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from THE ILLUMINATED Rumi |
CENTER FOR FRONTIER MEDICINE IN BIOFIELD SCIENCE University of Arizona and Institute for Frontier Science |
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INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW The Departments of Psychology and Surgery at the University of Arizona, in collaboration with the Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona (UA) and the Institute for Frontier Science in Oakland, California received a three year center grant from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in September, 2002, to establish the Center for Frontier Medicine in Biofield Science (CFMBS) NIH provided $1.8 million to the UA and the Institute for Frontier Science to establish the CFMBS, an interdisciplinary research and training program whose purpose is to investigate basic science questions and clinical applications in energy medicine and spiritual energy healing. The Principal Investigator, Gary E. Schwartz, PhD, is Director of the Human Energy Systems Laboratory and UA professor of psychology, surgery, medicine, neurology, and psychiatry. The research center systemically investigates physical, psychological, and spiritual processes and outcomes of energy healing. Faculty members collaborating in CFMBS have expertise in biophysics, microbiology and cellular biology, psychophysiology, and health psychology, as well as specialties in surgery, medicine, and psychiatry. NIH defines “Frontier Medicine” as those complementary and alternative medical practices for which there is no generally accepted biomedical explanation. “Biofield” therapies are medical practices that are thought to focus either on energy fields originating within the body or those from other living organisms. CFMBS applies “mainstream scientific methods to frontier questions” in an interdisciplinary and integrative manner. The CFBMS consists of an Administrative Core and three major research projects. The Adminstrative Core includes an Executive Committee chaired by Allan Hamilton, MD, professor of surgery and psychology and Head of the Department of Surgery at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, and a Pilot Projects Committee chaired by Iris Bell, MD, PhD, professor of psychiatry, medicine, surgery, psychology, and public health at the UA, Director of Research for the UA Program in Integrative Medicine, and Director of the Arizona Complementary & Alternative Medicine Research Training Program (ACAMRTP) recently funded by NIH. The Administrative Core includes faculty at the UA as well as scientists across the country. It provides comprehensive methodology and data analysis for all projects in the CFMBS, as well as lectures, a website for global outreach and database management, continuing education conferences, and integrative research training for young investigators. The first research project is directed by Beverly Rubik, PhD, a biophysicist who is a core professor in the Graduate College at Union Institute and University in Cincinnati, Ohio, and President of the Institute for Frontier Science, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit corporation. Dr. Rubik’s project includes a basic science component that is investigating the effects of biofield therapies such as Therapeutic Touch (an energy healing technique developed in the US) on the growth and movement of bacterial cells in laboratory culture, as well as clinical studies on the effects of biofield therapies on chronic pain patients. The second research project is directed by Gary Schwartz, PhD. His basic science project is investigating brain and heart mechanisms involved in two different biofield techniques, Johrei and Yoga. Johrei is a spiritual energy healing technique from Japan. Yoga is a collection of mind-body energy techniques originating from India. X ray and gamma radiation correlates of these techniques are also being investigated. The third research project is directed by Allan Hamilton, MD. His clinical research project is examining the effects of Johrei healing on recovery from hernia and coronary artery bypass surgery. Possible effects include pain relief, medical complications, wound healing, and length of hospitalization. The project includes a double-blind evaluation of Johrei. Innovative biofield pilot projects are also being supported. Projects include the physical measurement of energy fields in water and homeopathy, the use of seed germination as a plant bioassay for measuring healer effects and genetic mechanisms, and the systematic documentation of purported extraordinary healing capabilities of acclaimed practitioners. Americans are spending billions of dollars on energy healing and alternative medicine therapies, despite the fact that little data or clinical research exists demonstrating the safety, efficacy or effectiveness of these approaches. This is why the National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine at the NIH is supporting rigorous scientific investigation of "frontier" medical therapies. |
