I recognize the profound role that energy healing modalities can play in supporting both cancer patients and those who have experienced other traumatic events in their lives (read About Me). I believe energy practices are important for cancer patients going through Western medical treatments, mitigating side effects, and enhancing the body’s natural ability to heal. These practices not only address the physical challenges of cancer but also promote spiritual, mental, and bodily healing, which is especially vital for those with unreleased emotional trauma. Energy healing fosters resilience, restores balance, and empowers the body’s immune and other systems to combat cancer cells and support recovery. Below, an overview for each energy healing modality I practice—acupuncture, guided imagery, chiropractic, reiki, meditation, red light therapy, and grounding—highlighting their benefits, supported by research where applicable, and their holistic impact on healing all components of a person.

Acupuncture: Acupuncture, a cornerstone of Traditional Chinese Medicine, involves inserting fine needles into specific points to balance the body’s energy flow (qi) along meridians, offering significant benefits for cancer patients undergoing treatments like chemotherapy or radiation. Research, such as a 2018 meta-analysis in Supportive Care in Cancer, shows acupuncture reduces chemotherapy-induced nausea, fatigue, and pain while improving quality of life by alleviating neuropathy and xerostomia (dry mouth) caused by radiation. For trauma survivors, acupuncture promotes spiritual and mental healing by calming the nervous system, reducing anxiety, and fostering a sense of inner peace, as it stimulates endorphin release and regulates the autonomic nervous system. Physically, it enhances immune function by increasing natural killer cell activity, as noted in a 2017 study in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, aiding the body’s fight against cancer cells. This holistic practice supports cancer patients and trauma survivors by harmonizing body, mind, and spirit, creating a foundation for comprehensive healing.

Guided Imagery: Guided imagery, a visualization technique where patients are led through calming mental scenarios, is a powerful energy healing tool that supports cancer patients by reducing treatment-related stress and enhancing immune responses. Studies, including a 2014 review in Psycho-Oncology, demonstrate that guided imagery decreases anxiety, depression, and pain while improving sleep quality in cancer patients, particularly during chemotherapy. By envisioning healing processes—such as immune cells attacking cancer or light restoring vitality—patients may boost T-cell activity and cytokine production, as suggested by research in Complementary Therapies in Medicine (2019). For those with trauma, guided imagery fosters spiritual reconnection by creating safe mental spaces, mentally rewiring negative thought patterns, and physically reducing cortisol levels, which supports immune health. This modality empowers patients to actively participate in their healing, aligning spiritual, mental, and bodily energies to combat cancer and past wounds.

Chiropractic: Chiropractic care, focused on aligning the spine and optimizing nervous system function, offers cancer patients relief from treatment side effects and enhances overall vitality. Research in Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (2016) indicates that chiropractic adjustments reduce pain, improve mobility, and alleviate fatigue in cancer patients, particularly those with musculoskeletal issues from surgery or prolonged immobility. By restoring spinal alignment, chiropractic enhances nerve signaling, which may support immune system regulation, as preliminary studies suggest improved lymphocyte activity post-adjustment. For trauma survivors, chiropractic care promotes spiritual and mental healing by releasing stored tension in the body, often linked to past emotional stress, and fostering a sense of bodily safety. Physically, it improves circulation and reduces inflammation, aiding the body’s ability to heal from cancer and its treatments, making it a valuable integrative tool for holistic recovery.

Reiki: Reiki, a Japanese energy healing practice involving the channeling of universal life force through gentle touch or hovering hands, provides cancer patients with profound relaxation and symptom relief during Western treatments. A 2017 study in European Journal of Integrative Medicine found that reiki significantly reduces pain, anxiety, and fatigue in cancer patients while improving quality of life, particularly during chemotherapy or palliative care. By balancing the body’s energy field, reiki may enhance immune function, as anecdotal evidence and small studies suggest increased white blood cell activity post-sessions. For those with trauma, reiki supports spiritual healing by fostering a sense of connection to a higher power, mentally alleviates stress through parasympathetic activation, and physically soothes the nervous system. This gentle modality creates a nurturing environment for cancer patients and trauma survivors, promoting holistic healing across all dimensions.

Meditation: Meditation, encompassing mindfulness and focused awareness practices, is a potent energy healing modality that supports cancer patients by reducing treatment-related stress and enhancing immune resilience. Research in Journal of Clinical Oncology (2014) shows that mindfulness-based meditation lowers cortisol levels, improves mood, and reduces inflammation in breast cancer patients, with studies like those in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity (2016) indicating enhanced natural killer cell activity and cytokine production, aiding cancer cell destruction. For trauma survivors, meditation fosters spiritual healing by cultivating inner peace and connection to purpose, mentally rewires neural pathways to reduce intrusive thoughts, and physically lowers blood pressure and heart rate, supporting overall health. By aligning energy through breath and focus, meditation empowers cancer patients to navigate treatment side effects and trauma, promoting a unified healing process.

Red Light Therapy: Red light therapy (RLT), using low-level red or near-infrared light to stimulate cellular energy production, offers cancer patients a non-invasive way to mitigate treatment side effects and support tissue repair. Research in Photomedicine and Laser Surgery (2019) demonstrates that RLT reduces oral mucositis (a common chemotherapy and radiation side effect), accelerates wound healing post-surgery, and decreases inflammation, improving patient comfort. By enhancing mitochondrial function, RLT boosts ATP production, which may support immune cell activity, as suggested by studies in Journal of Biophotonics (2020), aiding the body’s fight against cancer. For trauma survivors, RLT promotes spiritual and mental healing by fostering relaxation and reducing chronic pain, which can trigger traumatic memories, while physically supporting cellular repair. This modality aligns the body’s energy systems, offering a holistic approach to healing for cancer patients and those with past trauma.

Grounding: Grounding, or earthing, involves direct physical contact with the earth’s surface (e.g., walking barefoot on grass or soil) to absorb natural electrons, providing cancer patients with a simple yet effective way to reduce treatment-related inflammation and stress. Research in Journal of Inflammation Research (2015) shows grounding reduces inflammatory markers and pain, which can alleviate chemotherapy-induced discomfort and improve sleep quality, a critical factor in recovery. By stabilizing the body’s bioelectrical environment, grounding may enhance immune function, as preliminary studies suggest improved red blood cell dynamics and stress hormone regulation. For trauma survivors, grounding fosters spiritual healing by reconnecting them to the earth’s nurturing energy, mentally reduces anxiety through sensory grounding, and physically lowers cortisol, supporting immune health. This practice harmonizes the body’s energy, empowering cancer patients and trauma survivors to heal holistically.

Notes

• Holistic Healing: Each modality addresses the spiritual (connection to purpose or universe), mental (emotional resilience, stress reduction), and bodily (physical symptom relief, immune support) aspects, making them particularly beneficial for those with trauma histories, including cancer, as they heal the whole person.

• Research Support: While acupuncture, guided imagery, meditation, and reiki have robust studies supporting their benefits, chiropractic, red light therapy, and grounding have emerging evidence, with more research needed for definitive claims about cancer cell destruction. All modalities show promise in symptom management and immune enhancement.

• Integration with Western Medicine: These practices complement Western treatments by reducing side effects (e.g., nausea, pain, fatigue) and supporting the body’s natural defenses, but they should be used under medical supervision, especially for cancer patients.

• Trauma Sensitivity: For trauma survivors, these gentle, non-invasive practices create safe spaces for healing, addressing stored emotional and physical stress while empowering patients to reclaim agency over their health.