Healing

The practice of healing is thousands of years old. Healers believe that healing energy exists all around us, and that they can channel this energy and use it to heal you. Some healers claim the energy comes from a divine source. Other healers see it as a universal energy.

There are two main types of healing. Contact healing is also known as the ‘laying on of hands’, or therapeutic touch. The healer touches your body or moves their hands around your body (within the energy field, or aura, that they believe surrounds each of us).

Healers may also use ‘absent healing’. This means that you don’t have to be face to face with your healer - they can send healing energy to you from a distance.

You don't have to have any religious beliefs to use either of the types of healing mentioned above, but in a type of healing called faith healing, the healer will use prayer.

Although scientific evidence does not support healing as a treatment for cancer. Some people say that it helps them to feel better and helps them to cope with cancer symptoms.

Nobody really knows how healing works, and there are conflicting beliefs about whether it works at all. Some healers claim that healing triggers a natural process that restores your body, mind and soul to a state of harmony and balance. This in turn helps your immune system to heal itself. For example, these healers say that your body already knows how to deal with illness, cuts and injuries and that healing just helps stimulate your body to heal itself. Another theory is that the energy created by love and caring can encourage your spirit to physically change the process of your disease. For example, by shrinking a tumour.

There is some evidence to suggest that seeing a healer can help people with cancer to feel better. But there have been no large scale clinical trials to find out whether or not healing works when used alongside conventional cancer treatments.

Healing is one of the most common types of complementary therapies that people with cancer use. As with most types of complementary therapies, it is popular because it helps people feel more in control of their situation.

Healers promote this type of therapy as a natural way to help you relax and cope with

• Stress
• Anxiety
• Depression

And control other symptoms and side effects of cancer, such as

• Pain
• Sickness
• Fatigue

Many people with cancer who use healing say it helps them feel better. This can be because a therapist has spent time with them and comforted them with their touch. Having someone devote time to you, in a calm environment, can be very relaxing after the rush and stress of hospitals and treatment.

For more information, look in our section about why people with cancer use complementary therapies.

There is no scientific evidence that proves healing can prevent or cure cancer, or any other disease. Some research has shown that healing might help to relieve symptoms such as pain and sickness, heal wounds or improve relaxation.

One study published in 1998 showed that healing produced obvious benefits for people with a chronic illness. These patients were referred to a healer by their GP.

In 2000 a systematic review looked at 23 trials using different types of healing, including prayer, mental healing, therapeutic touch, and spiritual healing. Most of the trials involved people who had heart and skin conditions. There was one study of children with leukaemia. The review pulled together the published results of all these trials to draw its conclusions. It was difficult for the researchers to draw firm conclusions because the designs of the studies were so different. But over half of the studies showed healing had a positive effect. These effects included lowering anxiety, pain and blood pressure and helping people to sleep better. In light of this the researchers felt that more studies were needed. You can read the results of the review of types of healing on the journal’s website.

Many doctors accept healing as a useful complementary therapy for some conditions. It may help lower stress, promote relaxation and possibly help with some types of pain. Although there are no proven benefits in cancer, most doctors would not stop you using healing alongside your cancer treatment.

You may see a healer on your own or as part of a group. If you see the healer in private, they will probably ask you about your medical history and how you are feeling emotionally.

For the treatment you’ll need to wear loose or comfortable clothing, and either sit in a chair or lie down on a couch. You can take your shoes off. During the healing session the healer usually stays silent. They may play some relaxing music in the background. Sessions usually lasts between 20 to 30 minutes but can vary.

During treatment, the healer will pass their hands just over the top of your body. They may use light touch in places. Both you and the healer might feel a variety of sensations, including

• Changes in the temperature of your body
• Tingling
• Pressure
• Gentle throbbing of parts of your body

However, some people don’t feel anything. You may find that some very strong emotions come to the surface during a session of healing. Your healer will not be surprised by this and will be there to support you.

Many people who use healing say that they feel very sleepy and relaxed during and after the treatment. The next day you may feel full of energy. Sometimes you can feel some effect in one session. Far more often, any improvement is gradual.

You can have distant healing even when you are far away from the healer and without you knowing that the healer is thinking of you.

There are no reports of any serious side effects from people who use healing. Overall, it is a safe therapy to use. But some experts say you should use it with caution if you have uncontrolled epilepsy. In theory, the deep relaxation it can bring on in some people could cause a fit.

It is important to tell your doctor about any complementary or alternative therapy you are using. That way, your doctor will always have the full picture about your care and treatment.

Most healers will advise you not to do any hard physical exercise soon after your treatment. And always tell your healer if you are using any other type of complementary or alternative therapy.

Remember too that if you don’t feel any benefit from the healing you could feel let down and disappointed.

Healers working privately may charge anywhere between £15 and £60 per session. Some healers work within the NHS, or for charities. These healers usually offer free treatment, but some may ask for a small donation to their charity.

It is very important that you have your treatments with a qualified healer. There is information about how to find a healer below.

At the moment there is no single professional organisation that regulates healers in the UK.

Healers can join several associations, but they are not legally required to join these associations or finish any specific training. However, most reputable healers will belong to one of the useful organisations listed further down on this page.

If you decide to have some healing, it’s important to find someone properly trained and qualified to do it. The best way to find a reliable healer is to

• Contact one of the useful organisations below and ask for a list of reputable healers in your area
• Ask the healer how many years of training they did and how long they've been practising
• Ask the healer if they have treated cancer patients before
• Ask if they have indemnity insurance (in case of negligence)
• Avoid healers who tell you that they can cure you - no reputable healer should make this claim

For more information about how to go about finding a therapist and the questions you should ask look in our about complementary and alternative therapies section.

There are a number of healing organisations. UK Healers is a group of these organisations who are working together to develop standards of training and practice in healing. UK Healers also aim to have one professional body holding a register of UK healers. They have a full list of healing organisations that are part of this group on their website.

UK Healers
Email: admin@ukhealers.info
Website: www.ukhealers.info

UK Healers Regulatory Body aims to create standards of good practice for healers, so that all healing organisations work along the same lines to benefit the general public.

National Federation of Spiritual Healers
Phone: 0845 123 2767
Website: www.nfsh.org.uk

You can use the website to find a healer near you. The NFSH provide training for healers and a qualification in healing which takes 2 years to complete.

You can also look in our help and support section for a list of complementary and alternative therapy organisations.