Healing Touch

What is Healing Touch?

Healing Touch is a standardized integrative approach to health and healing. It is a non-invasive therapy using touch to influence the human energy system. UMC’s Tranquility nurses are specially trained in this form of integrative therapy. Healing Touch is intended to provide healing in conjunction with prescribed treatments and medications from your physician. It is not a replacement. The practice of Healing Touch is not associated with any religion or spiritual belief and it is the subject of dozens of research studies.

Healing Touch Benefits:

• Reduces anxiety, tension and stress
• Reduces fatigue
• Reduces pain
• Accelerates postoperative recovery
• Reduces length of stay at the hospital
• Can provide symptom relief during chemotherapy or radiation therapy
• Eases impacts of trauma and/or PTSD

(Source: Healing Touch Program)

What Does a Session Look Like?

During the first session, UMC’s Tranquility nurses will complete a brief consultation to determine a patient's needs and goals concerning his or her physical, mental and emotional health while answering questions the patient may have about Healing Touch. The Healing Touch techniques can be performed on the body or off the body (within the body’s electromagnetic field). There is no need to remove clothing or disturb dressings, casts, tubes or appliances. A patient’s comfort is accommodated through pillows and positioning in bed. A typical bedside session lasts between 15 and 25 minutes. 

During the treatment, light touch may be administered. The patient may experience heat from the practitioner’s hands, a gentle tingling or nothing at all. Most patients experience a state of relaxation, reduced anxiety or a decreased sensation of pain or discomfort, however, it is important to note every patient is different as well as their responses to treatment. Each patient’s experience is unique and based on his or her current physical, mental and emotional circumstances.