Woo-Woo Therapy Probably Works
But probably not for whatever reason it purports
Skeptics call it Woo-Woo, researchers call it New Age, and practitioners call it all sorts of names: Energy Medicine, Healing Therapy, Holistic Health, Integrative Medicine, Mind-Body Medicine, Spiritual Healing, or Wellness Therapy.
Whichever phrase you prefer, new-age therapy is a catch-all term that covers a variety of alternative or complementary healing practices, virtually all of which lack scientific evidence to support their effectiveness.
But, but, but…
But that doesn’t mean New Age therapies don’t work. Despite the fact that most of these therapies lack a rigorous scientific foundation, they nevertheless seem to provide some level of benefit to clients — if only a sense of relaxation and comfort.
What complicates the scientific study of New Age therapies is the placebo effect — the so-called “sugar pill” response. And it’s very real: When users believe that a treatment works, symptoms subside — even when there is no actual effect of the treatment (Edzard, 2013). The placebo effect is strong, and makes it very difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of a given therapy.
Another possible reason these therapies work: “the added time, attention, and focused concern patients tend to receive from alternative practitioners compared to traditional physicians. This can translate into modified habits and changed lifestyles, leading to various health benefits” (Pacholczyk, 2017).
And if we’re being purely scientific here: Maybe they actually work for whatever reasons their practitioners hypothesize. Maybe crystals have healing powers and energy fields need realignment. You can’t prove conclusively that they don’t, right?
The Warning Label
While they often seem to work, there is a serious potential downside. In fact, a few of ‘em:
$$$. Not only are these therapies potentially costly in and of themselves; this unregulated, unlicensed industry has its share of hustlers and scam artists who prey on vulnerable people to line their own pockets (Beason, 2022). Caveat emptor.
Time. Your most finite, limited resource — especially when you’re suffering physical or emotional challenges — is time. Wasting it chasing ineffective healing when you could have effective treatment means less time being healthy, of course. Carpe momentum.
Death. But more dangerous is when deadly diseases go untreated in a timely manner and become incurable, even fatal. Magic beans don’t cure cancer, no matter how much you believe they will. Non debes mori.
A Menu of Therapies
Given that they might work, and assuming you’re not at risk of a financially, emotionally, or physically damaging outcome, should you try New Age therapy? If you have the spare time, money, and interest, there are worse ways to spend an afternoon.
Some of the best-known New Age therapies include:
Acupuncture. Involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body to stimulate energy flow and promote healing.
Angel Therapy. A spiritual healing modality that involves working with angels to provide guidance and healing. Practitioners use various techniques, such as meditation and visualization, to connect with angels and receive their messages.
Aromatherapy. Uses essential oils from plants to promote relaxation, reduce stress and anxiety, and improve mood.
Ayurveda. An ancient Indian system of medicine that aims to balance the body, mind, and spirit through a combination of diet, herbs, and lifestyle changes.
Chakra balancing. Involves the use of various techniques, such as meditation or energy work, to balance the body’s seven chakras, or energy centers.
Crystal healing. Involves placing gemstones or crystals on or around the body to promote healing and balance.
Cupping Therapy. An ancient Chinese therapy that involves placing cups on the skin to create a vacuum effect. The suction is believed to help improve circulation, relieve pain, and reduce inflammation.
Energy healing. Involves the use of various techniques, such as Reiki or therapeutic touch, to balance the body’s energy fields and promote healing.
Feng Shui. An ancient Chinese practice that involves arranging objects and spaces in a way that promotes positive energy flow and well-being.
Holistic healing. an approach to healthcare that considers the whole person, including their physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
Homeopathy. A type of alternative medicine that involves using highly diluted substances to treat various ailments. The principle behind homeopathy is that “like cures like” — meaning that a substance that causes symptoms in a healthy person can cure those same symptoms in a sick person if it’s highly diluted.
Hypnotherapy. Not New Age, per se, but not entirely conventional, either. Uses guided relaxation techniques to help individuals enter a state of heightened suggestibility, which can be used to address a variety of issues, from anxiety to smoking cessation.
Past Life Regression Therapy. A form of therapy that involves exploring past lives to gain insight into current issues or patterns. The therapist guides the client through a meditative state to access memories of past lives, which can help provide clarity and healing in the present.
Pranic Healing. A form of energy healing that uses the hands to manipulate the body’s energy fields and promote healing. Practitioners believe that illness and disease are caused by imbalances in the body’s energy fields, and that by restoring balance, the body can heal itself.
Reflexology. Involves applying pressure to specific points on the feet, hands, or ears to promote relaxation and balance.
Reiki. An energy healing technique that involves placing the hands on or near the body to channel healing energy.
Shiatsu. A form of Japanese massage that involves applying pressure to specific points on the body to promote healing and balance.
Sound therapy. Uses various types of sound, such as music or singing bowls, to promote relaxation and reduce stress.
Tarot Reading: A type of divination that uses a deck of cards with symbolic images to gain insight into the past, present, and future. A Tarot reader interprets the cards to provide guidance and insight into various aspects of life.
Theta Healing. A spiritual healing modality that involves entering a meditative state and working with the practitioner to identify and change limiting beliefs or emotional blocks that may be causing physical or emotional issues.
Yoga. A physical and spiritual practice that combines physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation to promote balance and well-being.
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References
Beason, J. L. II (2022). Spiritual hustlers are all over social media; Don’t let them scam you: The telltale signs that the “healer” in your feed is using Native spirituality for their financial gain. Mashable. https://mashable.com/article/native-american-spirituality-social-media-scam
Edzard Ernst, E. (2013). Healing, hype, or harm? A critical analysis of complementary or alternative medicine. Andrews UK Limited.
Pacholczyk, T. (2017). The ethics of new age medicine. Ethics & Medics, 42(8), 1–2. https://doi.org/10.5840/em201742812