Quantifying Biofield Therapy through Biophoton Emission in a Cellular Model

Author: Jeremy B Kent1, Li Jin2, Xudong Joshua Li3
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup> Department of Family Medicine, University of Virginia Athletics, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia USA. <sup>2</sup> Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Virginia. <sup>3</sup> Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Virginia Health System.
Conference/Journal: J Sci Explor
Date published: Fall 2020
Other: Volume ID: 34 , Issue ID: 3 , Pages: 434-454 , Special Notes: doi: 10.31275/20201691. , Word Count: 153


Biofield therapy has shown positive results over a broad range of pathology from preclinical research to human studies. However, biofield therapy investigation is limited by an inability to quantify the therapeutic effect. This study aimed to measure the effects Reiki had on mice intervertebral disc (IVD) cells compared with sham and to quantify Reiki by measuring photon emission. We treated mice IVD cells with ten-minute sessions of either Reiki or sham on three successive days. During treatment, we placed the cells in a specifically constructed box with an installed photomultiplier tube (PMT). Reiki significantly increased the photon emission of the cells post-treatment compared with Reiki pre-treatment and sham (p < 0.05). Real time PCR (RT PCR) showed an increase in collagen II and aggrecan (p < 0.05). We present a means to quantify biofield therapy by measuring the post-treatment photon emission. We concurrently demonstrate Reiki's effect on the anabolic healing response.


PMID: 33223611 PMCID: PMC7676814 DOI: 10.31275/20201691