Effects of the Laying on of Hands on Brain Electrical Activity in Epileptic Patients: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

Abstract

Context: Epilepsy is a potentially disabling brain disorder affecting millions of people worldwide. Laying on of hands has been used as a complementary treatment among patients with epilepsy.

Objective: This study assessed brain activity in patients with epilepsy exposed to laying on of hands-off (no physical contact) with healing intent, with or without Spiritual connection, and control.

Design: This is a double-blind, randomized controlled trial.

Setting: The study was conducted at the Center for Integrative and Complementary Practices of the Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Participants: Patients with epilepsy, aged over 18 years. Subjects were excluded if they refused to sign the consent form, could not understand the questionnaires, were pregnant, or were newly diagnosed with epilepsy.

Intervention: Using block randomization, eligible patients were allocated to one of three groups: laying on of hands-off with healing intent and Spiritual connection by Spiritist "passe" (Spiritual healing); laying on of hands-off with healing intent and without Spiritual connection; and control group. Each intervention lasted five minutes. Patients were evaluated by a blinded researcher at baseline and post-intervention.

Outcome measures: Brain activity was assessed using an Electroencephalogram before, during, and after five minutes of intervention.

Results: The result of the study showed a significant increase within-subject in alpha rhythm between during- and post-intervention in both the laying on of hands with healing intent, with (P = .040; Bonferroni post-hoc test P = .006), and without (P = .010; Bonferroni post-hoc test P = .021) Spiritual connection groups, with no significant improvement in the control group.

Conclusions: The findings suggest that the laying on of hands with healing intent as adjuvant therapy can promote changes at the neurophysiological level by increasing the alpha rhythm in patients with epilepsy. However, further studies with long-term follow-ups are warranted.

Keywords: Spiritual healing; Biofield energy therapy; Alternative medicine; Laying on of hands; Epilepsy; "Spiritism passe".