Energy healing is a family of gentle, hands-on or hands-off practices, such as Reiki, Healing Touch, Therapeutic Touch, Pranic Healing and energy medicine, that aim to balance the body’s subtle energy (often called the biofield) to support relaxation, comfort and wellbeing. Researchers call them biofield therapies.
Last updated: 30 October 2026
Reading time: about 15 minutes
How we wrote this guide: this guide was written by Saj Ali. Every research claim below links to the original study, its DOI or an official record.
Quick answer: does energy healing work?
- A major review found strong evidence for pain relief. A best-evidence synthesis of 66 clinical studies found strong evidence that biofield therapies reduce pain intensity in pain populations, and moderate evidence for reducing anxiety in hospitalised patients (Jain & Mills, 2010).
- Reiki outperformed placebo in most controlled studies. Of 13 suitable placebo-controlled Reiki studies, 8 found Reiki more effective than placebo; the reviewer described Reiki as a safe and gentle complementary therapy (McManus, 2017).
- Effects on pain and anxiety look meaningful. A review of randomised Reiki trials with effect-size calculations concluded that Reiki may be effective for pain and anxiety (Thrane & Cohen, 2014).
- You can try simple self-practice for free. Self-Reiki and short energy routines take 5 to 20 minutes and need no equipment.
Contents
- What Is Energy Healing?
- Where Energy Healing Came From
- How Energy Healing Works
- Main Types of Energy Healing
- A Simple 10-Minute Energy Self-Care Routine
- What Is Energy Healing Used For?
- What the Research Shows
- Energy Healing vs Massage vs Meditation
- Getting the Most from Energy Healing
- Finding an Energy Healing Practitioner
- Watch, Listen and Follow
- Frequently Asked Questions About Energy Healing
- Key Takeaways
- Explore More on Self Help Supermarket
- Sources
What Is Energy Healing?
Energy healing is an umbrella term for practices that aim to support health and wellbeing by working with the body’s subtle energy. Many traditions describe this energy in their own words: qi in Chinese medicine, prana in yoga and Ayurveda, and ki in Japanese practices such as Reiki. In research, the field that surrounds and runs through the body is often called the biofield, and the practices are called biofield therapies (Jain & Mills, 2010).
In a typical session, a practitioner places their hands lightly on, or just above, your body while you relax fully clothed. Many people describe feelings of warmth, tingling, deep relaxation and peace. Some practices also teach you to work with your own energy through self-treatment, movement, breathing and tapping.
Energy healing is usually used as a complementary approach, alongside other self-care and health care. It is popular in spas and wellbeing centres, and some hospitals and hospices offer Reiki or Healing Touch to patients.
Energy Healing at a Glance
| Also called | Biofield therapies, energy medicine, energy work |
| Main types | Reiki, Healing Touch, Therapeutic Touch, Pranic Healing, Eden Energy Medicine, qigong healing |
| What happens | Light touch or hands just above the body while you relax, or self-practice routines |
| Session length | 30 to 90 minutes with a practitioner; 5 to 20 minutes for self-practice |
| Research highlights | Strong evidence for reducing pain intensity in pain populations; moderate evidence for anxiety in hospital (Jain & Mills, 2010) |
| Cost | Free for self-practice; practitioner sessions and training courses are paid |
Where Energy Healing Came From
The idea of a life energy that flows through the body is ancient and appears in many cultures. Traditional Chinese medicine describes qi flowing through meridians. Indian traditions describe prana and energy centres called chakras. Healing by the laying on of hands appears in many spiritual and folk traditions around the world.
Modern energy healing systems developed mainly in the 20th century:
- Reiki was developed in Japan by Mikao Usui in the early 1920s and spread worldwide. Read our full Reiki guide.
- Therapeutic Touch was developed in the USA in the early 1970s by nurse Dolores Krieger and healer Dora Kunz.
- Healing Touch grew out of nursing practice in the USA. Today the Healing Touch Program describes it as an energy healing therapy that works with your body’s natural ability to heal, with classes accredited for nurses’ continuing education and endorsed by the American Holistic Nurses Association (Healing Touch Program).
- Pranic Healing was developed by Master Choa Kok Sui and is taught worldwide (Pranic Healing).
- Eden Energy Medicine was developed by Donna Eden, author of the bestselling book Energy Medicine, and is known for its free Daily Energy Routine (Eden Energy Medicine).
In recent decades, researchers have increasingly studied these practices under the name biofield therapies. Psychologist Dr Shamini Jain, co-author of the major research review described below, has written about the field in her book Healing Ourselves: Biofield Science and the Future of Health (Sounds True, 2021).
How Energy Healing Works
Practitioners and researchers describe how energy healing works in different, complementary ways.
The energy model
In the traditional view, illness and stress are linked with blocked, depleted or unbalanced energy. The practitioner acts as a channel or guide, helping energy flow freely and restoring balance so that the body’s own healing abilities can work at their best.
Relaxation and the nervous system
Many people become deeply relaxed during a session. McManus’s review suggests Reiki activates the parasympathetic nervous system, the “rest and digest” branch that supports recovery and calm (McManus, 2017). This relaxation response may help explain benefits for anxiety, pain and wellbeing.
Caring presence and touch
Gentle, attentive touch and a calm, caring presence are powerful in themselves. Sessions offer quiet time, safety and attention, which many people find restorative, especially during stressful periods or illness.
The biofield
Researchers in biofield science study the subtle electromagnetic and other fields produced by living bodies, and how these might relate to health. This is an active and developing area of research.
Main Types of Energy Healing
Reiki
The practitioner places their hands lightly on or above a series of positions on the head and body. Reiki has the largest research base of the energy therapies, and you can learn to give yourself Reiki after a first-level course. See our Reiki guide and the International Association of Reiki Professionals.
Healing Touch
Healing Touch uses a range of hands-on and hands-off techniques to clear, balance and energise the body’s energy system. It is widely used by nurses and offered in some hospitals (Healing Touch Program).
Therapeutic Touch
The practitioner moves their hands a few inches above the body to assess and rebalance the energy field. It was developed within nursing and is often taught to nurses.
Pranic Healing
Pranic Healing is a no-touch system that aims to cleanse and energise the energy body and chakras. It also includes meditations such as the Meditation on Twin Hearts (Pranic Healing).
Eden Energy Medicine
Donna Eden’s approach teaches self-care techniques such as tapping, tracing meridians and energising exercises. Her free Daily Energy Routine takes only a few minutes (Eden Energy Medicine).
Other approaches
Many other methods work with energy, including chakra healing, ThetaHealing, the Emotion Code, crystal healing, sound healing and the gentle Chinese movement practice of qi gong.
A Simple 10-Minute Energy Self-Care Routine
This gentle routine combines elements found in many energy self-care practices, including breath awareness, light tapping, cross-body movements and resting your hands on the body as in self-Reiki. Moves like these appear in popular routines such as Eden Energy Medicine‘s Daily Energy Routine. Go slowly and stop any movement that feels uncomfortable.
- Settle and set an intention. Sit or stand comfortably. Close your eyes, take three slow breaths and set a simple intention, such as “I invite calm and balance”.
- Tap to wake up your energy. Using your fingertips, gently tap below your collarbones, then the centre of your chest, then the sides of your ribcage, for about 20 seconds each, breathing slowly.
- Cross crawl. March on the spot, touching each hand to the opposite knee, for about a minute. Cross-body movements like this are popular in energy medicine for feeling balanced and alert.
- Crown pull. Place your fingertips at the centre of your forehead and gently draw them outwards towards your temples, as if smoothing away tension. Repeat across the top of your head down to the back of your neck.
- Rest your hands on your head. Sit or lie down. Place your hands gently over your eyes, then on the sides of your head, then on the back of your head, for about a minute each, breathing softly.
- Rest your hands on your heart and belly. Place one hand on your heart and one on your belly for two minutes. Notice warmth, tingling or simply a sense of calm.
- Zip up. Place one hand at the bottom of your torso and slowly draw it straight up the centre of your body to your lower lip, breathing in. Repeat three times.
- Close and notice. Rest for a moment and notice how you feel. Drink a glass of water and carry the calm into your day.
Repeat once a day, or whenever you need a gentle reset. For a deeper experience, book a session with a trained Reiki, Healing Touch or energy medicine practitioner, or follow a guided video below.
What Is Energy Healing Used For?
- Pain. The strongest research finding: biofield therapies showed strong evidence for reducing pain intensity in pain populations (Jain & Mills, 2010). See our guides to pain relief and back and neck pain.
- Anxiety. Moderate evidence for reducing anxiety in hospitalised patients (Jain & Mills, 2010), and Reiki trials suggest benefits for anxiety (Thrane & Cohen, 2014). See anxiety.
- Stress and relaxation. Most people use energy healing to relax deeply. See stress management and burnout.
- Energy and fatigue. Many people seek sessions to feel recharged. See energy and fatigue.
- Sleep. The deep relaxation of a session can make it easier to unwind. See our sleep guide.
- Grief and emotional support. Some hospices and support services offer Reiki or Healing Touch as gentle comfort. See grief and loss.
- Wellbeing during illness. Research includes moderate evidence for reducing pain intensity in hospitalised and cancer populations and for easing behavioural symptoms in dementia (Jain & Mills, 2010).
What the Research Shows
The 66-study review
Jain and Mills carried out a systematic review and best-evidence synthesis of 66 clinical studies of biofield therapies, including Reiki, Therapeutic Touch and Healing Touch. They found the studies were generally of medium quality. Their main findings were (Jain & Mills, 2010):
- Strong evidence for reducing pain intensity in pain populations
- Moderate evidence for reducing pain intensity in hospitalised and cancer populations
- Moderate evidence for decreasing negative behavioural symptoms in dementia
- Moderate evidence for decreasing anxiety in hospitalised populations
Reiki versus placebo
McManus examined placebo-controlled Reiki studies with more than 20 participants in the Reiki group. Of 13 suitable studies, 8 showed Reiki was more effective than placebo. Viewed together, the review concluded these studies provide reasonably strong support for Reiki being more effective than placebo, and described Reiki as a safe and gentle complementary therapy with potential for broader use in chronic conditions and possibly post-operative recovery (McManus, 2017).
Reiki for pain and anxiety
Thrane and Cohen carried out an in-depth review of randomised Reiki trials for pain and anxiety in adults and calculated effect sizes. Their review concluded that Reiki may be effective for pain and anxiety (Thrane & Cohen, 2014).
The studies at a glance
| Study | Type | Main finding |
|---|---|---|
| Jain & Mills, 2010 | Best-evidence synthesis, 66 studies | Strong evidence for reducing pain intensity; moderate for anxiety in hospital and dementia symptoms |
| McManus, 2017 | Review of 13 placebo-controlled Reiki studies | 8 of 13 found Reiki better than placebo; safe and gentle |
| Thrane & Cohen, 2014 | Review of randomised Reiki trials | Reiki may be effective for pain and anxiety |
Researchers are calling for more large, high-quality trials. In the meantime, energy healing is a gentle, relaxing practice that many people enjoy alongside their usual care.
Energy Healing vs Massage vs Meditation
| Energy healing | Massage | Meditation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Touch | Light or none | Firm, hands-on | None |
| Clothing | Fully clothed | Usually undressed | Any |
| Effort from you | None; you relax | None; you relax | Active practice |
| Self-practice | Yes (self-Reiki, energy routines) | Limited | Yes |
| Best for | Gentle relaxation, comfort, pain and anxiety support | Muscle tension | Mental calm and awareness |
Many people combine energy healing with meditation, yoga or spiritual healing.
Getting the Most from Energy Healing
A few simple habits can help you enjoy energy healing more and notice its effects.
- Set an intention. Before a session or self-practice, decide what you would like support with, such as rest, calm or comfort.
- Make it regular. Studies often use a series of sessions over several weeks. A short daily self-practice can be just as valuable as an occasional long session.
- Create a calm space. Dim the lights, silence your phone and add soft music if you like. Our sound healing guide has ideas.
- Track how you feel. Rate your stress, pain or energy from 0 to 10 before and after each session. Over a few weeks you will see your own pattern.
- Combine it with other self-care. Energy healing fits naturally alongside gentle movement, good sleep, time in nature and supportive relationships.
- Keep your usual care. Use energy healing as a complement to the care and treatment you already receive.
Self-Reiki basics
Full Reiki self-treatment is taught on a first-level Reiki course, but anyone can enjoy the simple practice of resting their hands on the body with calm attention. Common positions are over the eyes, the sides and back of the head, the throat, the heart, the upper and lower belly and the knees and feet, holding each for two to three minutes. Many people like to do this in bed before sleep.
Finding an Energy Healing Practitioner
Energy healing is offered by independent practitioners, wellbeing centres, spas and some hospitals and hospices. Most modalities have their own training bodies and directories.
- Reiki: look for a practitioner trained to at least second level who belongs to a professional association, such as the International Association of Reiki Professionals.
- Healing Touch: the Healing Touch Program has a practitioner directory and certification pathway.
- Eden Energy Medicine: Eden Energy Medicine lists certified practitioners and offers classes.
- Pranic Healing: Pranic Healing lists courses and centres worldwide.
What to look for
- Clear information about training and certification
- A calm, professional and respectful manner
- Willingness to explain what will happen before the session
- Respect for your other health care, working alongside it
Costs
Prices vary widely by country, city and practitioner. Many practitioners offer a shorter first session, and some community clinics offer low-cost sessions. Self-practice is free. Check the current price with the practitioner before you book.
What to expect in a session
You will usually lie on a treatment couch or sit in a chair, fully clothed. The practitioner may ask about your goals, then work quietly with their hands on or above your body for 30 to 90 minutes. Afterwards, many people feel relaxed, light or sleepy. Drinking water and resting a little is a nice way to finish.
Watch, Listen and Follow
These videos introduce the main types of energy healing and include gentle practices you can follow at home.
Videos
- 8 Energy Healing Exercises You Can Do at Home | Donna Eden’s Daily Energy Routine – Donna Eden Energy Medicine. Donna Eden’s popular daily routine.
- How to heal your body with energy medicine | Donna Eden – Mindvalley Talks. Donna Eden on energy medicine.
- 3 Ways To Release Stress & Anxiety Using Energy Medicine | Donna Eden – Mindvalley. Three quick techniques for stress.
- Health and interconnection | Shamini Jain – TEDx Talks. A TEDxBerkeley talk by biofield researcher Dr Shamini Jain.
- Healing Touch Program: An Introduction to Healing Touch – Healing Touch Program. An official introduction.
- Introduction to Pranic Healing – Pranic Healing – Institute for Inner Studies. An official introduction to Pranic Healing.
- Reiki 101: Reiki Healing Explained with Science! – Mainstream Reiki. A beginner-friendly Reiki explainer.
- Self-Reiki Guided Session for You – Mainstream Reiki. A guided self-Reiki practice.
- Energy Medicine Explained: How To Heal – Dr Sue Morter. Dr Sue Morter on energy medicine.
Books
- Energy Medicine – Donna Eden (Tarcher, 1998; updated editions since). A practical classic of energy self-care.
- Healing Ourselves: Biofield Science and the Future of Health – Shamini Jain (Sounds True, 2021).
- Miracles Through Pranic Healing – Choa Kok Sui. The core Pranic Healing text.
Organisations and free resources
- Healing Touch Program – information, research and a practitioner directory.
- Eden Energy Medicine – free Daily Energy Routine videos and a certified practitioner directory.
- Pranic Healing – courses and free meditations.
- International Association of Reiki Professionals – Reiki information and practitioner listings.
Frequently Asked Questions About Energy Healing
What is energy healing?
Energy healing is a group of gentle practices, such as Reiki, Healing Touch, Therapeutic Touch and Pranic Healing, that aim to balance the body’s subtle energy, or biofield, to support relaxation and wellbeing.
Does energy healing work?
Research is encouraging. A review of 66 studies found strong evidence that biofield therapies reduce pain intensity in pain populations and moderate evidence for reducing anxiety in hospital. A review of placebo-controlled Reiki studies found 8 of 13 showed Reiki was more effective than placebo.
What does an energy healing session feel like?
Most people feel deeply relaxed. Some notice warmth, tingling or gentle waves of sensation, and many feel calm and refreshed afterwards.
Is energy healing safe?
Energy healing is gentle and non-invasive, and a research review described Reiki as a safe and gentle complementary therapy. It is best used alongside, not instead of, your usual health care.
Can I do energy healing on myself?
Yes. Self-Reiki, Eden Energy Medicine routines and simple practices like the 10-minute routine in this guide can be done at home for free.
What is the difference between Reiki and Healing Touch?
Both are biofield therapies using light touch or hands near the body. Reiki comes from Japan and uses a set of hand positions, while Healing Touch grew out of nursing in the USA and uses a wider range of techniques.
How many energy healing sessions do I need?
It varies. Many people notice relaxation after one session, while studies often use a series of sessions over several weeks. Regular self-practice can extend the benefits.
Key Takeaways
- Energy healing includes Reiki, Healing Touch, Therapeutic Touch, Pranic Healing and energy medicine.
- Researchers call these practices biofield therapies.
- A review of 66 studies found strong evidence for reducing pain intensity in pain populations.
- In placebo-controlled studies, Reiki was more effective than placebo in 8 of 13 trials.
- Sessions are gentle, relaxing and done fully clothed; self-practice is free.
- Use it alongside your usual care for stress, pain, anxiety and wellbeing.
Explore More on Self Help Supermarket
Use these guides alongside this one:
- Stress management – gentle ways to relax
- Anxiety – calming tools that work
- Pain relief – natural approaches to pain
- Back and neck pain – ease tension
- Energy and fatigue – feel recharged
- Burnout – recover and restore
- Sleep – unwind before bed
- Grief and loss – gentle support
- Reiki – the complete Reiki guide
- Chakra healing – balance your energy centres
- ThetaHealing – another energy approach
- Sound healing – healing with sound
- Browse all self-help techniques – compare every method on Self Help Supermarket.
Sources
- Jain, S., & Mills, P. J. (2010). Biofield therapies: Helpful or full of hype? A best evidence synthesis. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 17(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-009-9062-4
- McManus, D. E. (2017). Reiki is better than 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
- Thrane, S., & Cohen, S. M. (2014). Effect of Reiki therapy on pain and anxiety in adults: An in-depth literature review of randomized trials with effect size calculations. Pain Management Nursing, 15(4), 897–908. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmn.2013.07.008
- Healing Touch Program. https://www.healingtouchprogram.com/
- Eden Energy Medicine. https://edenenergymedicine.com/
- Pranic Healing. https://www.pranichealing.com/
- International Association of Reiki Professionals. https://www.iarp.org/
Self Help Supermarket guides are for general information and are not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.
