Therapeutic Touch (TT) is a structured, non-invasive practice developed in the early 1970s by nurse Dolores Krieger and healer Dora Kunz. This technique is founded on the belief that a practitioner can use their hands to intentionally promote healing in a patient. It focuses on the conscious use of hands, typically held a few inches away from the body, to direct energy. The purpose of this practice is to support the body’s natural tendency toward health and balance.
Defining Therapeutic Touch
The theoretical foundation of the practice centers on the concept of the Human Energy Field (HEF), also known as the biofield. Proponents of Therapeutic Touch believe the body’s energy extends outward in a discernible field that can be assessed and influenced. Illness or injury is thought to manifest as a blockage or imbalance within this energy field. The practitioner’s goal is to detect these imbalances and consciously re-pattern the flow of energy to restore symmetry and wholeness.
A session follows a specific, multi-stage procedure that begins with the practitioner’s internal preparation. The first stage, centering, involves the practitioner bringing their body and mind into a quiet, focused state of consciousness, often through meditation. This establishes a clear intent for the healing process.
Following this, the assessment phase begins, where the practitioner moves their hands rhythmically over the patient’s body, usually two to six inches away from the skin. The practitioner uses their hands as sensors to perceive sensory cues like warmth or tingling, which indicate energy disturbances.
The next step is unruffling, also termed clearing, where the practitioner uses sweeping hand motions to facilitate a symmetrical energy flow. This action is intended to remove blockages and smooth out the energy field. The final stage is balancing or treatment, where the practitioner directs energy to re-establish order in the system, focusing on areas that seem depleted or congested.
Classification within Healthcare Systems
Therapeutic Touch is classified as a form of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). More specifically, it is categorized as a Biofield Therapy or Energy Therapy by major health organizations, including the U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). Biofield therapies are defined as non-invasive techniques that involve the subtle manipulation of supposed energy fields that surround and penetrate the body.
The term “complementary” means the therapy is used alongside conventional medical treatments, such as using TT to reduce anxiety during chemotherapy. Conversely, “alternative” means using the therapy in place of conventional medicine, which is not recommended. The practice is often incorporated into nursing care in various settings to induce a relaxation response and alleviate patient discomfort.
Scientific Status and Research Findings
The scientific status of Therapeutic Touch is highly debated, largely due to the lack of empirical evidence for its foundational claims. The existence of the Human Energy Field, which practitioners claim to sense and manipulate, has not been verified by mainstream physics or biology. Controlled studies designed to test the mechanism of action have not supported the claims made by the practice’s proponents.
One of the most notable critiques came from a 1998 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), co-authored by nine-year-old Emily Rosa. The experiment tested the most fundamental claim of the practice: the ability of practitioners to detect the human energy field. Twenty-one experienced practitioners were tested under blinded conditions, where they had to identify which of their hands was near the investigator’s hand, which was shielded from view.
The results showed that practitioners correctly identified the location of the hand only 44% of the time. This score is worse than the 50% rate expected from random chance alone, leading the researchers to conclude that the central tenet of the practice is groundless. While some studies suggest TT can promote relaxation or reduce anxiety, many reviews of the research indicate that methodologically rigorous trials do not show benefits beyond a non-specific relaxation response. The positive effects observed are often attributed to the well-known placebo effect, which is the patient’s positive response to the ritual of care and the practitioner’s compassionate intention.