What is biofield therapy, and does it work?

Biofield Therapy is not new, but the term and the scientific study of energy healing are new (Rindfleisch, 2010). A 2015 (Jain et al.) report revealed that at least 1.6 million Americans used biofield therapies such as Reiki, Therapeutic Touch, and Healing Touch yearly in private and medical settings to support health and well-being. Biofield Therapy interacts with a person’s biofield, or subtle energy, with non-invasive techniques to enable a healing response. The non-invasive healing techniques vary based on the type of therapy being provided.

The biofield, as defined by the U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) (Springer et al., 2025), is the formless field that envelops, permeates, and affects all life forms, including plants, animals, humans, and other living creatures. The “biofield hypothesis” uses physics to describe the subtle energy field as the electromagnetic byproduct of the movement of multiple ions, molecules, cells, tissues, and organs within an organism, producing a layered and changing field that influences physical and mental health and how we relate to others (Rindfleisch, 2010). Think of your body as a symphony orchestra or jazz ensemble, and each instrument as a different type of cell or organ (skin, heart, lungs, etc.). Energy is the music, the sound produced when the instruments are played. Each instrument contributes distinct tones and a unique sound quality to the music, evoking emotion, inspiring, or motivating the listener.

Scientific research, although limited by study design and other factors, into the effectiveness of biofield therapies has determined that Reiki activates the parasympathetic nervous system via the vagus nerve, lowering heart rate, blood pressure, pain, anxiety, and depression, while increasing heart rate variability, and improving self-esteem and quality of life (McManus, 2017). Recipients often report feeling more at ease after a Reiki session.

For millennia, various civilizations have used healing methods focused on subtle energy. In the East, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and some Yogic traditions work with energy fields as part of holistic healing. Shamanic Energy Healing and Ancient Egyptian Sekhem, to name a few, also involve engaging a person’s energy field for healing. Qi Gong, Tai Chi, Pranayama, Polarity Therapy,  Reflexology, Energy Medicine, Healing Touch, and sound healing are other forms of energy healing used today.

References

Jain, S., Hammerschlag, R., Mills, P., Cohen, L., Krieger, R., Vieten, C., & Lutgendorf, S. (2015). Clinical studies of biofield therapies: Summary, methodological challenges, and recommendations. Global Advances in Health and Medicine, 4(Suppl), 58–66. https://doi.org/10.7453/gahmj.2015.034.suppl

McManus D. E. (2017). Reiki is better than a placebo and has broad potential as a complementary health therapy. Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine, 22(4), 1051–1057. https://doi.org/10.1177/2156587217728644

Rindfleisch J. A. (2010). Biofield therapies: energy medicine and primary care. Primary Care, 37(1), 165–179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pop.2009.09.012 

Sprengel, M. L., Teo, L., Allen, S., Ijssennagger, N., Hammerschlag, R., Dyer, N. L., & Crawford, C. (2025). Biofield therapies clinical research landscape: A scoping review and interactive evidence map. Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine, 31(5), 406–430. https://doi.org/10.1089/jicm.2024.0773