Hands-on Healing - Bengston's Research

While researching the internet for resources related to energy healing--the subject of the upcoming OLLI class, Energy Healing--I came upon the work of William Bengston, PhD. Dr. Bengston has conducted experimental and clinical studies for more than 35 years on the amazing and mysterious effects of a hands-on healing method and, in particular, its effects on various strains of cancer in mice. 

                         

According to Dr. Bengston, the healing interventions he has developed and the results he has observed are not dependent on any belief system, as many other hands-on healing systems, e.g., Reiki, are. Not only that, Bengston reports that the results often complicate the research and interpretation since often the 'controls' experience the same healing effects observed when the 'treatment ' (hands-on healing) is directly only to the 'experimentals.' He also discusses the problems in investigating and drawing conclusions in clinical studies with humans, rather than mice, and in studies of teaching and learning healing practices.

Dr. Benston says he is mystified, unable to understand at this point just what it is that is going on. He suggests that the 'it' may very well be a flow of information needed by the recipient rather than a flow of energy from the healer. He also speculates that the effects on 'controls' may be a function of a resonant bonding of 'controls' and 'experimentals.' I offer that this might be explained, at least in part, by biologist Rupert Sheldrake's theory of morphic resonance and his research findings, e.g., "...rats that learned a new trick in one laboratory (Harvard) and later groups of rats in other laboratories, in Scotland and Australia that learned the new trick quicker."

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Here are a number of resources accessible on the internet which can be used as the basic of a discussion of Dr. Bengston's work. 

Listen to Tami Simon's interview with William Bengston (56 min.); then

view Dr. Bengston's 2009 presentation  at the annual meeting of the Society for Scientific Exploration (54 min.).

If you're not familiar with Rupert Sheldrake's work, consider exploring his website and, in particular 

Morphic Resonance and Morphic Fields - An Introduction.

Please Join the Discussion with Your Comments

1. What do you think of Dr. Bengston's research, findings, and speculations?
   
2. What are your experiences with hands-on healing, e.g., Reiki, Healing Touch, or similar healing methods?
   
3. What part does belief play in concluding from and accepting results in human studies and experiences of healing?
   
4. What question(s) or issues would you like to raise for a discussion on healing?

Consciousness, Creativity and the Brain

Consciousness, Creativity and the Brain is a fascinating presentation by film director David Lynch, quantum physicist John Hagelin, PhD and brain researcher John Travis, PhD made at Emerson College, Saturday October 1, 2005. Click on the link, above, to see and hear it.
This is an example of the kinds of things we can act upon (e.g., find, share, discuss) as members of the IONS-AL Community Group.


What do you think?

An Introduction to IONS-AL

IONS is the Institute of Noetic Sciences and IONS-AL is a new, virtual IONS Community Group for Alabama.
Here, virtual means a group where members meet, interact, and form an online community, rather than locally, face-to-face. While IONS-AL is not intended to replace real IONS Community Groups, it should augment and enhance them. And where no group exists locally, it should provide an alternative IONS community for IONS members in Alabama.
The viability of a virtual IONS Community Group in Alabama remains to be seen. During the coming year I hope it will be. And that will depend on the interest and involvement of IONS members and any local IONS Community Groups in Alabama.
So if you are an IONS member in Alabama, I urge you to visit the IONS-AL website, join IONS-AL, participate in the discussions on this blog, and otherwise become an active, virtual member on IONS-AL. 
And if you don't know about the Institute of Noetic Sciences, please visit its website and check it out, then become a member. Membership is free. 

            - Tom Nielsen, EdD   

              IONS-AL Community Group Coordinator
              November 25, 2010

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• To add a comment to a blog post:
  - click the post title, to be sure you're on the post's page, then
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• To return to the blog home page:
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Please post your comments and suggestions, here or via email. Know that your comments, contributions, participation, and patience will be greatly appreciated.

Blogging Basics

See the web page, Blogging Basics, and add your comments, questions, and answers about IONS-AL blogging, here.

Developing Topics - 2

IONS-AL members may have many different approaches to developing a topic. Here is one simple way:

1. Pick a topic of interest to you and, possibly, other IONS-AL members.
2. Do a little internet-based research on the topic to locate some related information.
3. Draft the body of the topic post which may include, e.g.,
   a.  one or more questions;
   b.  a statement of fact or opinion;
   c. several explanatory paragraphs;
   d.  selected quotes or other citations;
   e. links to related resources on the internet;
   f. images, tables, diagrams, etc.
4. Submit the draft via email (if it's your first), or 
5. Post the draft directly to the blog (if you've done one, before).
   [see: Blogging Basics]
   

Remember, your topic post is just the beginning of a discussion on the topic, with comments added from others who are interested in or know the topic.