Foundations: Introduction to the Biofield

Lori Chortkoff Hops, PhD, DCEP • August 7, 2024

Most people identify with their own physical body, thoughts, and feelings. They know the “I” that is “me.” But what about their energy field? The biofield, a scientific name for the aura, is a multilayered feature of each person, existing throughout their life. The biofield is physically invisible, and not part of conventional scientific scholarship. Consequently, it is often overlooked. But the biofield has vital properties, health benefits, and ways of revealing your health status. The biofield contains and interacts with other energy systems like the meridians and chakras. Here’s a blog on chakras, and one on meridians to learn more. This blog is a foundational introduction to the biofield. Read on so you can work with the biofield’s gifts for better living. 

What is a biofield?

The biofield is a living system of subtle energy that enhances wellness. It is not primarily “electromagnetic” according to the National Institutes of Health who defined it in 1992. The biofield influences human, animal, plant, and even planetary life. It interacts with its surroundings, bringing information into and out from living systems. An electrocardiogram is one measure of the heart’s biofield. Kirlian photography captures light displays from the biofield. But it is more than just a capture on film. The biofield moves nearly immediately through organs, energy centers, and combines with consciousness. It is dynamic. The biofield changes, grows, shrinks and morphs depending on shifting physical, mental, and emotional states. It communicates with the chakras, or energy centers of the body. The biofield reflects overall state of health over time. It is your personal living library.

 

How does the biofield appear?

Many cultures around the world know about the biofield. Some say ancient artists painted it as shining golden halos around the heads of holy beings. Or it appears in layers of colors and shapes around people, like images of Our Lady of Guadalupe. And the biofield is part of energy work throughout time. Seers track swirling waves of energy, reading the body’s past, current, and future state. Healers trace the map of biofield information with their hands, noticing congestion, flow, and scarcity of energy. The biofield appears like a map of being to the inner sight, predicting changes before they are registered physically. But only recently has science looked at the biofield with research, measurement tools, and theory.

 

Is there biofield healing?

The biofield’s existence is comprehensively covered in a 2020 review by the Consciousness and Healing Initiative. You can read about the biofield’s history, impact on healing, limitations, educational goals, policy impacts and future directions. There are interviews with 65 world leaders in the field, a catalog of 225 research organizations, and 125 healing centers in the US. Despite this growth, there is a lack of systematic reviews in mainstream journals. There are poorly understood mechanisms for change. The bottom line is the biofield is real. The biofield can be measured. It affects overall health, such as reducing pain in subjects. Biofield modifications led to changes in behavioral symptoms in dementia. Biofield treatments lower depression and fatigue in cancer patients. There is some evidence for changes in inflammatory markers in animals and cells. And it is more than only a placebo. Shift the biofield and you change living systems, for the better. You too can learn how to strengthen and enhance the biofield for your improved health.

 

Boosting the biofield

Any health promoting practices will enhance your biofield, by default. You are all one energy system, and whatever you do to help yourself aids the entire field. Many energy practices work directly with the biofield. Popular ones are Healing Touch, Reiki, Therapeutic Touch and External Qigong/Qi-therapy. Click on these links to see how energy psychology practices impact the biofield including Emotional Freedom Technique, Thought Field Therapy, Comprehensive Energy Psychology, and Tapas Acupressure Technique. You can try it. Intersperse the biofield with your personal energy practices. For when you move chakras, meridians, and consciousness, you are deliberately impacting the biofield.

 

Learn more about the biofield in these articles and blogs

Clinical Studies of Biofield Therapies: Summary, Methodological Challenges and Recommendations.

The biofield and fatigue in cancer.

The biofield and artificial intelligence.

 

Author

Lori Chortkoff Hops, PhD, DCEP is a licensed psychologist in Westlake Village, California, USA. She is certified in Comprehensive Energy Psychology and Logosynthesis. Lori is a past ACEP president and Reiki master. Learn more about Lori at www.drlorihops.com. Lori teaches online intuition classes and consultation. Check out her podcast Healing Tips from the Heart: Helpers, Healers and Guides.

Energy Psychology Helps Heal Veteran’s Combat Trauma

By Ted Blickwedel, LICSW, MSW, MEd • April 9, 2025
After retiring from the military, I conducted individual and group therapy with combat veterans as a clinical social worker for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) at the VET Center in Warwick, RI. In my work, I've had many experiences showing the power of energy psychology to help heal trauma . One of these amazing stories occurred during my tenure at the VA. Veteran suffers from PTSD A 70-year old Vietnam Veteran suffered for 45 years from chronic PTSD as a result of life-threatening events he endured and injuries he sustained during combat. Let's call him Joe (not his real name). His symptoms included nightmares and waking up profusely sweating every night since he returned from the war 45 years ago. Joe also had insomnia and anger issues. Conventional therapies and medication were not able to alleviate the adverse impact of his trauma. Unfortunately, Joe's experience is common among a vast number of Veterans receiving treatment for PTSD at the VA. Energy psychology resolves trauma-related symptoms In the first energy psychology session, I introduced Joe to Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) and explained the process and its efficacy. During the next 6 sessions, he tapped on the EFT meridian points for 2-3 rounds on each combat trauma we addressed. While he tapped, I guided him to verbally release related negative emotions. We did this until he no longer experienced any disturbance associated with these challenging events, as determined by muscle testing. The results were inspiring. At the end of six 50-minute sessions, Joe reported that his nightmares and night sweats completely stopped, and he felt more rested, peaceful, and significantly less anxious. Joe was even able to stop taking most of his anxiety and depression medication. His wife said she noticed a huge positive shift in his demeanor. Lasting results Over the next 3 years, Joe used EFT on his own to clear other developmental traumas and negative core beliefs. During this time, he only had four nightmares during one two-week period, which were triggered by watching a war movie. Afterwards, he did not have any recurrence of PTSD symptoms. Joe felt joy that he did not experience previously, and he was more emotionally open and affectionate with his wife. This heart-warming story shows the power of EFT to heal rapidly and effectively, with results that last. It's why I love using it. Going forward What a difference could be made with Veterans and their families if the VA and Department of Defense (DOD) used energy psychology techniques like these! They would be free of the devastating impact of PTSD, have better relationships and an improved quality of life. Many ACEP members have stories of hope and healing. Let’s share them! When we tell our stories, we can help inspire practitioners to adopt energy psychology methods that are powerfully grounded in effective healingwith long-lasting outcomes. Get trained and make a difference Are you a teacher or school employee? If so, get trained to bring powerful energy psychology techniques to your school by enrolling in ACEP’s free Mind Body Tools for Children training. If you are a clinician or stakeholder wanting to offer energy psychology to your community, enroll in ACEP’s free Emotional First Aid training . If you would like to get trained in using Emotional Freedom Techniques with clients, sign up for ACEP’s online training that begins with EFT Professional Skills 1 . Author Ted Blickwedel, LICSW, MSW, MEd, is an ACEP member and recipient of ACEP's 2021 Special Recognition Award. He is a retired Marine, combat veteran, former VA VET Center counselor, VA whistleblower, and author of Broken Promises: Marine Combat Veteran Turns Whistleblower Exposing Compromised Mental Health Care at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Photo by RDNE Stock Project

Mitochondrial Mastery: The Science and Spirit of Cellular Wellness

By Maria Limardo, PhD, CEPH • April 3, 2025
In our quest for optimal health, longevity, and deeper connection, we often overlook the microscopic powerhouses driving every function within our bodies: the mitochondria. These remarkable cellular structures don't just produce energy—they may hold the key to extended lifespan, enhanced consciousness, and perhaps even our spiritual experiences.

Can Energy Healing Be Stored in Physical Materials? And Does it Work?

By Lori Chortkoff Hops, PhD, DCEP • March 26, 2025
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