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Subtle Energies and Uncharted Realms of the Mind New Research in Distant Healing
1. to demonstrate any real effects of distant healing Targ reported that her first study on distant healing had strong results. This is particularly good news and at a good time, because the Department of Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) currently is requesting applications specifically for studies in frontier medicine. Of particular relevance for this conference, the NIH is funding two separate categories of healing: one titled "distant healing and intentionality" and the other "bio-energetic healing." This split into two separate categories strikes right at the heart of this conference’s attempt to see if there is a common thread between these two broad fields of research. Targ pointed out that she and her colleague, Garrett Yount, are inclined to believe that although their research falls under separate categories according to the NIH, they are studying the same thing. Research Trials Targ discussed the difficulties of doing a clinical research study on distant healing. Since the mainstream medical community is highly skeptical of Targ’s research, she must be meticulous at every step in the process. In addition, she must also guard against showing a negative result, because the mainstream will take those results and attempt to discredit what Targ is trying to show. Fortunately, Targ’s study has shown a very big effect so far, and she is ready to move into the next phase of her research, which is called Phase III or the efficacy trial. At this point in a research study, the patient size grows to approximately 1,000 people, and the normal protocols become randomized and double-blind. Targ also discussed the importance of intentionality in her research. Her own staff, for example, frequently engages in group intentions, such as asking for new grants to come in or asking that their research may benefit all people with AIDS. Targ takes the effect of intentionality very seriously. Acknowledging the immense complexity involved in trying to explain how distant healing might actually work, Targ mentioned some of the theories that attempt to explain distant healing. Some theorize that there is a signal that travels at a distance to the targeted patient. Others believe there is some type of connection at work in our world that transcends the normal laws of space and time. Although Targ is interested in such theories, she added that there are many factors that can complicate a simple and straight-forward explanation. For example, she mentioned that someone who dies of AIDS might willingly do so as a noble act of spiritual awareness and non-attachment. Or someone might die to fulfill a Bodhisattva vow to liberate all beings. Overall, Targ encourages theories to incorporate the broadest picture of influences on an event, including those that transcend normal scientific rules of cause and effect. In her next study Targ hopes to isolate some of the factors she sees at work in distant healing. She would like to see if anyone at all can do distant healing or if only talented and trained healers really can have a significant effect. To do this, Targ is designing a study in which nurses without any distant healing experience will pray for patients in addition to the experienced distant healers Targ used in her first study. Targ would like to find out if there is a curve of healing proficiency. Perhaps nurses can have a healing influence but not as much as talented and experienced healers do. Targ also would like to look at what helps a distant healer target the patient they are praying for. Often the name and birth date of a person is used, but Targ prefers to use a photograph or lock of hair to help the healer identify the patient. Targ believes the effect of distant healing may not always be physical in a concrete and tangible sense. Thus, in this next study she will record quality of life responses. For example, do the patients feel a greater sense of peace and acceptance in their lives despite the fact that they are dying of AIDS. Response In response to her presentation, there were a number of interesting comments. George Leonard wanted to know if those who were in the treatment group in Targ’s first study did better than those in the control group? Targ said they did on most medical measures. Targ noted that thus far the only statistically significant factor that influenced the success of healing has been the use of "spirit guides" by the distant healers. She also mentioned that some healers who worked for a lot longer actually seemed to have less success. Targ wants to make sure in the next study that the healers track their hours accurately. Russell Targ mentioned that the reason the results of Elisabeth Targ’s study were significant (they had six times the effect size compared to a similar study by William Harris) was because, she had healers who actually very experienced. Thus, it is important to ascertain what techniques the talented healers are using. Lastly, John Ackerman commented that different healing approaches might counter-act each other, and thus he recommends not rotating the healers. Overall, Targ holds her research in a broad light. Because science is only beginning to understand the mystery of healing, we need to be open to multifactorial elements that determine an outcome. Targ believes that there are multiple levels of healing at work at any given time: physical, emotional, intentional, spiritual. With respect to the methodology of science, Targ commented that if there is a fundamental healing principle at work in the universe, perhaps even the fact of our conducting the ritual of scientific investigation on the topic of distant healing is part of the overall healing itself.
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