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Other common
name(s): polarity balancing, polarity energy balancing
Scientific/medical
name(s): none
Description
Polarity therapy is based on the idea that a person's health
and well-being are determined by the natural flow of energy through the
body. Polarity refers to the positive and negative charges of the
body's electromagnetic energy field. Practitioners use touch, movement,
and other methods to help this energy flow.
Overview
Available scientific evidence does not support claims that
polarity therapy is effective in treating cancer or any other disease.
However, it is sometimes recommended by physicians as a tool for
relaxation when conducted by a trained professional.
How is it promoted for use?
Polarity therapy is based on the theory that a smooth flow of
energy maintains health, while disruptions in the flow caused by
trauma, stress, poor nutrition, and other factors lead to energy
imbalances, fatigue, and illness. There are believed to be three types
of energy fields in the human body: long-line currents that run north
to south on the body; transverse currents that run east-west in the
body; and spiral currents that start at the navel and expand outward.
Practitioners of polarity therapy claim they can identify the
sources of energy blockages and disruptions by observing symptoms such
as headaches, tight shoulders and back muscles, muscle spasms, pain,
abdominal discomfort, and even tumors. They also claim polarity therapy
can be used to promote relaxation and range of motion, relieve tension,
increase energy, and reduce pain, inflammation, and swelling. They
further state that polarity therapy enhances the body's ability to
fight off serious illness, including cancer.
What does it involve?
The first polarity therapy session includes detailed questions
about physical and mental health, diet and exercise, health concerns,
work, and more. The patient lies on a massage table while the therapist
scans for imbalances and checks energy flow in the body. The polarity
therapist may use a variety of techniques to balance and clear energy
field paths. Some of these include twisting the torso, spinal
realignment, curling toes, rocking motions, and moving the hands or
crystals along the body's natural energy pathways. Some techniques are
similar to those used by chiropractors (see our document, Chiropractic).
Other aspects of polarity therapy may include supportive counseling,
deep-breathing exercises, diet changes, hydrotherapy (see our document,
Hydrotherapy),
stretching, and yoga (see our document, Yoga).
Because polarity therapy is based on the unique needs of the
patient at the time, no two sessions are exactly alike. Most often,
weekly sessions are suggested for six to eight weeks, although this may
vary depending on the person and his or her needs. During a successful
session of polarity therapy, the patient is said to reach a state of
deep relaxation. A polarity therapy session lasts about an hour or
more. Generally, polarity therapy is recommended for use in addition to
standard medical care.
What is the history behind it?
Polarity therapy was developed in the late 1940s by Randolph
Stone, a chiropractor, osteopath, and naturopath. Dr. Stone studied
several forms of traditional medicine practices from India and China.
He taught that each person is responsible for his or her own health and
that simple steps such as those involved in polarity therapy improve
physical and spiritual well-being. According to the American Polarity
Therapy Association, about one thousand polarity therapists are
registered in the United States. Various schools and people from around
the world teach polarity therapy. Some organizations have training
programs to certify polarity therapists. However, these organizations
are not regulated by any government agency.
What is the evidence?
Claims that polarity therapy is an effective treatment for
cancer and other serious diseases have not been proven. The existence
of energy field paths in the human body has also not been proven.
Little clinical research has been published in peer-reviewed medical
journals on polarity therapy. A very small pilot study looked at
fatigue in women undergoing radiation therapy for breast cancer and
found that the women who got polarity treatments reported better
quality of life a few days afterward. However, no treatment was used in
the comparison group, and the patients’ expectation of
improvement may have affected the results. A 2007 review study that
looked at research on complementary methods to help cancer-related
fatigue did not find enough evidence to recommend polarity therapy for
this problem.
Patients often report feeling relaxed and less tense after a
polarity therapy session. Some physicians encourage patients to undergo
bodywork therapies (such as polarity therapy and massage) because some
make people feel better, if only for a short time. Others believe the
prolonged physical contact involved in hands-on techniques is relaxing
and therefore helpful to some people.
Are there any possible problems or
complications?
Polarity therapy, when done by a trained professional, is
considered safe for relaxation purposes. Improperly applied techniques
may cause injury. People with cancer and chronic conditions such as
arthritis and heart disease should talk to their doctors before having
any type of treatment that involves manipulation of joints and muscles.
Relying on this treatment alone and delaying or avoiding
conventional medical care for cancer may have serious health
consequences.
Additional Resources
More information from your American Cancer
Society
The following information on complementary and alternative
therapies may also be helpful to you. These materials may be found on
our Web site (www.cancer.org)
or ordered from our toll-free number (1-800-ACS-2345).
References
Cassileth B. The
Alternative Medicine Handbook: The Complete Reference Guide to
Alternative and Complementary Therapies. New York, NY: W.
W. Norton; 1998.
National Institutes of Health. Alternative Medicine: Expanding
Medical Horizons: A Report to the National Institutes of Health on
Alternative Medical Systems and Practices in the United States.
Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office; 1994. NIH publication
94-066.
Polarity. Aetna InteliHealth Web site. Accessed at
http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH?d=dmtContent&c=358862 on
June 2, 2008.
Roscoe JA, Matteson SE, Mustian KM, Padmanaban D, Morrow GR.
Treatment of radiotherapy-induced fatigue through a nonpharmacological
approach. Integr Cancer
Ther. 2005;4:8-13.
Sood A, Barton DL, Bauer BA, Loprinzi CL. A critical review of
complementary therapies for cancer-related fatigue. Integr Cancer Ther.
2007;6:8-13.
Wilson W. Polarity therapy: in introduction. American Polarity
Therapy Association Web site. Accessed at
http://www.polaritytherapy.org/page.asp?PageID=24 on June 2, 2008.
Note: This information may not cover
all possible claims, uses, actions, precautions, side effects or
interactions. It is not intended as medical advice, and should not be
relied upon as a substitute for consultation with your doctor, who is
familiar with your medical situation.
Last Medical Review: 11/01/2008
Last Revised: 11/01/2008
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