Healing Touch

Our assessments of evidence for each medical benefit fall into one of these categories:

• Strong evidence: consistent, significant effects in several large (or at least one very large) well designed clinical studies or at least two meta-analysesa statistical analysis that combines the results of two or more research studies; the results of smaller research studies addressing the same or similar questions can be analyzed as though they are one bigger, more powerful study of clinical studies of moderate or better quality (or one large meta-analysis) finding similar results
• Good evidence: significant effects in one large or several mid-sized and well-designed clinical studies ( randomized controlled trialsa study design in which people are randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group to compare the outcomes from different treatments; an RCT is considered a strong design for determining a therapy’s effects with an appropriate placebo or other strong comparison control or observational studies that control for confounds)
• Modest evidence: significant effects in at least three small but well-designed randomized controlled trials (RCTs), or one or more well-designed, mid-sized clinical studies of reasonably good quality (RCTs or observationala type of study in which individuals are observed or certain outcomes are measured, but no attempt is made to affect the outcome (for example, no treatment is given); an example is a study that records people’s diets, but doesn’t try to alter their diets, and looks for patterns of disease or other outcomes related to different foods studies), or several small studies aggregated into a meta-analysis
• Preliminary evidence: significant effects in small or poorly designed clinical studies OR conflicting results in adequate studies but a preponderance of evidence of an effect
• Weak evidence: one or more case studies, supported by animal evidence OR small treatment effects of limited clinical significance OR studies with no controls OR weak trends of effects
• Insufficient evidence: preclinical evidence only OR clinical studies with such poor or unclear methodology that no conclusion can be drawn OR conflicting findings across clinical studies with no preponderance of evidence in one direction; conflicting evidence occurs when studies find conflicting effects (positive effect vs no effect or negative effect) with the same treatment and the same general study population (same cancer type, for example)

Learn more about how we research and rate therapies and practices in How We Rate Therapies ›

Weak evidenceone or more case studies, supported by animal evidence OR small treatment effects of limited clinical significance OR studies with no controls OR weak trends of effects (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of better symptom control among with people with cancer in hospice treated with healing touch

• Improvements with symptom control were mentioned in interviews with people with cancer in hospice treated with healing touch compared to standard hospice care in a small trial²Ziembroski J, Gilbert N, Bossarte R, Guldberg G. Healing touch and hospice care: examining outcomes at the end of life. Alternative & Complementary Therapies 2003;9(3):146-151.

Weak evidenceone or more case studies, supported by animal evidence OR small treatment effects of limited clinical significance OR studies with no controls OR weak trends of effects (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of less anxiety among people with cancer or undergoing breast biopsy treated with healing touch

• Better anxiety/depression scores among people with cancer treated with “healing by gentle touch” compared to baseline in a small uncontrolled triala study in which a therapy is used, but without a comparison group against which to judge outcomes; an uncontrolled trial is considered a weak study design³Weze C, Leathard HL, Grange J, Tiplady P, Stevens G. Evaluation of healing by gentle touch in 35 clients with cancer. European Journal of Oncology Nursing. 2004 Mar;8(1):40-9.
• Less anxiety among women undergoing a breast biopsy treated with healing touch compared to baseline in a small uncontrolled trial⁴Goldberg DR, Wardell DW et al. An initial study using healing touch for women undergoing a breast biopsy. Journal of Holistic Nursing. 2016 Jun;34(2):123-34.

Caregivers of people with cancer

No evidence of an effectoverall, one or more studies did not demonstrate that a treatment or intervention led to an expected outcome; this does not always mean that there is no effect in clinical practice, but that the studies may have been underpowered (too few participants) or poorly designed. Larger, well-designed studies provide more confidence in making assessments. on anxiety among primary caregivers of people undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant treated with healing touch in one small study

• No evidence of an effect on anxiety among primary caregivers of people undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant treated with 6 separate 30-minute healing touch treatments over 3 weeks compared to a 10-minute visit twice a week in a small controlled triala study design in which people are assigned to either an experimental group or a control group to compare the outcomes from different treatment; assignment is not random, and so this is not as strong a study design as a randomized controlled trial, but still stronger than an uncontrolled trial⁵Rexilius SJ, Mundt C, Erickson Megel M, Agrawal S. Therapeutic effects of massage therapy and handling touch on caregivers of patients undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Oncology Nursing Forum. 2002 Apr;29(3):E35-44.

Preliminary evidencesignificant effects in small or poorly designed clinical studies OR conflicting results in adequate studies but a preponderance of evidence of an effect (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of lower heart rate variability (HRV) and lower sympathetic nervous system activity among children with cancer treated with healing touch

• Lower total power heart rate variability (HRV) and a weak trendan apparent change due to a therapy, close to but not achieving full statistical significance (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently toward lower sympathetic nervous system activity during cancer treatment among children with cancer treated with healing touch compared to rest in a small controlled studya study design in which people are assigned to either an experimental group or a control group to compare the outcomes from different treatment; assignment is not random, and so this is not as strong a study design as a randomized controlled trial, but still stronger than an uncontrolled trial⁶Kemper KJ, Fletcher NB, Hamilton CA, McLean TW. Impact of healing touch on pediatric oncology outpatients: pilot study. Journal of the Society for Integrative Oncology. 2009 Winter;7(1):12-8.

Preliminary evidencesignificant effects in small or poorly designed clinical studies OR conflicting results in adequate studies but a preponderance of evidence of an effect (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of less depression or mood disturbance during chemotherapy and radiation among people with cervical cancer treated with healing touch

• Fewer indicators of depressed mood during chemotherapy and radiation for cervical cancer among women treated with healing touch compared to relaxation training and usual care in a small RCTrandomized controlled trial, a study design in which people are randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group to compare the outcomes from different treatments; an RCT is considered a strong design for determining a therapy’s effects⁷Lutgendorf SK, Mullen-Houser E et al. Preservation of immune function in cervical cancer patients during chemoradiation using a novel integrative approach. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. 2010 Nov;24(8):1231-40.

Weak evidenceone or more case studies, supported by animal evidence OR small treatment effects of limited clinical significance OR studies with no controls OR weak trends of effects (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of better anxiety/depression scores among people with cancer treated with “healing by gentle touch”

• Better anxiety/depression scores among people with cancer receiving “healing by gentle touch” compared to baseline in a small uncontrolled triala study in which a therapy is used, but without a comparison group against which to judge outcomes; an uncontrolled trial is considered a weak study design⁸Weze C, Leathard HL, Grange J, Tiplady P, Stevens G. Evaluation of healing by gentle touch in 35 clients with cancer. European Journal of Oncology Nursing. 2004 Mar;8(1):40-9.

Caregivers of people with cancer

No evidence of an effectoverall, one or more studies did not demonstrate that a treatment or intervention led to an expected outcome; this does not always mean that there is no effect in clinical practice, but that the studies may have been underpowered (too few participants) or poorly designed. Larger, well-designed studies provide more confidence in making assessments. on depression among primary caregivers of people undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant treated with healing touch

• No evidence of an effect on depression among primary caregivers of people undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant treated with 6 separate 30-minute healing touch treatments over 3 weeks compared to a 10-minute visit twice a week in a small controlled triala study design in which people are assigned to either an experimental group or a control group to compare the outcomes from different treatment; assignment is not random, and so this is not as strong a study design as a randomized controlled trial, but still stronger than an uncontrolled trial⁹Rexilius SJ, Mundt C, Erickson Megel M, Agrawal S. Therapeutic effects of massage therapy and handling touch on caregivers of patients undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Oncology Nursing Forum. 2002 Apr;29(3):E35-44.

Weak evidenceone or more case studies, supported by animal evidence OR small treatment effects of limited clinical significance OR studies with no controls OR weak trends of effects (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of less fatigue among people with cancer treated with healing touch

• Less fatigue among hospitalized people with leukemia treated with 9 separate 30-minute sessions of healing touch over 3 weeks compared to baseline in a small uncontrolled triala study in which a therapy is used, but without a comparison group against which to judge outcomes; an uncontrolled trial is considered a weak study design¹⁰Danhauer SC, Tooze JA, Holder P, Miller C, Jesse MT. Healing touch as a supportive intervention for adult acute leukemia patients: a pilot investigation of effects on distress and symptoms. Journal of the Society for Integrative Oncology. 2008 Summer;6(3):89-97.

Preliminary evidencesignificant effects in small or poorly designed clinical studies OR conflicting results in adequate studies but a preponderance of evidence of an effect (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of less fatigue among children with cancer treated with healing touch

• Less fatigue among children with cancer treated with healing touch compared to reading/play activity in a small RCTrandomized controlled trial, a study design in which people are randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group to compare the outcomes from different treatments; an RCT is considered a strong design for determining a therapy’s effects¹¹Wong J, Ghiasuddin A, Kimata C, Patelesio B, Siu A. The impact of healing touch on pediatric oncology patients. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 2013 Jan;12(1):25-30.

Also see one study showing more fatigue during radiotherapy among people receiving healing touch in Safety and precautions ›

Caregivers of people with cancer

Insufficientpreclinical evidence only OR clinical studies with such poor or unclear methodology that no conclusion can be drawn OR conflicting findings across clinical studies with no preponderance of evidence in one direction; conflicting evidence occurs when studies find conflicting effects (positive effect vs no effect or negative effect) with the same treatment and the same general study population (same cancer type, for example) (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) and conflicting evidence of an effect on fatigue among primary caregivers of people with cancer treated with healing touch

• Less fatigue among parents and caregivers of children with cancer treated with healing touch compared to reading/play activity in a small RCT¹²Wong J, Ghiasuddin A, Kimata C, Patelesio B, Siu A. The impact of healing touch on pediatric oncology patients. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 2013 Jan;12(1):25-30.
• No evidence of an effectoverall, one or more studies did not demonstrate that a treatment or intervention led to an expected outcome; this does not always mean that there is no effect in clinical practice, but that the studies may have been underpowered (too few participants) or poorly designed. Larger, well-designed studies provide more confidence in making assessments. on fatigue among primary caregivers of people undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant treated with 6 separate 30-minute healing touch treatments over 3 weeks compared to a 10-minute visit twice a week in a small controlled triala study design in which people are assigned to either an experimental group or a control group to compare the outcomes from different treatment; assignment is not random, and so this is not as strong a study design as a randomized controlled trial, but still stronger than an uncontrolled trial¹³Rexilius SJ, Mundt C, Erickson Megel M, Agrawal S. Therapeutic effects of massage therapy and handling touch on caregivers of patients undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Oncology Nursing Forum. 2002 Apr;29(3):E35-44.

Weak evidenceone or more case studies, supported by animal evidence OR small treatment effects of limited clinical significance OR studies with no controls OR weak trends of effects (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of an effect on nausea among people with cancer treated with healing touch

• Less nausea among hospitalized people with leukemia treated with 9 separate 30-minute sessions of healing touch over 3 weeks compared to baseline in a small uncontrolled triala study in which a therapy is used, but without a comparison group against which to judge outcomes; an uncontrolled trial is considered a weak study design¹⁴Danhauer SC, Tooze JA, Holder P, Miller C, Jesse MT. Healing touch as a supportive intervention for adult acute leukemia patients: a pilot investigation of effects on distress and symptoms. Journal of the Society for Integrative Oncology. 2008 Summer;6(3):89-97.

Without regard to treatment phase: preliminary evidencesignificant effects in small or poorly designed clinical studies OR conflicting results in adequate studies but a preponderance of evidence of an effect (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of less pain among children with cancer and their parents and caregivers receiving healing touch

• Less pain among children with cancer, their parents, and caregivers treated with healing touch compared to reading/play activity in a small RCTrandomized controlled trial, a study design in which people are randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group to compare the outcomes from different treatments; an RCT is considered a strong design for determining a therapy’s effects¹⁵Wong J, Ghiasuddin A, Kimata C, Patelesio B, Siu A. The impact of healing touch on pediatric oncology patients. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 2013 Jan;12(1):25-30.

During treatment: preliminary evidence of less pain during treatment among people with cancer treated with healing touch

• Less pain during radiation treatment for gynecologic and breast cancer among women treated with healing touch compared to no treatment in a small RCT¹⁶Cook CA, Guerrerio JF, Slater VE. Healing touch and quality of life in women receiving radiation treatment for cancer: a randomized controlled trial. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. 2004 May-Jun;10(3):34-41, as reported in Healing Beyond Borders. What Is Healing Touch? Viewed June 28, 2018.
• Less pain during chemotherapy among people with cancer treated with healing touch compared to those receiving usual care, with a weak trend toward less pain also among those receiving placebo treatment in a small controlled triala study design in which people are assigned to either an experimental group or a control group to compare the outcomes from different treatment; assignment is not random, and so this is not as strong a study design as a randomized controlled trial, but still stronger than an uncontrolled trial¹⁷Aghabati N, Mohammadi E, Pour Esmaiel Z. The effect of therapeutic touch on pain and fatigue of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2010 Sep;7(3):375-81.
• A weak trendan apparent change due to a therapy, close to but not achieving full statistical significance (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently toward less pain among hospitalized people with leukemia treated with 9 separate 30-minute sessions of healing touch over 3 weeks compared to baseline in a small uncontrolled triala study in which a therapy is used, but without a comparison group against which to judge outcomes; an uncontrolled trial is considered a weak study design¹⁸Danhauer SC, Tooze JA, Holder P, Miller C, Jesse MT. Healing touch as a supportive intervention for adult acute leukemia patients: a pilot investigation of effects on distress and symptoms. Journal of the Society for Integrative Oncology. 2008 Summer;6(3):89-97.

During treatment: no evidence of an effectoverall, one or more studies did not demonstrate that a treatment or intervention led to an expected outcome; this does not always mean that there is no effect in clinical practice, but that the studies may have been underpowered (too few participants) or poorly designed. Larger, well-designed studies provide more confidence in making assessments. on quality of life during chemotherapy or radiotherapy among people treated with healing touch in a small study

• No evidence of an effect on quality of life during radiation therapy among women with breast cancer treated with healing touch compared to placeboa pill, medicine, or procedure—thought to be both harmless and ineffective—prescribed for the psychological benefit to the patient or as a sham treatment in a study to allow a comparison to a therapy of interest in a small RCTrandomized controlled trial, a study design in which people are randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group to compare the outcomes from different treatments; an RCT is considered a strong design for determining a therapy’s effects¹⁹FitzHenry F, Wells N et al. A randomized placebo-controlled pilot study of the impact of healing touch on fatigue in breast cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 2014 Mar;13(2):105-13.

During hospice care: no evidence of an effect on quality of life among people with cancer in hospice treated with healing touch in a preliminary study

• No evidence of an effect on quality of life scores among people with cancer in hospice treated with healing touch compared to standard hospice care in a small RCT²⁰Ziembroski J, Gilbert N, Bossarte R, Guldberg G. Healing touch and hospice care: examining outcomes at the end of life. Alternative & Complementary Therapies 2003;9(3):146-151.

Preliminary evidencesignificant effects in small or poorly designed clinical studies OR conflicting results in adequate studies but a preponderance of evidence of an effect (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of less stress among people with cancer, including children, and also parents and caregivers of children with cancer treated with healing touch

• Lower stress among children with cancer, their parents, and caregivers treated with healing touch compared to reading/play activity in a small RCTrandomized controlled trial, a study design in which people are randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group to compare the outcomes from different treatments; an RCT is considered a strong design for determining a therapy’s effects²¹Wong J, Ghiasuddin A, Kimata C, Patelesio B, Siu A. The impact of healing touch on pediatric oncology patients. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 2013 Jan;12(1):25-30.
• Less stress during cancer treatment among children with cancer treated with healing touch compared to rest in a small comparison trial²²Kemper KJ, Fletcher NB, Hamilton CA, McLean TW. Impact of healing touch on pediatric oncology outpatients: pilot study. Journal of the Society for Integrative Oncology. 2009 Winter;7(1):12-8.
• A weak trendan apparent change due to a therapy, close to but not achieving full statistical significance (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently toward less distress among hospitalized people with leukemia treated with 9 separate 30-minute sessions of healing touch over 3 weeks compared to baseline in a small uncontrolled triala study in which a therapy is used, but without a comparison group against which to judge outcomes; an uncontrolled trial is considered a weak study design²³Danhauer SC, Tooze JA, Holder P, Miller C, Jesse MT. Healing touch as a supportive intervention for adult acute leukemia patients: a pilot investigation of effects on distress and symptoms. Journal of the Society for Integrative Oncology. 2008 Summer;6(3):89-97.
• Lower stress levels among people treated for the first time with healing touch, either with or without music and guided imagery, compared to no treatment in a small controlled triala study design in which people are assigned to either an experimental group or a control group to compare the outcomes from different treatment; assignment is not random, and so this is not as strong a study design as a randomized controlled trial, but still stronger than an uncontrolled trial²⁴Wilkinson DS, Knox PL et al. The clinical effectiveness of healing touch. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2002 Feb;8(1):33-47.
• Better stress/relaxation scores among people with cancer receiving “healing by gentle touch” compared to baseline in a small uncontrolled trial²⁵Weze C, Leathard HL, Grange J, Tiplady P, Stevens G. Evaluation of healing by gentle touch in 35 clients with cancer. European Journal of Oncology Nursing. 2004 Mar;8(1):40-9.

Preliminary evidencesignificant effects in small or poorly designed clinical studies OR conflicting results in adequate studies but a preponderance of evidence of an effect (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of better psychosocial measures and a shorter hospital length of stay among people undergoing stem cell transplant treated with healing touch

• Better psychosocial measures and a shorter hospital length of stay among people undergoing stem cell transplant treated with either healing touch or relaxation therapy compared to historical controls in a small RCTrandomized controlled trial, a study design in which people are randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group to compare the outcomes from different treatments; an RCT is considered a strong design for determining a therapy’s effects²⁶Lu DF, Hart LK, Lutgendorf SK, Oh H, Silverman M. Effects of healing touch and relaxation therapy on adult patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant: a feasibility pilot study. Cancer Nursing. 2016 May-Jun;39(3):E1-E11.

Anxiety: modest evidencesignificant effects in at least three small but well-designed randomized controlled trials (RCTs), or one or more well-designed, mid-sized clinical studies of reasonably good quality (RCTs or observational studies), or several small studies aggregated into a meta-analysis (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of less anxiety among people undergoing surgery treated with healing touch

• Less anxiety among outpatient adults recovering from surgery treated with HT and traditional nursing care compared to baseline, while those receiving traditional nursing care alone had no reduction in anxiety in a small RCTrandomized controlled trial, a study design in which people are randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group to compare the outcomes from different treatments; an RCT is considered a strong design for determining a therapy’s effects²⁷Foley MK, Anderson J, Mallea L, Morrison K, Downey M. Effects of healing touch on postsurgical adult outpatients. Journal of Holistic Nursing. 2016 Sep;34(3):271-9.
• Lower anxiety scores starting on the second day after surgery among people undergoing bilateral total knee arthroplasty treated with healing touch compared to standard care in a small RCT²⁸Hardwick ME, Pulido PA, Adelson WS. Nursing intervention using healing touch in bilateral total knee arthroplasty. Orthopaedic Nursing:. 2012 Jan-Feb;31(1):5-11.
• Lower anxiety scores among people hospitalized for first-time elective coronary artery bypass surgery treated with healing touch compared to either no intervention or having visitors in a mid-sized RCT²⁹MacIntyre B, Hamilton J et al. The efficacy of healing touch in coronary artery bypass surgery recovery: a randomized clinical trial. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. 2008 Jul-Aug;14(4):24-32.

Gastrointestinal symptoms: no evidence of an effectoverall, one or more studies did not demonstrate that a treatment or intervention led to an expected outcome; this does not always mean that there is no effect in clinical practice, but that the studies may have been underpowered (too few participants) or poorly designed. Larger, well-designed studies provide more confidence in making assessments. on use of antiemetic medication among people recovering from coronary artery bypass surgery treated with healing touch in a small study

• No difference in use of antiemetic medication among people recovering from coronary artery bypass surgery treated with healing touch compared to having visitors or standard care in a small RCT³⁰MacIntyre B, Hamilton J et al. The efficacy of healing touch in coronary artery bypass surgery recovery: a randomized clinical trial. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. 2008 Jul-Aug;14(4):24-32.

Quality of life, function, and well-being

Modest evidence of small improvements in well-being among people treated with healing touch

• Small improvement in well-being among people treated with healing touch compared to controls in a meta-analysisa statistical analysis that combines the results of two or more research studies; the results of smaller research studies addressing the same or similar questions can be analyzed as though they are one bigger, more powerful study of 57 studies of generally poor design³¹Roe CA, Sonnex C, Roxburgh EC. Two meta-analyses of noncontact healing studies. Explore (NY). 2015 Jan-Feb;11(1):11-23.

No evidence of an effect on activities of daily living and quality of life among older adults experiencing persistent pain treated with healing touch

• No evidence of an effect on activities of daily living and quality of life among noncommunity-dwelling older adults experiencing persistent pain treated with 7 separate 30-minute healing touch sessions including techniques specific for pain compared to “presence care” in a small controlled triala study design in which people are assigned to either an experimental group or a control group to compare the outcomes from different treatment; assignment is not random, and so this is not as strong a study design as a randomized controlled trial, but still stronger than an uncontrolled trial³²Decker S, Wardell DW, Cron SG. Using a healing touch intervention in older adults with persistent pain: a feasibility study. Journal of Holistic Nursing. 2012 Sep;30(3):205-13.

Pain

Preliminarysignificant effects in small or poorly designed clinical studies OR conflicting results in adequate studies but a preponderance of evidence of an effect (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) and conflicting evidence of less pain among people recovering from surgery treated with healing touch

• Less pain among outpatient adults recovering from surgery after receiving healing touch with traditional nursing care compared to baseline in a small RCT³³Foley MK, Anderson J, Mallea L, Morrison K, Downey M. Effects of healing touch on postsurgical adult outpatients. Journal of Holistic Nursing. 2016 Sep;34(3):271-9.
• Lower pain scores, fewer ratings of pain as moderate/severe, higher numbers rating pain as adequately controlled and lower opioid doses starting on the second day after surgery among people undergoing bilateral total knee arthroplasty with healing touch compared to standard care in a small RCT³⁴Hardwick ME, Pulido PA, Adelson WS. Nursing intervention using healing touch in bilateral total knee arthroplasty. Orthopaedic Nursing:. 2012 Jan-Feb;31(1):5-11.
• No difference in use of pain medication among people recovering from coronary artery bypass surgery with HT compared to having visitors or standard care in a small RCT³⁵MacIntyre B, Hamilton J et al. The efficacy of healing touch in coronary artery bypass surgery recovery: a randomized clinical trial. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. 2008 Jul-Aug;14(4):24-32.

No evidence of an effect on pain among noncommunity-dwelling older adults experiencing persistent pain treated with healing touch in a small study

• No evidence of an effect on pain among noncommunity-dwelling older adults experiencing persistent pain treated with 7 separate 30-minute healing touch sessions including techniques specific for pain compared to “presence care” in a small controlled trial³⁶Decker S, Wardell DW, Cron SG. Using a healing touch intervention in older adults with persistent pain: a feasibility study. Journal of Holistic Nursing. 2012 Sep;30(3):205-13.

Stress: preliminary evidence of less stress among people who had never previously received healing touch, but only when treated by more experienced practitioners

• Less stress among people who had never previously received healing touch, but only when treated by more experienced practitioners compared to baseline in a small controlled trial of poor quality³⁷Wilkinson DS, Knox PL et al. The clinical effectiveness of healing touch. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2002 Feb;8(1):33-47.

Length of hospital stay: preliminary evidence of shorter hospital stays among people recovering from coronary artery bypass surgery treated with HT

• Shorter hospital stays among people recovering from coronary artery bypass surgery treated with HT compared to having visitors or standard care in a small RCT³⁸MacIntyre B, Hamilton J et al. The efficacy of healing touch in coronary artery bypass surgery recovery: a randomized clinical trial. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. 2008 Jul-Aug;14(4):24-32.

Healing touch, massage therapy, and hypnosis: no evidence of an effectoverall, one or more studies did not demonstrate that a treatment or intervention led to an expected outcome; this does not always mean that there is no effect in clinical practice, but that the studies may have been underpowered (too few participants) or poorly designed. Larger, well-designed studies provide more confidence in making assessments. on use of antiemetic medications during chemotherapy among women with ovarian cancer treated with healing touch, hypnosis, and massage in a preliminary study

• No evidence of an effect on re-hospitalization rates, treatment delays, infection rates during chemotherapy, quality of life, or antiemetic use during chemotherapy among women with ovarian cancer receiving an intervention combining healing touch, hypnosis, and massage compared to no intervention in a small RCTrandomized controlled trial, a study design in which people are randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group to compare the outcomes from different treatments; an RCT is considered a strong design for determining a therapy’s effects³⁹Judson PL, Dickson EL et al. A prospective, randomized trial of integrative medicine for women with ovarian cancer. Gynecologic Oncology. 2011 Nov;123(2):346-50.

Healing touch and soft music: preliminary evidencesignificant effects in small or poorly designed clinical studies OR conflicting results in adequate studies but a preponderance of evidence of an effect (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of lower blood pressure, respiratory rate, heart rate, and pain, but no evidence of an effect on nausea among people with cancer treated with healing touch and soft music

• Lower blood pressure, respiratory rate, heart rate, and pain, but no evidence of an effect on nausea among people with cancer treated with healing touch and soft music compared to presence and music or compared to standard care, plus less mood disturbance and fatigue compared to standard care in a mid-sized RCT⁴⁰Post-White J, Kinney ME et al. Therapeutic massage and healing touch improve symptoms in cancer. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 2003 Dec;2(4):332-44.

Healing touch with guided imagery: preliminary evidence of fewer post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, less depression, better mental quality of life, and less cynicism among returning combat-exposed active duty military with significant PTSD symptoms treated with healing touch and guided imagery

• Fewer post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, less depression, better mental quality of life, and less cynicism among returning combat-exposed active duty military with significant PTSD symptoms treated with 6 sessions of healing touch with guided imagery within 3 weeks compared to treatment as usual in a mid-sized RCT⁴¹Jain S, McMahon GF et al. Healing touch with guided imagery for PTSD in returning active duty military: a randomized controlled trial. Military Medicine. 2012 Sep;177(9):1015-21.