Therapeutic touch: placebo effect or energetic form of communication.

The purpose of this paper is to consider whether Therapeutic Touch, a meditative healing technique, is a placebo or whether it is a form of communication with energetic or electrical properties. Both claims have been proposed by the technique's adherents. Peirce's theory of signs and Wilber's episte...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Journal of Holistic Nursing Vol. 9; no. 2; pp. 41 - 62
Autor principal: Straneva J
Formato: review tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Sage Publications Inc. Jun1991
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
Descripción
Sumario:The purpose of this paper is to consider whether Therapeutic Touch, a meditative healing technique, is a placebo or whether it is a form of communication with energetic or electrical properties. Both claims have been proposed by the technique's adherents. Peirce's theory of signs and Wilber's epistemologically-oriented, new world paradigm were used as a framework for analyzing the merits of each premise. Therapeutic Touch is evaluated in terms of six elements of communication: the source, destination, channel, message, code and context. Comparisons are supported by rational argument and research findings.