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person. We do not yet know the causal mechanism involved, but the results are indisputable. |
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The experience that psychic, spiritual, and energy healers have in reducing the pain and stress of a patient may be the best evidence we have in all of psychical research for a direct mind-to-mind connection between people. Of course, not every case of a healer's interaction with a person spontaneously recovering from pain is evidence of a psychic event. There are several possible explanations that must be considered in any situation where a healing professional interacts successfully to decrease the pain of a suffering person. |
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Psychiatrist Elisabeth Targ delineates three hypotheses for healing outcomes. The first is that when a healer is present with the patient, the healer's presence may cause a distraction from the pain, or psychologically enhance relaxation of the patient. Relaxation of the musculature of a distressed person almost always produces a reduction in pain, and this process need not involve any ESP whatsoever. |
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Secondly, a healer (either distantly or in the presence of a patient) may psychically guide the patient in using naturally endowed self-healing capabilities. Stimulation of the endocrine system, endorphin production, or a psychoneuroimmunological response may be promoted psychically, in that all of these systems are known to be susceptible to ordinary mental and psychological influences. |
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A third factor to be considered in healer-patient interactions is psychokinesis. This term refers to a possible direct interaction between a healer's mind and a patient's body. |
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I (Jane) add a fourth hypothesis for healing outcomes. That is, healing information may be manifested through the focused consciousness of a caring person or healer who surrenders his or her individuality, and is willing to be used as a vehicle of spiritual healing. Such a healing message would involve a greater consciousness, different from what an individual healer alone could provide. |
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As stated previously, we don't assume that every case of surprising spontaneous recovery from pain or illness has a psychic or spiritual component. However, we feel those cases that do appear to involve some form of distant |
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