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The Goop Lab's 'energy healing' is no better than placebo, research proves
Netflix's The Goop Lab dedicated an episode to "energy healing" as a treatment for
pain and -- here's what research has to say about that.

Amanda Capritto headshot

Amanda Capritto
Jan. 28, 2020 11:42 a.m. PT
netflix-goop-lab-1
A Lab, Paltrow and her Chief Content Officer Elise Loehnen sit and talk with
people who are well-known in the alternative wellness world.

Adam Rose/Netflix
Imagine that you could get a full release of all your pent-up emotions and relief
from all your physical aches and pains, courtesy of a 60-minute session with an
energy healer who flaps his hands four to six feet above your body in the name of
quantum physics.

This is what goes down in the fifth, and perhaps the most outrageous, episode of
Gwyneth Paltrow's The Goop Lab on Netflix. The docuseries features alternative
wellness trends often covered on Paltrow's goop.com and is available to stream now
on Netflix.

Though designed to "entertain and inform" (as per the disclaimer), the chiropractor
turned "somatic energy practitioner" in this episode certainly makes it sound like
everyone should give up their primary care provider for an apparent force-field
manipulator.

Is there any promise? Is it all quackery? We investigate, but you probably

(hopefully) already know the answer.

The Goop Lab episode 5: The Energy Experience

Energy healer John Amaral waves his hands like magic wands over three Goop
employees (and random guest star, dancer Julianne Hough) to whisk away their
emotional traumas and physical aches.

Paltrow asks Amaral why he hasn't, until now, shown his practice on-screen. Amaral
gives an, uh, interesting response: "It just looks wacky … I've been hesitant to
show it just because it can look strange. But I think it's time for the world to
see." The world sees three Goop-ers and Hough all writhe, wiggle and whimper on the
tables. It's as if they're actually being prodded and pulled, without ever being
touched.

Hough screams and contorts her body into positions that only a professional dancer
could accomplish, and Elise Loehnen, Goop's chief content officer, lets out long,
monotone moans that left me mildly uncomfortable.

Only one of the Goop-ers -- Brian, a software architect and self-proclaimed skeptic
-- remains relatively still throughout the group treatment. This, to me,
strengthens the notion that energy healing is all placebo.

After the fact, Loehnen says the experience felt like an exorcism. Even Paltrow
gives a subtle nod to the woo-woo effect of all this, asking Loehner, "Could you
get any Goop-ier?"

I would love to know what gets Goop-ier than this.

What is ?
Energy healing is a type of alternative wellness therapy that involves manipulating
the flow of energy in and around your body. One popular form of energy healing,
called reiki, aims to remove "blockages" of energy that have built up where
physical and emotional pain have occurred.

For example, people who have chronic headaches might have an energy healer work on
the supposed energy fields around their head and neck. A runner who's struggled
with repetitive stress injuries in the past might have an energy healer focus on
the ankles, knees and hips.

Energy healing is (or should be) performed by a trained practitioner. You lie on a
table while the practitioner uses their hands to manipulate the energy fields
around your body. The practitioner may not touch you at all or may lightly touch
certain areas of your body, such as your neck, to feel and reroute energy.

According to "If you just change the frequency of vibration of the body itself, it
changes the way the cells regrow, it changes the way the sensory system processes."
Amaral admits this is just a hypothesis, but the Goop-ers seem to take it as fact
nonetheless.

netflix-goop-lab-2
Adam Rose/Netflix
What does the science say?
A 2017 review of studies in the Journal of Alternative and that it is currently
impossible to conclude whether or not energy healing is effective for any
conditions. The current body of research is too limited and much of it is too
flawed. A Cochrane review looking specifically at the effects of reiki on anxiety
and depression seconds that conclusion.

A 2019 paper in Global Advances in Health and Medicine, however, gives "energy
medicine" some credit, saying that while this type of therapy cannot and should not
be used singularly, it can offer an additional element of healing for some people
and conditions.

The paper notes that "The healing of a patient must include more than the biology
and chemistry of their physical body; by necessity, it must include the mental,
emotional, and spiritual (energetic) aspects."

I suppose that since chiropractors were once (not too long ago) considered quacks,
there is room for open-mindedness. But according to the International Center for
Reiki Training, energy healing has been around for at least 100 years -- usually a
treatment can be proven or debunked in less time than that, yet many questions
still remain about energy healing.

It is worth noting that placebo effects aren't useless: Even Harvard University
acknowledges placebos as effective feel-good tools, helping people overcome
fatigue, chronic pain and stress.

For example, one study found that a sham version of reiki (performed by an
unlicensed person) was just as effective as the real thing in helping chemotherapy
patients feel more comfortable. This proved that energy healing was a placebo, but
even so, it was helpful for these patients.

Still, placebos can't cure you.

gettyimages-95620835
During Reiki or energy healing, the practitioner does not touch you or only does so
very briefly and lightly.

Getty Images
What do the experts say?
According to science writer Dana G. Smith, this episode "is everything that is
wrong with Goop," and it looks like other experts agree with her.

Chris Lee, a physicist and writer at Ars Technica, crushes Amaral's allusions to
quantum physics and the famed double-slit experiment, saying "Quantum mechanics
does not provide you with the mental power to balance energies, find lay lines or
cure syphilis. It does, unfortunately, seem to provide buzzwords to those prone to
prey on the rich and gullible."

I am far from an expert on quantum physics and the vibrational frequency of body
cells (whatever that means), but this episode rubbed me the wrong way, largely
because it features a beautiful, successful celebrity partaking in what is
currently an utterly unproven therapy.

Julianne Hough is a role model to many women who, after watching Hough writhe and
wail on a table, might feel the need to do the same thing. I'm a big fan of Hough,
but her part in this episode gave me sleazy celebrity endorsement vibes.

Who is this for?

Energy healing, reiki or whatever you want to call it, falls comfortably into the
"if this makes you feel better, go ahead" category. Energy healers don't actually
touch you, and if they do it's just the graze of a fingertip, so the practice is
harmless from a physical standpoint.

Theoretically, there's nothing wrong with seeing an energy healer if you can afford
it and it makes you feel good. But the controversy comes from the fact that people
who need real, proven psychological or physical treatments might ignore that need
in favor of this trendy alternative.

Amaral fails to discuss when conventional medical or psychological treatment is the

best option, only putting forth his method as the ultimate healing tactic. Amaral
cannot mend a broken bone with his energy, nor can he remedy the neurotransmitter
imbalances that cause severe depression.

It can be deadly, even, to ignore conventional treatment and rely on unproven

therapies. Research has suggested that cancer patients who reject traditional care
are less likely to overcome their illness.

But Amaral can, it seems, produce some level of catharsis: If that's what you need,
feel free to lie on the table.

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational

purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a
physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have
about a medical condition or health objectives.

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Home/ Stay Home, Stay Well/ Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy: A Non-Drug Option
For Pain
Mind & Body • 27 May 2020
Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy: A Non-Drug Option for Pain
By uci_admin

Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy: A Non-Drug Option for Pain

By Kim Hecht, DO

Interim Medical Director – Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute

UCI Susan and Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences

Common over the counter medications used for pain relief, such as ibuprofen (e.g.
Advil, Motrin) and acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) have potential health risks when
used long-term or used inappropriately. Overuse of ibuprofen or NSAIDS increase
the risk of stomach ulcers and kidney problems. Inappropriate use of acetaminophen
increases the risk of liver dysfunction. In general, the risks of addiction and
respiratory depression are associated with chronic opioid use. Considering these
risks seeking complementary pain relief is wise to consider.

One complementary method to reduce pain is pulsed electromagnetic field, or PEMF.

PEMF devices offer a nondrug approach to pain management and a potential decrease
of medication use and dependency. There are many pulsed electromagnetic field
devices on the market. The devices vary depending on the magnetic field intensity,
waveform, and frequency. A great amount of research has been performed using PEMF
for different aspects of healing in animal models, as well as clinical treatment of
non-healing fractures, tendon tears, chronic ulcers, post-surgical pain, and acute
or chronic pain. Unfortunately, there is no strong consensus on specific
intensities, frequencies, or waveforms for particular conditions. It has been
difficult to establish an agreement because different magnetic fields applied for
different medical issues can cause different results (Markov, 2015).

Despite the challenges of research, there are multiple possible benefits of a

therapeutic magnetic field application to healing the body (Jerabek and Pawluk,
1996). Studies have shown a decrease in:

Pain,
Swelling
Inflammation
Magnetic field application studies have also shown to improve:

Circulation
Cellular metabolism
Energy
Proposed mechanisms of PEMF therapy include activation of voltage-gated calcium
channels to increase intracellular calcium and nitric oxide release (Pilla, 2015).
Nitric oxide promotes blood vessel production and growth, which is helpful in
healing injured tissues (Pilla, 2015).

PEMF has been examined in many painful conditions including: acute injury,
arthritis and nerve issues. Researchers found improved healing of soft tissue
injuries by decreasing swelling and healing hematoma, while low frequency PEMFs
improved edema during treatment and high frequency up to several hours after the
treatment session (Markov and Pilla, 1995).

In the different conditions investigated:

whiplash had significant improvement of pain compared to controls when treated

with high frequency PEMF at 27.12 MHz (Foley-Nolen et al., 1992).
Patients with had improvement of pain for approximately 90-95% of the time with
PEMF of 35-40 mT applied (Mitbreit et al., 1996).
A research team investigated 83 patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA).
Participants were given treatment for 2 hours a day, 5 days/week for 6 weeks. The
study found significantly improved pain, stiffness, and function in the PEMF group
(Thamsborg, 2005). There was no improvement in function for the control group at 2
weeks, and only mild improvement at 6 and 12 weeks. Unfortunately, there was no
difference between the PEMF group vs. the control group with respect to pain,
stiffness or function as the control group also had significant reduction of pain
and stiffness. While function did not improve in participants over 65 in PEMF
group, when investigators only examined the patients under the age of 65, there was
significant reduction in stiffness between the two groups.
In another study on knee OA, a different device utilizing a sinusoidal signal at
6.8MHs in 34 patients with early knee OA found 60% reduction in pain in the first 5
days. These findings continued for 42 days during use of the device compared to no
significant change in the sham (nonactive device) group (Nelson et al,. 2013).
Other studies for diabetic peripheral neuropathy have shown equivocal results. Two
randomized controlled studies did not find significant improvements of pain with
PEMF therapy (Wrobel et al., 2008; Weintraub et al., 2009), while 2 studies did
find significant improvement in pain in the PEMF group Cieslar et al., 1995; Graak
et al., 2009).
As demonstrated by this brief review, all of the studies discussed employed
different frequencies, waveforms and strength, which is not helpful in making a
uniform recommendation for patients but is helpful to consider as a nondrug option
for pain relief and healing as some patients report significant improvements.

References:

Cieslar G, Sieron A, Radelli J. (1995) The estimation of therapeutic effect of

variable magnetic fields in patients with diabetic neuropathy including vibratory
sensibility. Balneol Pol 37(1): 23–27.

Foley-Nolan D, Moore K, Codd M et al. (1992) Low energy high frequency pulsed
electromagnetic therapy for acute whiplash injuries. A double blind randomized
controlled study. Scand J Rehabil Med 24(1): 51–59.

Graak V, Chaudhary S, Bal BS et al. (April 2009) Evaluation of the efficacy of

pulsed electromagnetic field in the management of patients with diabetic
polyneuropathy. Int J Diabetes Dev Ctries 29(2): 56–61.

Jerabek J, Pawluck W. Magnetic Therapy in Eastern Europe: A Review of 30 years of

Research. Chicago, IL: Advanced Magnetic Research of the Delaware Valley, 1996.

Markov, M ed. (2015) and Medicine. CRC Press Taylor and Francis Group Boca Rotan,
Fl.

Markov MS, Pilla AA. (1995) Electromagnetic field : Pulsed radiofrequency treatment
of post-operative pain and edema. Wounds 7(4): 143–151.

Mitbreit IM, Savchenko AG, Volkova LP et al. (1986) Low-frequency magnetic field in
the complex treatment of osteochondrosis. Ortop Travmatol Protez (10): 24–27.

Nelson FR, Zvirbulis R, Pilla AA. (August 2013) field therapy produces rapid and
substantial pain reduction in early knee osteoarthritis: A randomized double-blind
pilot study. Rheumatol Int 33(8): 2169–2173.

Pilla A. (2015) “Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields: From Signalling to Healing” in

Electromagnetic field in Biology and Medicine. Markov, M ed. CRC Press Taylor and
Francis Group Boca Rotan, Fl.

Thamsborg G, Florescu A, Oturai P et al. (July 2005) Treatment of knee

osteoarthritis with pulsed elec- tromagnetic fields: A randomized, double-blind,.
Osteoarthr Cartil 13(7): 575–581.

Weintraub MI, Herrmann DN, Smith AG et al. (July 2009) Pulsed electromagnetic
fields to reduce pain and stimulate neuronal repair: A randomized controlled trial.
Arch Phys Med Rehabil 90(7): 1102–1109.

Wróbel MP, Szymborska-Kajanek A, Wystrychowski G et al. (September 2008) Impact of

low frequency pulsed intensity, in patients with painful diabetic polyneuropathy.
Diabetes Metab 34(4 Pt 1): 349–354.

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