Comment on Some Implications of the Reported Effects of Johrei on the Viability and Proliferation of Cultured Cancer Cells In Vitro

Dear Editor:

The Editorial by Bengston ¹ referring to the work of Abe et al., ² while presenting an interesting comment, overlooks some important implications of this research.

As a scientist, Reiki Master, and Reconnective Healing Practitioner, I found the investigation of Abe et al. ² on the effects of the Johrei energy on various malignant human and mouse cell lines of particular interest, but it is apparent to me that a more likely explanation for the “killing” of cancer cell lines by the healing energy method Johrei can be proposed.

“Killing” of malignant cell lines by healing energy is perfectly consistently with the beneficial effects of such a healing approach, as energy healing is meant to balance and restore harmony in dysfunctional systems. Since malignant cells have lost normal functional regulation, it makes sense that reversing this loss of physiologic control in the affected cells results in their diminished capability for survival.

Thus, the statement by Bengston, ¹ “Shouldn't healing have been accompanied by increased proliferation? And, if death occurs when the intention is to heal, what does that say about the role of intention?”, misses the point of energy healing, that is, the potential of energy healing to restore balance and normality to diseased cells. Therefore, malignant cells would not survive such treatment. In addition, neither Abe et al. ² nor Bengston ¹ consider the potentially more subtle implications of the “destruction” of malignant cells by healing energy. Indeed, is it possible that in vivo some the newly formed abnormal/malignant cells still have the potential to revert to a normal physiologic status? Then, these would be true candidates for healing, rather than healing by killing.

As a medical molecular microbiologist, it has been my observation that malignant cell lines, ^{3 –5} including those used by Abe et al., ² exhibit marked morphologic and growth heterogeneity, attributes that are commonly interpreted to be a consequence of the uncontrolled proliferative character of malignant cells.

In hindsight, this heterogeneity provides a useful source of cellular material that may potentially “respond favourably/be amenable to treatment by energy healing,” if exposed early enough in their development. Consequently, cells with the capacity to respond may benefit from energy healing by re-aligning to normal function and survive. Instead, those that have gone too far in the path of dysfunction will perish. Hence, the exposure of newly seeded malignant cells to Johrei, versus more confluent ones, may have been an experiment that could have added some value to the research presented by Abe et al. ²

It would have been equally interesting to observe the effects of Johrei on nonmalignant cells in culture, such as epithelial foreskin. These cells have a limited number of cell divisions, senescing gradually as they have not been immortalized. Typically, foreskin cells will not survive beyond 40–60 dividing cycles; thus, a frozen stock of cells has to be stored every time the cells are split. Would Johrei healing be able to increase the life span of such cells?

Clearly, there is a huge gap in our current understanding of the mechanism of energy healing, and it is exciting to see the use of mainstream science to explore these new paths, but we have to be mindful that the interpretation of the findings is carried out in a balanced manner, rather than with one driven exclusively by the analytical and reductionist approach of left-brain science.

Disclosure Statement

No competing financial interests exist.