What is Energy Healing?

The Definition of Energy Healing

The term energy healing is used to describe a variety of holistic healing techniques that use the natural mind-body connection to promote emotional and physical well-being. By accessing, channeling, balancing, and manipulating the body’s natural energy centers, energy healing processes may help support health.

Energy healing is based on connecting the subconscious and conscious, engaging the whole person to promote health and well-being. Energy healing combines powerful physical, mental, and spiritual aspects to enable the body’s natural healing ability.

The Origins of Energy Healing

Traditional Chinese Medicine introduced ancient energy practitioners to the body’s energy meridian system and the seven chakras. The seven chakras are said to be the energy centers of the body, with each chakra influencing a different part of who you are and how you feel. Over the last century or so, modern scientists and physicists have discovered that these ancient people were onto something — in fact, everything is made of energy! Many medical practitioners are beginning to see and use the benefits of energy healing in their own practices. Hundreds of hospitals in the United States are now making Reiki available (one of the basic forms of energy healing). 

The concept of energy healing can also be traced back several thousand years to an ancient Indian spiritual tradition of universal energy called prana. Prana, or the breath of life, is based on the idea that universal energy is the basic component and source of every life form. In the third millennium B.C., the ancient Chinese people founded the belief that all matter is pulsing with vital energy they called ch’i. This universal energy is composed of two opposing forces — yin and yang — that when balanced, promote optimal physical and mental health. The common holistic practice of acupuncture, for example, is designed to help balance the yin and yang energies in the body.

Today, energy healing practitioners continue to use these and other similar ideologies to help people access conscious and subconscious energies that may promote prime physical, emotional, and spiritual health.

Everything is Energy

People who practice energy healing embrace the fact that everything is made of energy, including our bodies, emotions, and thoughts. As energy beings, our bodies are connected to the earth and the rest of the universe in unseen ways. The energy of your body connects to the energy of everything around you, and one can influence the other. Without this unseen force, we wouldn’t have life. We need this constant flow of energy to keep our bodies, minds, and spirits alive and whole.

It’s our belief as energy workers that this energy flow is what makes physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual recovery possible. While we see and think of our bodies as flesh and bone, our physical bodies are only a small part of what we’re made of. While energy healing practices vary in methods and techniques, each is based on the idea that every aspect of the body is intimately connected to the others and the universe. 

The Benefits of Energy Healing

Because energy healing is so simple and can be an amazing tool in anyone’s hands. Through the use of energy healing, anyone may be able to lead a happier and healthier life. For example, the mind-body connection forged by energy healing may help you stay positive, even under tough conditions. This positivity can help you relax, stay grateful, and maintain physical and emotional wellness even when you get stressed. 

Other benefits of energy healing include:

• Completely non-invasive
• Done in person or from miles away
• Gentle and pain-free
• Practiced on yourself and loved ones at home
• No drug interactions
• Can help reduce anxiousness and sadness
• May help improve relationships
• Can help identify the energetic root cause of physical or emotional symptoms
• Can help you remove imbalances that may be holding you back physically and emotionally

Are there negative impacts to energy healing?

Energy healing is generally considered to be a noninvasive and safe practice. However, it can sometimes bring up feelings that need to be processed. Additionally, some people may experience sensations during or after energy healing such as tingling or tiredness. It’s important to view energy healing as a complementary practice –  it works best alongside conventional mental and physical health treatments, rather than as a replacement for medicinal care. 

Types of Energy Healing

Acupuncture

Developed in China more than 3,000 years ago, acupuncture is a big part of traditional Chinese medicine. It is based on the body’s meridians — or energy highways — where qi (or energy) flows. It is thought that these energy highways or channels provide access to the different systems of the body.

Acupuncture uses tiny needles, suction cups, and pressure points in specified points of the body to activate and strengthen these meridians for different purposes. Research is ongoing, but many users swear by acupuncture as an effective method for easing health issues and types of discomfort.

Reiki

The word Reiki is made from two Japanese words. Rei means “God’s wisdom” or “higher power.” Ki refers to “life force energy”. The word Reiki is usually defined as life force energy which is spiritually guided, by a higher power.

As a Japanese modality used to promote relaxation and stress reduction, Reiki is thought to promote natural healing. It is used by the practitioner laying their hands on a person and is based on the idea that the unseen life force energy that flows through each of us is what allows us to live. If this life force energy is compromised, we may be more prone to stress, illness, or other ailments. But when this energy is allowed to flow freely, we are better able to achieve wellness and joy.

Meditation

Mindful meditation is one of the most widely used holistic health practices. It is also based in energy healing as it is meant to connect the mind and body. While you may seek guidance from a recording or personal guide, you can easily practice it on your own, in the comfort of your home. There are many different kinds of meditation for spiritual growth, progressive relaxation, stress management, focus, etc. Many people embrace meditation as a mind-body approach to holistic health. Research shows meditation has a positive impact on things like high blood pressure, cardiovascular health, and inflammation.  

Chakra Healing

Chakra, or “wheel” in Old Sanskrit, refers to the energy life force (or prana, as mentioned above) that moves inside the human body. When balanced, the body’s seven chakras are thought to send optimal energy levels to every connected aspect of the mind, body, and spirit. It’s believed that unbalanced chakras — or energy that’s spinning too quickly or slowly — may lead to negative effects on the body’s health. Beginning with the Root chakra, below the genitals, and ending with the Crown chakra, above the crown of the head, the chakra chart sheds light on the importance of maintaining balance within each of the seven chakras. You can learn more about them here.

The Emotion Code, Body Code, and Belief Code

The Emotion Code®, Body Code™, and Belief Code® methods were developed by Dr. Bradley Nelson. These techniques are designed to empower every person to enable their body’s natural healing abilities. 

The Emotion Code is focused on the idea that even our emotions are made of energy. By tapping into the information in the subconscious mind (made possible through a simple method called muscle testing), you can release the literal energy of negative emotions that may be trapped inside your body. Releasing those energies can help you feel lighter and happier, and even sometimes reduce physical symptoms like joint discomfort.

The Body Code takes this idea to a deeper level, guiding the user through the process of identifying energies of physical issues like organ dysfunction, structural imbalance, even pathogens, or nutritional deficiencies. These are identified through simple muscle testing, where answers about your health are sought from the brilliant subconscious mind. Using The Body Code may help you identify the root cause of outward symptoms, and give you the information you need to address them.

The Belief Code method builds on the foundational concepts of the Emotion Code and Body Code and expands to address faulty core beliefs. By a similar process of muscle testing identification, this technique releases negative belief systems in the subconscious mind. Our Core Belief System can dramatically impact how we perceive every aspect of our lives, and this method allows you to free yourself from beliefs that may be holding you back. 

This list is not an exhaustive one! There are many types of energy healing. However, no energy healing practice should exclude seeking recommended medical treatments from licensed physicians and healthcare providers. Energy healing may help you feel better from any number of ailments but is not intended as a substitute for medical care.

Find an Energy Healing Practitioner

Hopefully, you now have a better idea of what energy healing is. We believe the best way to truly understand energy work is by experiencing it first-hand! Ready to try it out? We have thousands of incredible practitioners all over the world! Simply visit the Practitioner Map, find someone you’d like to work with and schedule an appointment!