Healing EEs/EHEs/Healing Process Record Type: Review   ID: 514
Research into Paranormal Healing Attevelt, J.T.M.
In this thesis a description is presented of three research projects carried out in the field of paranormal healing. The aim of these studies was to obtain descrip- tive data on paranormal healing practice and to try to gain information on the effec- tiveness of the paranormal healing treatment. The first two projects are directed towards obtaining descriptive statistics of the patients' files from a large group of paranormal healers and to the question whether patients feel subjectively that they benefited from the treatment. The patient is asked for information regarding sex, age, the nature and the duration of the illness for which he is being treated. The healer records this information on a registration card on which the number of treatments is recorded. In Project I, both healer and patient are subsequently asked to provide information about the results of the treatment immediately after the conclusion of the period of treatment. In Project II similar information was elicited along with an assessment half a year after the period of treatment had ended. We were thus able to relate the characteris- tics of the original patients' file with the results of the treatment. Hence we were able to gain insight into what actually takes place in practice. Both projects were large-scale undertakings. In total, 4,379 patients were involved in these projects. The evaluation of the patient's state of health was assessed by a scale on which the patients indicated the extent of improvement. If one knows which diseases appear receptive to treatment according to both healer and patient, and how many treatments are necessary to obtain subjective improvement, it becomes meaningful to continue with experimental research into possible effects of treatment. With this type of research it is possible to measure before and after therapy. These measurements can include both subjective assessments as well as objective measures, depending on the disease concerned. For instance, if asthma patients are involved, the use of the spirometer seems to provide an appropriate objective measurement. If an effect can be shown to exist, then one can subsequently raise the question as to the source of this effect. Does it perhaps involve the influence of a paranormal factor, as defined in section 1.2.2. Furthermore, does a possible effect involve the influence of a psychological factor, in which many variables can be operative? One of those variables might well be related to the personality of the healer. In order to gain insight into the possible influence of the previously mentioned factors, experimental laboratory research is necessary in which different hypotheses can be adequately tested. The outline and execution of such an experiment is reported, and the results are discussed.
Publisher Information:	Den Haag, Netherlands: Cip-Gegevens Koninklijke Bibliotheek, 1988. Bibl; 4 figs; 47 tables

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