Research
The Tong Ren Healing Method: A Survey Study
Amy M. Sullivan, EdD,
Susan Bauer-Wu, PhD, RN, and
Michael Miovic, MD
Published: Complementary Health Practice Review OnlineFirst, published on December 23, 2008 as doi:10.1177/1533210108329265
Tong Ren (TR) is an untested energy healing modality with anecdotally-reported effectiveness for a variety of disorders. Study objective: To describe participant reports of effectiveness and safety. Design: Cross-sectional, anonymous survey. Setting: Weekly group sessions in the Northeast US. Participants: Adults attending group sessions. Measures: Changes in conditions attributed to TR. Results: Response rate 89% (n ¼ 265). Cancer (30.6%), endocrine/ autoimmune (17.5%) and musculoskeletal disorders (17.2%) were the most commonly reported conditions. Among respondents who had attended more than one session (n ¼ 216), 30% used superlatives (e.g., ‘‘amazing’’) to describe TR’s impact, and one-third noted improved quality of life. No adverse effects were described. Anxiety, depression, cancer, and autoimmune disorders appeared to have the greatest treatment responses, with 63.8%, 61.0%,
60.3%, and 58.1% of participants with these conditions reporting substantial improvements.
Conclusion: This first study documenting self-reported effects of TR shows subjective benefits
and no adverse effects. Further research on this approach is warranted.
Keywords: energy medicine; integrative therapies; CAM; energy healing
In Grattitude to the Researchers:
Amy M. Sullivan, EdD, is an assistant professor of Social and Behavioral Health, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia. Her research focus is in psycho-oncology and palliative care, clinician-patient communication about end-of-life care, and integrative approaches to improving health
and quality of life for patients with advanced cancer.
Susan Bauer-Wu, PhD, RN, is an associate professor at the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, and a Georgia Cancer Coalition Distinguished Scholar. Dr. Bauer-Wu’s research and clinical expertise are in the use of integrative therapies for oncology patients. The central foci of her
research have been on understanding the science of the mind-body connection and on enhancing quality of life for individuals affected by cancer, using mixed methods of quantitative ðincluding biological and surveyÞ and qualitative research.
Michael Miovic, MD, is a chief of the Division of Adult Psychosocial Oncology at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute ðDFCIÞ, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, Boston. He has a special interest in spiritual issuesin mental healthcare and has published a number of case studies, articles, and chapters on the topic of spirituality
and mental health.