THOSE WHO CLAIM TO SENSE SUBTLE ENERGY ARE ALSO THE TYPICAL USERS OF CAM THERAPY

Abstract

Objective: To research the prevalence and incidence of the alleged ability to sense healing energy and other subtle energy, and the relation to the use of CAM. The study was inspired by the observation that almost everyone in a group of Danish CAM therapists expressed as a response to a survey that they could sense some kinds of subtle energy, and that this was the key to the efficiency of their CAM methods. Design: A cross-sectional study based on 171 telephone interviews selected to represent as closely as possible the Danish population between 21 and 60 years of age.

Results: 27% (46) of those interviewed claimed to be able to sense healing energy, radiation from people and other subtle energy, abbreviated to “ASTSE” for “alleged sensitivity to subtle energy”. 9% were not sure. A strong relation between the use of CAM and the presence of ASTSE was found, as the group with no ASTSE comprised 64% of the interviewed persons but only 20% of the reported visits to CAM therapists.

Conclusion: There exists a subpopulation with ASTSE in Denmark. Most of the clients for CAM therapy are members of this subpopulation.