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Laboratory of Cellular Repair

Principal Investigators: Wayne B. Jonas, MD; Julianne Kiang, PhD

Affiliation: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Background: Demonstrations of the viability of energy healing (e.g. Qigong and other oriental practices) have been conducted using cells in culture. But many lack the rigor of NIH-like standards for biological research.

Hypotheses: The impact of energy medicine techniques and homeopathy can be measured and understood at the cellular level. If this is the case, further studies will seek to understand the mechanisms whereby healing information is conveyed into cells and biological systems.

Method and Materials: This program uses cellular imaging techniques to explore the ion, energy dynamics, and healing capacity of cells when exposed to bioenergy and homeopathic signals. The imaging techniques allow for real-time measurement of intracellular calcium and ATP flux. Both are key chemicals in cell signaling and energy production. In addition, the laboratory examines the ability of bioenergy and homeopathic preparations to protect cells against stress and injury, and explores the molecular mechanisms of that protection.

Anticipated results: Measurement of the impacts of homeopathy and energy medicine at the cellular level will confirm in reproducible fashion the premise that such techniques work not only at the level of placebo effect, but operate to change the chemistry and physics of biological systems.

Relationship to SIIB mission and healing: Successful and reproducible measures of the impact of homeopathy and energy medicine at the cellular level will open up new methods for evaluating the efficacy of a broad range of complementary and alternative medical interventions. This will also be a major step in bridging between eastern and western, ancient and modern medical practices.