pose similar problems in that they can be used improperly, overused, and even abused, though that last is more difficult to do with herbs.

I understand the desire to not want to mess with modern medicine and operate only from alternative/complementary medicines.  A relative of mine does that.  She never goes to a doctor; doesn’t trust them.  And I have used alternative medicine options such as chiropractors, hypnotism, energy and color therapy, etc.

For me, the alternative-only approach doesn’t work.  It’s not something I would recommend.  I have migraines, for one, and I have yet to find an approach that takes care of them completely.  Usually I have to combine solutions.  In addition, birth control is a necessity for me in order to get through a cycle without ripping my uterus from my body.  Probably more information than you wanted to know–sorry–but it’s the truth, and it’s the biggest example I can think of for why modern medicine is required in my life.

As for those people who never go near complementary medicine, they could be missing out on something beneficial.  What falls under complementary medicine?  In many states, massage, acupuncture, chiropractors, reiki, herbal treatment and supplements, Eastern treatments and energy therapies, color therapy, hypnotism, and more fall under the label “alternative or complementary medicine.”  Massage can be great to help you relax, if you don’t mind strangers touching you (I mind, so massage doesn’t work that great for me).  Reiki and herbal treatments can sometimes be beneficial, depending on what you’re using them for.  But going the no-alternatives approach, those people could be ignoring possible beneficial therapies that can complement the conventional approach.

I also have relatives who would never be caught dead at an acupuncturist or chiropractor.

So that’s just my brief expression of opinion on the matter.  I can see both sides of the arguments for or against modern and complementary medicines.  When people ask me for advice, I usually tell them to go to a doctor first and go to alternative medicines second, especially if it’s an emergency or a life-or-death situation.

A short description of alternative medicine from the NIH: here.

Regulating Metaphysical Practitioners

I was recently forwarded a post on a message board that discussed a new law potentially coming up in Maryland that would lump all alternative healing practitioners (e.g., chiropractors, acupuncturists, life coaches, Reiki, etc.) under the authority and regulation of the nursing board.

While I do agree that some form of regulation needs to be in place to counter frauds and to ensure safe and healthy practices, this regulation seems illogical and harmful.  Not only is the bill not well-worded–some key terms are left undefined, such as “team relationship” (what the hell does that mean??)–but it would require anyone who gives counsel, aids in rehabilitation, administers treatment or medication, or promotes preventive measures in community health to be licensed by the Nursing Board.  If you’re not licensed, you can’t practice.

This language is terribly broad, as someone else pointed out:

“The language of the bill is so broad that it would require breathworkers, midwives, doulas, herbalists, life coaches, sound/music therapists, art and poetry therapists, movement, dance, and eurythmy therapists, samyama healing practitioners, meditation teachers, acupuncturists, massage therapists, bodyworkers (reiki, zero balancing, rolfing, etc.) yoga therapists, ayurvedic consultants, counselors and other practitioners of alternative healing arts to become registered nurse practitioners and meet all requirements set by the Nursing Board. Many believe that the Nursing Board could arbitrarily set higher standards for non-Western medical arts as a way to push out alternative healing practitioners.”

This bill sounds like a terrible idea to me.  It’s so broad, and its terms so vague, that it encompasses a great number of people who are practicing safely, and who are practicing something that would never, in a sane world, be classified under “nursing.”  Most of these kinds of people have accreditation or training through some kind of board, or are licensed through some organization, and those licensing organizations tend to police their own and have their own sets of rules.  Why is that not enough?

Yes, there are frauds out there, and yes, there are those who don’t do everything they should to practice safely and in the best interests of the client.  However, that doesn’t mean that the entire alternative health community needs to be lumped under a bill like this and essentially chased out of business.

Regulation does need to exist.  For example, some counties in Maryland regulate tarot readers, to mitigate fraud.  It’s a fair idea, and the fee for the permit to practice is fairly reasonable.  However, a bill like the one proposed above does not regulate alternative options for health treatment–it shuts down those options and chases alternative practitioners out of town.

EDIT: Here are links to the MD House version of the bill and the MD Senate version of the bill, both in PDF form.