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eCAM Advance Access originally published online on July 21, 2006
eCAM 2006 3(4):533-540; doi:10.1093/ecam/nel043
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© The Author (2006). Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved
The online version of this article has been published under an open access model. Users are entitled to use, reproduce, disseminate, or display the open access version of this article for non-commercial purposes provided that: the original authorship is properly and fully attributed; the Journal and Oxford University Press are attributed as the original place of publication with the correct citation details given; if an article is subsequently reproduced or disseminated not in its entirety but only in part or as a derivative work this must be clearly indicated. For commercial re-use, please contact journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Johrei Family Healing: A Pilot Study

P. H. Canter, L. B. Brown, C. Greaves and E. Ernst

Peninsula Medical School, Universities of Exeter and Plymouth UK

Johrei is a form of spiritual healing comprising "energy channelling" and light massage given either by a trained healer or, after some basic training, by anyone. This pilot trial aimed to identify any potential benefits of family-based Johrei practice in childhood eczema and for general health and to establish the feasibility of a subsequent randomised controlled trial. Volunteer families of 3-5 individuals, including at least one child with eczema were recruited to an uncontrolled pilot trial lasting 12 months. Parents were trained in Johrei healing and then practised at home with their family. Participants kept diaries and provided questionnaire data at baseline, 3,6 and 12 months. Eczema symptoms were scored at the same intervals. Scepticism about Johrei is presently an obstacle to recruitment and retention of a representative sample in a clinical trial, and to its potential use in general practice. The frequency and quality of practise at home by families may be insufficient to bring about the putative health benefits. Initial improvements in eczema symptoms and diary recorded illness, could not be separated from seasonal factors and other potential confounders. There were no improvements on other outcomes measuring general health and psychological wellbeing of family members.

Keywords: Johrei – spiritual healing – eczema

For reprints and all correspondence: Dr P. H. Canter, Complementary Medicine, Peninsula Medical School, 25 Victoria Park Road, Exeter Devon EX2 4NT, UK. Tel: +44-1392-424-942; Fax: +44-1392-427-562; E-mail: peter.canter{at}pms.ac.uk


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