We share the story of Deborah D. Miller, PhD., helping children with cancer using EFT. She finds it benefits kids, families, & caregivers.

In this blog, we share stories from the treatment room, describing how energy psychology can help alleviate the emotional effects of cancer.

An overview of the research from around the world shows that energy psychology tools help with the emotional effects of cancer.

energy psychology tools may be uniquely positioned to help alleviate the emotional distress of people with cancer.

A study by Terri Crudup and her colleagues was published by the online Journal of Oncology in January of 2022. The study examined the relationship between patient survival and the treating hospitals’ use of integrative therapies. While some studies have looked at the subjective wellbeing of patients using some of these therapies, this study is the first to look at institutional endorsement of integrative therapies and patient survivorship.  In this study, patients in hospitals that had low- to mid-level use of integrative therapies had triple the 5-year survivorship of those treated at institutions that had low level use of integrative therapies. Significantly, patients treated in hospitals with high levels of integrative therapies had a 48% increase in 5-year survivorship.

A study by Shamini Jain that was published in the journal Cancer in 2012 looked at biofield therapy to address fatigue in cancer patients. They found biofield therapy significantly reduced fatigue (p<.0005; that means there is less than a 5 in 10,000 chance that the difference was not because of the therapy). The theory Jain and her team noted that fatigue is one of the most common and debilitating complaints of people with cancer. Additionally, they noted that biofield therapy (treatments like Reiki and Healing Touch) are popular among cancer patients, but there is little research about the effectiveness of these therapies. They wondered if biofield therapy could be helpful for fatigue in cancer patients. This study was a follow-up to Jain’s published dissertation, which we blogged about in March 2022. The study setup The study was a blinded, randomized, controlled study. Participants were adult, female breast cancer survivors. Participants used RAND 36-Question Health Survey. Those scoring below 50 on the assessment qualified for participation. Study conditions were biofield therapy, mock therapy, and a waitlist control group. Researchers offered participants in the mock and waitlist groups five biofield therapy sessions. Over the course of four weeks, patients received eight hourlong treatments of biofield therapy or mock healing. Measures Fatigue: The primary outcome researchers assessed was fatigue, measured by the Multidimensional Fatigue Symptom Inventory – Short Form. Cortisol variability: Researchers also examined diurnal cortisol variability, assessed by cortisol slope. Salivary cortisol levels were measured. Participants took saliva samples in the morning, at noon, at 5:00 and at 9:00. Other psychological outcomes: The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale-revised measured depression. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B) measured quality of life. Researchers also assessed patients’ belief in the therapy to see how much belief affected results. Study results Belief: Patients in the real and mock healing groups were not good at guessing what treatment they received: in both groups, 75% of patients thought they were receiving the real healing. Fatigue: The biofield healing group received a tremendous reduction in fatigue, as mentioned. The mock healing group also received a statistically significant reduction in healing (p<.02). Cortisol: The biofield group had a significant change in cortisol variability compared to both the mock healing and control groups (p<.04). Quality of life: While belief did not predict fatigue or cortisol variability, it did predict quality of life. Patients who believed they were receiving healing experienced a greater quality of life; belief itself was more a predictor than treatment (p=.004). Depression: There was no difference in depression scores after treatment in either treatment group (biofield or mock therapy). How much of the reduction was because of rest? Both biofield and mock healing groups experienced reduced fatigue, which indicates that part of the benefit may come from factors outside the biofield therapy itself. Both groups had a chance to rest twice a week for an hour at a time during the study. It is possible that basic human touch and clinical interaction also contributed to the fatigue reduction. However, the difference between the biofield and the mock group was large. The biofield group received a larger effect size in reduction of total fatigue, as well as on the physical and mental fatigue subsets. Why this study matters Biofield therapies are increasingly popular and have gained traction in the cancer community. However, the research supporting these therapies has not grown as quickly as their popularity warrants. This study adds to the research supporting biofield therapy as an adjuvant therapy for cancer. If you like reading about research in the field of energy psychology, follow our blog and check out the research section of our web site. If you want to contribute to the research, please do! ACEP has partnered with Peta Stapleton of Bond University to collect data on various energy psychology modalities. You can read more about it here . Shamini Jain is a clinical psychologist, scientist, and founder and CEO of the Consciousness and Healing Initiative (CHI) , a nonprofit connecting scientists, health practitioners, innovators, and social entrepreneurs to advance the science and practice of healing. She is a leader in the field of consciousness, biofield therapy, and healing. Jain is the author of Healing Ourselves: Biofield Science and the Future of Health . Author Sarah Murphy, LPC, NCC is a clinician in private practice. She also serves as staff therapist for Unite for HER. Sarah serves on the board and chairs the communications committee of ACEP. She loves blogging about research. Photo by Mel Elías on Unsplash

Editor's Note: This blog is based on Shamini Jain's dissertation. An updated article by the author was published in the journal Cancer in 2012 . You can access that article here . Our recent blog about Reiki for cancer patients generated a lot of interest. Today, we're taking a deeper dive into the research. Here we examine one study , a dissertation by Shamini Jain which was published in 2009. In this study, Jain compared biofield therapy to mock healing for breast cancer patients, examining various psychological measures as well as markers of inflammation. Results showed that biofield healing provided significant improvements compared to the mock healing protocol. Study participants had been treated for breast cancer, which affects millions of women around the world. The stress of a cancer diagnosis can linger long after treatment has been completed, placing cancer survivors at a greater risk for depression and fatigue, which in turn reduces their quality of life. It even increases the chances of disease recurrence. Clearly, we need effective tools to combat this distress. Jain’s study helps us understand the cycle of stress – inflammation – disease, and offers hope that biofield therapies, which are popular among breast cancer patients, are more than just feel-good practices. The study found a reduction in psychological distress and inflammatory markers in the short term and raises the hope that these practices might lead to better outcomes in the long-term. How inflammation leads to disease: a microscopic story To understand this study, it’s important to understand how chronic stress can lead to inflammation and disease. Here’s a short explanation. HPA axis: The hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is our bodies’ stress response system, a cycle of neural and chemical responses to threat. The hypothalamus, in the brain’s limbic system, cues the pituitary to release a hormone called ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone). ACTH races to the adrenal glands, signaling them to release cortisol. Cortisol pours into our bloodstream, causing our hearts to beat faster, blood pressure to rise, and blood sugar levels to increase. We are not digesting food well or fighting pathogenic invaders; we are ready to fight or run away. When faced with an imminent threat, this is exactly what we need. Inflammation: The HPA axis and cortisol response also work with our bodies’ inflammatory and anti-inflammatory chemical messengers, called cytokines. When we have an injury or infection, our cells release inflammatory cytokines. These molecules cause cells to fill with more fluid and call on our immune system cells to rush to the affected area. When the crisis has abated, a different set of cytokines, the anti-inflammatory ones, come to the area and reverse the response. Inflammation decreases, and cellular function returns to normal. This works to create an efficient response to a real threat – or a dysregulated system that leaves us open to disease. Chronic inflammation: When we are under continual stress, our body chemistry gets out of balance. This affects us at the epigenetic level and can cause problems with RNA (ribonucleic acid) protein synthesis. The epigenome is the covering of our DNA that turns on, or off, the expression of genes. RNA are the molecules that replicate portions of our DNA to create the proteins we need for regular cellular activities like cell metabolism and replication. Sometimes the replication goes wrong, and the proteins are incorrectly synthesized, leading to issues like cancer. Thus, in cases of chronic inflammation, dysfunctions in DNA, the epigenome, and RNA errors all may play a role in creating disease. Stress: Our mental state is certainly a factor in the stress – inflammation – disease cycle. Depression, fatigue, and chronic stress contribute to cellular dysfunction and increase the chances of developing disease. But what can happen if we de-stress? Studies about the benefits of biofield therapy have already shown that these treatments can help ease our fatigue, anxiety, and depression. Do they also change our body chemistry? In this study, Jain sought to determine if energy healing would provide significant relief from the psychological issues of fatigue, depression, and mood disturbance, as well as a physiological decrease in chemical markers of inflammation and cortisol levels. The study setup Jain recruited breast cancer survivors near the University of California, San Diego. For this randomized, placebo-controlled study, some participants received an energy healing technique (EH) and others received mock healing, twice a week for four weeks. Healing protocol: The energy healing (EH) used is similar to forms you may be familiar with, like Reiki, Healing Touch, and Therapeutic Touch. In EH, the practitioner balances their own energy with energy from the universal energy field, then uses a series of hand positions on the patient (feet, knees, hips, bladder, stomach, hands, elbows, shoulders, heart, throat, head, and heart again). The process takes 45-60 minutes. The healers in this study had completed a four-year training in EH and had several years of experience. The mock healers were skeptical or naïve to energy healing. Participants: 29 women completed the study, 16 in the EH arm and 13 in the mock healing arm. All were adults who had been diagnosed with stage 1 to 3a breast cancer and had completed treatment (surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy) within the previous five years and at minimum, a month before the study began. Psychological measures: In addition to a demographic questionnaire, participants completed a standard set of psychological assessments, including measures to assess fatigue, depression, mood (including depression, anxiety, anger, vigor, fatigue, and confusion), quality of life, and sleep. Physiological measures: Researchers measured markers of inflammation over the eight treatment sessions and at follow-up. These included cortisol and various cytokines associated with breast cancer. See the details section at the end of this blog for more.  Study results Most participants – 75% – believed they were receiving the actual energy healing, 87% in the healing group and 72% in the mock group. This was important to assess for exploring the role of expectancy on results. The differences between groups over time showed the EH group overall received better results than the mock group. Psychological measures: On most psychological measures, the EH group did better on measures of fatigue, depression, and mood than the mock group (all but sleep, where neither group improved). The mock group’s scores on depression deterioratedover time. Below are some details. See Details Section at the end of the blog for more specifics. Fatigue : Overall, the EH group experienced a greater drop in fatigue over time than the mock Depression : The EH group decreased in depression over time, while the mock group actually increased in depression. Mood : Women who had received chemotherapy had more mood disturbance at baseline. Both groups showed a large decrease in mood disturbance over time. Quality of life : Women who had received chemotherapy had a lower quality of life at baseline. Both groups increased in quality of life over time. The belief that they were getting EH predicted improvement in quality of life. Sleep : Older women had poorer sleep at baseline. The treatments had no effect on sleep. Physiological measures: While the groups saw roughly equivalent results on one measure (Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor II, TNFRII), the EH group improved more than the mock group on all other measures. The mock group saw some increases in inflammatory biomarkers over time. Why this study matters: biofield therapy helps people who have had cancer This study examined the effects of a biofield therapy on both psychological distress and physiological bio-markers associated with inflammation and disease progress in breast cancer patients. It shows that the biofield therapy studied, EH, decreases these biomarkers over time, while improving fatigue and mood issues that are associated with disease progression. This adds to the growing body of evidence supporting biofield therapies, which are already popular among breast cancer patients, showing that these may be more than feel-good therapies. Because of their effects on both psychological and physiological markers of inflammation and disease, these therapies seem to affect us at the molecular level in ways that might slow cancer growth as they promote wellbeing. Looking ahead Every year in the US, nearly 300,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer. Almost 3.8 million American women are living with breast cancer. A woman’s chance of being diagnosed with invasive breast cancer is 1 in 8 . And while early detection and treatment are making a dent in prognosis, mortality has dropped by less than 3% . Alongside the rigorous medical research, we have a growing understanding of the mind-body correlates of disease and the cycle of stress-inflammation-disease. This offers us a new hope, and a new tool to add in our approach to fighting cancer. As the research in mind-body therapies continues, pharmaceutical companies, oncologists, and the medical establishment are increasingly open to using these as adjuvant therapies. Patients themselves are eager to take advantage of these therapies to improve outcomes while we wait and hope for the cure. I envision a time, perhaps not too far in the future, in which healing professionals will increasingly work alongside doctors and nurses to offer energy healing to patients in need. I dream of a day when societies will prioritize the emotional wellbeing of their citizens. As a therapist, I earnestly wish for people to treat each other well, with lovingkindness, erasing the disharmony that underlies so much of today’s stress. Today, we are already moving in that direction, by employing mind-body tools to address these stressors – tools like energy psychology, energy medicine, and energy healing, in their various forms. Because of these results, these techniques increasingly play a role in easing the stress-inflammation-disease cycle. Actions you can take To learn more about the human energy field, check out ACEP’s Comprehensive Energy Psychology CEP course , which is being revamped, and will be available later in 2022. To support energy psychology research and humanitarian efforts, make a donation here . Author Sarah Murphy, LPC, is a licensed professional counselor and coach with more than 12 years of clinical experience. She specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and hypnotherapy. In her therapy practice, she works with individuals seeking to find peace within themselves, people who have serious medical diagnoses, and couples who want to resolve conflict and live in harmony. Sarah's personal motto is that we are here to create a more peaceful world, one more-peaceful person at a time. She is an ACEP Board member and chair of the Communications Committee. Learn more at www.transformative-therapy.com . photo by Rod Long on unsplash Want to dive into the weeds? Here are the study details Physiological measures Researchers measured markers of inflammation over the eight treatment sessions and at follow-up. These included cortisol and various cytokines associated with breast cancer. These included: Interleukin-1 soluble receptor (sIL-1Ra) : This is an analog of the inflammatory cytokine interleukin 1 (IL-1), which is found in breast tissue, is associated with fatigue, has been shown to increase in people with depression; its presence is associated with disease progression. sIL-1Ra is easier to measure than IL-1. It was studied as a marker of fatigue and depression.  Interleukin 6 (IL 6): IL-6 is a proinflammatory cytokine that is associated with breast cancer; higher levels are present in people with breast cancer compared to healthy controls. Increased levels of IL-6 are associated with stage, grade, metastasis, and chemotherapy resistance; it may be particularly relevant in estrogen-positive cancers. It is higher in patients with depression and was studied as a marker of fatigue and depression.  Interleukin-6 soluble receptor (sIL-6R) : This is a receptor for IL-6 and is highly associated with fatigue in breast cancer patients. It was studied as a marker for fatigue and depression.  Soluble Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor II (sTNF-RII) : This is an easier-to-measure receptor for Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-α). TNF-α is an inflammatory cytokine that is associated with both tumor death (as the name suggests) and, paradoxically, tumor growth and metastasis. Its receptor sTNF-RII levels seem elevated in fatigued compared to non-fatigued breast cancer survivors. It was studied as a marker of fatigue.  Interleukin-4 (IL-4) : While IL-4 is considered an anti-inflammatory marker, it is associated with resistance to chemotherapy and apoptosis (cell death). It was studied as a biomarker of fatigue.  Cortisol, and Diurnal Cortisol Variability : Cortisol is particularly relevant for people with breast cancer. In a healthy population, cortisol levels drop at night. In breast cancer patients, cortisol levels are generally higher, have more fluctuations during the day, and do not drop as low at night. Among breast cancer patients with fatigue, these differences are even more pronounced. Thus, mean cortisol as well as nighttime drops in cortisol were measured Results: psychological measures On most psychological measures, the EH group did better on measures of fatigue, depression, and mood than the mock group (all but sleep, where neither group improved). The mock group’s scores on depression deteriorated over time. Below are the details: Fatigue (MFSI-sf) : Radiation was associated with fatigue; time since radiation completed was associated with lower fatigue scores at baseline. Overall, the EH group experienced a greater drop in fatigue over time than the mock group (p = .09, partial eta square = .13 with time since radiation as a covariant; p = 0005, partial eta square = .30 with no covariant).  Depression (CESD) : The EH group decreased in depression over time, while the mock group actually increased in depression (p = .22, partial eta square = .24).  Mood (POMS-sf) : Women who had received chemotherapy had more mood disturbance at baseline. Both groups showed a large decrease in mood disturbance over time (p = .001, partial eta squared = .25).  Quality of life (FACT-B) : Women who had received chemotherapy had a lower quality of life at baseline. Both groups increased in quality of life over time. The belief that they were getting EH predicted improvement in quality of life (p = .037).  Sleep (PSQI) : Older women had poorer sleep at baseline. The treatments had no effect on sleep. Results: physiological measures While the groups saw roughly equivalent results on one measure (Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor II, TNFRII), the EH group improved more than the mock group on all other measures. The mock group saw some increases in inflammatory biomarkers over time. Zooming in: sIL-1Ra : There was a large effect size, with the mock group experiencing an increase in this biomarker over time, while the markers decreased in the EH group (p = .048; partial eta square = .21)  IL-6: A large effect size was found, with the biomarker in the mock group increasing while that in the treatment group decreased over time (p = .06, partial eta square = .19)  sIL-6R : Both groups improved but the EH group saw a greater decrease in this biomarker (p = .02, partial eta square = .32).  IL-4: The mock group saw a slight increase over time while the EH group saw a significant drop (p = .05, partial eta square = .21)  TNFRII : There were no differences between groups; both decreased slightly over time.  Cortisol slope : Both groups ended with a drop in cortisol, but the mock group experienced an increase at midway, and the EH group experienced a steeper drop.  Mean cortisol: Mean cortisol in the mock group increased while it dropped in the EH group.

Every October, the focus is on cancer screening and the world turns pink as we honor those affected by breast cancer. This year, the focus shifted to screening and early detection for all types of cancer. Unfortunately, some people have too much anxiety to schedule a screening. Is fear getting in the way of booking a scan? These mind body tools can help you overcome your resistance to getting the screening that experts advise. While October has just ended, the need for cancer screening hasn’t. Energy psychology practitioners in action Amy Frost, ACEP member and 2018 Humanitarian of the Year award winner, supports adults and children with cancer and their caregivers through Angels of Las Vegas . She became a Dallas Cowboys wife by marriage, bringing the NFL Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign into sharp focus for her. Every October, she says, the campaign prompts her to look at her own state of health and to schedule her yearly check-up. This year, the NFL updated their yearly campaign, Crucial Catch , to face not just breast cancer, but to raise awareness for all types of cancer, highlighting the importance of early detection and risk reduction. Amy combined her interest in cancer and early detection with her enthusiasm for energy psychology to compile a set of tried-and-true energy psychology techniques that can help ease distress and resolve resistance so you can get the screening you need. Cancer screenings dropped during covid Initiatives like the NFL’s are more important this year than ever, since covid put a stop to a lot of screening, according to the American Cancer Society , and we are even further behind than usual. In the UK, the problem is similar: around 430,000 fewer people than normal were on an urgent suspected cancer referral during March 2020-February 2021, compared with the same time the previous year according to Cancer Research UK. Following your intuition Have YOU noticed any hints from unexpected places that things may not be quite right? Sometimes these hints may come in the form of dreams, as outlined in ACEP member Larry Burke’s book, Dreams that Can Save Your Life . Sometimes the intuition comes in more subtle ways, like it did for Jan from Hampshire, UK. Jan was on a cruise ship with her husband Dave, when she just kept hearing a woman’s voice saying, “it’s all about the PSA you know, all about the PSA”. When Dave was due for a doctor check-up, she told him to ask for the PSA test. The doctor wasn’t at all keen to do this test, but she had primed her husband and told him to pretend he had been getting obvious symptoms, so they did the test. It was the woman’s message to her that made her get her husband to make the call… and he was very shocked to unexpectedly receive a prostate cancer diagnosis, with not a symptom in sight. Making self-care a practice Here are some steps that can help you to make that screening call. We also provide additional steps to take should you receive a diagnosis. We are calling this the CRUCIAL CATCH Support Process: Care, Accept, Take Charge, Help self. This process can help you turn self-care into a daily routine to help YOU. 1. Care We all look out for others every day – be it our kids, our other half, a friend in need, our colleagues. We like to think that we are good at offering a friendly, non-judgmental ear, a warm hug, a knowing glance, a shared understanding, a soothing look. Here’s a question you may never ask yourself – How are you when it comes to caring for yourself? When was the last time you offered a non-judgmental ear to your irritation with self over not accomplishing your to do list yet again? When did you last smile with self-support in the mirror…without shooting yourself a barb or two? Have you ever cheered yourself with a high five, instead of giving them all away to everyone around you? 2. Accept Sometimes it’s good to sit down with yourself and accept that on an everyday level, you alone can’t save the world. Take five minutes, even just once a day, to reflect that some things are outside of your control. Take time to notice that thing, which is niggling you, that you are squashing to the bottom of your to do list… keeping super busy and constantly hoping that it will go away. 3. Take Charge But that “thing” doesn’t go away. It may poke you daily or nightly, reminding you that something isn’t right. Maybe the feeling is telling you that something is physically wrong; maybe it’s simply fear of finding out that something might be wrong, or guilt for avoiding the screening you committed to get. Whatever it is, you’ve kept yourself busy to avoid addressing it. 4. Help Self If you are like the average person, it’s probably been two to three times longer than usual since you saw your doctor and were able to share your worries and book a screening to put your mind at ease and take advantage of early detection. It’s more than time – it’s probably past time to make the call. Energy psychology tools can ease the stress that leads to resistance Now is the time to make the most critical catch and call your healthcare provider for an appointment. Here are some mind-body tools that can help you to overcome fear, guilt, and resistance that might be stopping you from scheduling your appointment. Butterfly Hug When it’s time to act but you feel paralyzed, sit down, catch your breath, and receive a hug from the butterfly using the Soothing Butterfly Hug. This popular tool was originated and developed by Lucina Artigas. To do it, follow these simple steps. You can also download an instructional pdf or watch a video here . Cross your hands over your heart with your fingers touching the “sore spot” or neurolymphatic point at the upper chest toward the shoulders. Flap your hands like the wings of a butterfly Breathe slowly and notice the change Breathe… If you can’t do anything else, because even thinking about this ‘niggle’ sends you spiraling down with anxiety and panic, learn to consciously BREATHE. You can use the technique of Connected Heart Breathing by following the steps below, and linked here : Place both hands over the centre of your chest. Breathe gently and deeply – imagine breathing through your heart Recall a positive feeling of love, appreciation, or gratitude Continue heart focus/heart breathing for several minutes If you don’t remember to do anything else to help yourself in the moment, then just think that you take in life force energy and take action every couple of seconds just by breathing! Share Take time to share your worry with someone close to you. As the old saying goes, a problem shared is a problem halved, and after all you are always there for others, see if you can accept some help for yourself. Accept a hug from them. When you are by yourself, try Simplified Self Havening , outlined below: Cross arms, each hand on opposite shoulder Pull hands from both shoulders down to the elbows, with firm but gentle pressure At the same time, hum a tune Engage Make the telephone call. Decide what time of day you are going to do this. If you need support, ask the person who you shared with to be there with you. Try the Thymus Thump (sometimes called Four Thumps) just before you pick up the phone, to help wake up your senses, get your blood pumping, and help get you ready to make the call. This is also a useful exercise after lunch to wake yourself up for the afternoon’s challenges, or before important exams or an interview. To do the Thymus Thump, simply pound the center of your chest vigorously with a closed fist. Calm your anxiety Now you are in the waiting phase, having booked your appointment. Each time you notice a panic or anxiety, try to calm yourself with the Healing Head Hold , outlined below: Focus on the fear, distress, or discomfort Place one hand across forehead Lightly hold the back of head with other hand Breathe Hold position until calm & can feel pulse in fingers 3- 5 minutes Take courage Keep communicating with your accountability partner or friend, with whom you can feel you are not alone and praise yourself for loving yourself enough to share your worries. Mark the calendar with the scan appointment and make sure everyone knows that you will be busy that day. Ask someone to attend with you, so you don’t chicken out of going, and if possible, get them to drive you there and back. Once in the waiting room you can do the stealth Calming Hug to keep you calm: ​Cross your arms Hold for a minute Switch & Repeat using opposite arm Give yourself a High Five! Having got through this part of loving yourself – notice how you feel now – having taken action. Realize you may have just taken the most critical steps in your life… Congratulate yourself and celebrate your courage. Your team all around you will be very thankful that you have got to the appointment and that you have all learned several new techniques for daily self-help in the process. Amy Frost MBA, MA spiritual psychology, is a trainer, community collaborator and facilitator. She has used tapping and energy psychology techniques in all her training, coaching and presenting for over twenty years. Amy is a long term ACEP Humanitarian and 2018 Humanitarian of the year. You can learn more at www.amyfrost.com . Sara Whittall (Author) is a Body Code Practitioner and member of ACEP Humanitarian Committee. For more information on mind body tools visit Resources for Resilience , a project from ACEP’s Humanitarian Committee.To join ACEP’s Humanitarian Committee contact acephum@gmail.com .