Healing energy: really just the power of caring?

I have no doubt that the “healers” documented in the article (“The Energy to Heal,” by Jenny Hontz, July 5) sincerely believe in the mysterious channeling of energies they feel so strongly. It’s no wonder some of their clients report nearly miraculous recoveries and relief.

But these anecdotes are not science, and the studies conducted to date have either been inconclusive or so poorly designed as to have been meaningless.

Deep in the story was the suggestion that sufferers try traditional medicine first. Yet one wonders whether some of them will be temporarily soothed by the placebo effect as a serious and hopefully treatable condition worsens.

I suspect the energies being channeled are more commonly known to most of us as caring, emotional connection and love -- powerful forces indeed, especially when combined with the very real, everyday miracles of modern medicine.

Mat Kaplan

Long Beach

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I was caught off-guard by your very positive and one-sided article addressing energy healing. As a university professor who teaches and publishes health-related research, this article is simply embarrassing.

What’s next -- psychic surgery, voodoo and magnet therapy?

William D. Marelich

Fullerton

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Having studied energy concepts for several years in the fields of chemistry, physics, thermodynamics and chemical engineering, I must take strong exception to the unscientific assertions about energy expressed in your recent Health section article.

The various ancient Eastern notions of “life force,” “divine healing energy,” “cleansing the aura of dirty energy,” “cosmic healing symbols” and “chi” all leave me entirely skeptical.

I do think that the human touch in massage can have a positive effect on those of us in health distress.

Also, the idea that a medical healer is actually interested in one’s interior mental state is undoubtedly positive.

So I would say that the power of suggestion, positive interest, the placebo effect and spontaneous healing may all help cure patients of some of their health problems.

But I would not care to ascribe these to the powers of “magic crystals and stones,” “energy meridian imbalances,” “sweeping away stagnant energy,” correcting “the polarity of the chakras” or any other immeasurable ancient Eastern fiction.

James K. Sayre

Oakland

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Thank you for Hontz’s article.

As one who has practiced and taught the subject, I can say that the article was informative, accurate and well written. I encourage The Times to publish more articles on alternative healing.

Steve Gross

Downey