Patients who are recovering from surgery may benefit from an ancient practice that aims to heal pain through touch, a new study suggests.
Researchers at the University of Missouri looked at how non-contact therapeutic touch (NCTT) functioned as a treatment for people who had just gone through surgery.
They found that nearly three-quarters (73 percent) of subjects who had the therapy reported a significant decrease in pain, as well as having fewer requests for medication and improved sleep.
Guy McCormack, lead researcher for the study, said a patients belief in the healing potential of NCTT may have something to do with the effect.
“There seems to be some subliminal aspects we are not aware of that may have to do with the connectivity between people,” he added.
McCormack suggested alternative therapies be added to the list of health resources used regularly in medical settings, as they can provide a less costly alternative to prescription drugs.
In NCTT, a practitioner moves their hands across a patients body to help bring their energy fields into balance.