Harnessing the Invisible: The Science and Power of Life Force Energy

How Ancient Wisdom May Still Holds the Key to Healing

For thousands of years, throughout the world, ancient healing traditions have developed profound understandings of life, health, and healing. Despite cultural differences, these traditions recognised that a life force energy flows through every living being; an energy believed to sustain life, balance the body, and nurture the mind. Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine, are amongst the oldest and most comprehensive healing systems in the world and  referred to this energy as ‘Prana’ and ‘Qi’ respectively. Ancient texts describe it as the essence that flows through the body’s channels (‘nadis’ or ‘meridians’), and the light that shines within and around us. In various religious and spiritual traditions, enlightened beings and healers are often depicted with glowing auras or halos, symbolising their radiant life force. Ancient qigong texts speak of absorbing light energy from the sun, moon and stars and the body radiating varying degrees and qualities of light depending on individual states of health and consciousness. This imagery has deep cultural significance, reflecting the belief that health and consciousness are intertwined with light and energy.

Furthermore in Ayurveda, the vital body (also called the ‘Pranamaya Kosha’ in yogic philosophy) is the second energetic layer beyond the physical body that processes ‘prana’ and channels it through the ‘nadis’ and ‘chakras’ (energy centres) and practises such as Pranayama focus on cultivating prana, enhancing both physical vitality and spiritual awareness. A central concept is that true health arises from the harmonious flow of this life force, and illness is a result of its imbalance or obstruction and this energy can be cultivated, directed, and balanced to promote health and well-being¹. These concepts are well-documented in ancient texts, such as the ‘Vedas’ in Ayurvedic tradition² and ‘The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine’ in Chinese medicine³.

The role of the healer was to aid in balancing this life force, restore its’ natural flow and harmonise the body’s systems to treat and prevent disease whether through various methods such as acupuncture, marma therapy, herbal medicine, dietary advice or hands-on healing^{4, 5, 6}. These practices are holistic, addressing the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of health. And although these ancient ideas were once considered esoteric, the rise in interest in various of these healing modalities might reflect the increasing number of scientific studies proving many of the benefits of ancient Eastern healing practices. 

Bridging the Gap: Understanding the Biofield from a Scientific Perspective

The concept of the ‘biofield’ is starting to provide a scientific framework behind the ancient concepts of ‘qi’ and ‘prana’. The biofield is often defined as an interacting field of energy and information that surrounds and permeates living organisms, playing a critical role in the interaction between the body and its external environment. It may serve as a conduit for rapid information transmission within the organism^7,8. From a scientific perspective, the biofield often refers to the measurable electromagnetic energy emitted by the body’s physiological processes, encompassing the heart, brain, and other organs and extending into the space around the body. For example, we know that the functions of the heart and brain functions are closely linked with the electromagnetic fields they generate and variations in these fields can indicate changes in physiological states or potential pathologies^{9, 10}. 

However there are also proposals suggesting that biofields involve quantum information flow¹¹. Therefore, the biofield may offer a quantum perspective as to how extremely subtle energy can convey information within the body faster than conventionally thought, such as through biophotons. Biophotons are tiny particles of light emitted by cells, which create weak energy transactions that can induce biological effects and therefore the basis of communication between cells in organisms¹². Their emission could act as a sensitive, non-invasive technique for cancer detection and for treatment effectiveness evaluation¹³. 

The movement of electrical charge is associated with virtually all physiological and regulatory processes in the body and we measure this in conventional medicine through the ECG, EEG and EMG for the heart, brain and muscles respectively. At the subatomic level, the movement of electrons, negatively charged particles, creates a magnetic field. These electrons interact with other charged particles and are constantly in motion throughout the body, generating electromagnetic waves as they move. Then at the cellular level, the movement of charged particles within and between cells contribute to the formation of the human biofield. And at the level of the entire organism, the biofield extends beyond the physical body, forming what many ancient healing traditions describe as the ‘aura’.

This aura, in alignment with ancient healing traditions, is believed to encompass the mental, emotional, and physical states of the individual¹⁴. Although it lies within the electromagnetic spectrum, the aura typically falls outside the visible range of human sight, which it can typically not  be seen with the naked eye. However, this field can be measured and analysed through various scientific methods and devices such as Kirlian photography, Aura-reader software, Bio Pulsar Reflexograph, Resonance Field Imaging (RFI), and Quantum Magnetic Resonance (QMR)¹⁵. One study for example has shown a 41% increase in cell death of glioblastoma cell death after biofield treatment compared to untreated cells¹⁶.  

Notably, advances in fields such as psychoneuroimmunology, mind-body research, biophysics, and psychosocial genomics are challenging the traditional biochemical approach of current medical science. The German scientist Prof. Hans has criticised the biochemical model, advocating instead for an understanding of life through the lens of modern physics¹⁷. This approach would represent a significant departure from the conventional biomedical paradigm used in conventional medicine, which reduces life to chemistry and biomolecular structures, and a shift from the Newtonian view of the body as a machine managed by ‘fixing’ individual parts. Instead, it would embrace an integrated model that views the body as a dynamic, interconnected energy system¹⁸, incorporating principles of quantum theory. This perspective would recognise that energy is inherent to everything around us, capable of being transferred and transformed but not destroyed

Revolutionising Healthcare by Embracing the Power of Life Force Energy

Understanding the human biofield may be the key to unlocking a future where healthcare transcends the limitations of conventional medicine. While the biofield remains somewhat outside the mainstream, this may simply be due to a lack of widespread understanding. Yet, as scientific research delves deeper, it is becoming increasingly evident that the energy flowing within us is real, measurable, and vital to our well-being.

Imagine if there were a ‘Human Energy Project’ akin to the Human Genome Project¹⁹, dedicated to fully understanding the human biofield. I believe this could revolutionise our approach to health and healing and facilitate the integration of the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with modern scientific frameworks. These traditions, which have long recognised the central role of life force energy in maintaining health, may offer a roadmap for holistic wellness that modern science is just beginning to validate.

By embracing the transformative power of these ancient energy-based healing systems, we can move beyond merely treating symptoms to addressing the root causes of illness, restoring balance in the body’s energy systems, and achieving deeper, more lasting health outcomes. I believe this integrative approach is a forward-thinking vision of medicine that will hold the key to optimal health and vitality; a vision I wholeheartedly embrace in my own practice. 

References:

1. Textbook of Ayurveda: Fundamental Principles; V. Lad
2. The Rig Veda: An Anthology of One Hundred and Eight Hymns; W. Doniger
3. The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine; M. Ni
4. Ayurveda: The Science of Self-Healing: A Practical Guide; V. Lad
5. The Foundations of Chinese Medicine: A Comprehensive Text For Acupuncturists and Herbalists; G. Macioca
6. The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine; T.J. Kaptchuk
7. Biofield Science and Healing: History, Terminology, and Concepts; B Rubik et al.
8. Quantifying Biofield Therapy through Biophoton Emission in a Cellular Model; J Kent et al. 
9. The Energetic Heart: Bioelectromagnetic Interactions Within and Beyond the Body; R. McCraty & M. Atkinson
10. Heart Rate Variability: New Perspectives on Physiological Mechanisms, Assessment of Self-Regulatory Capacity, and Health Risk; R. McCraty & F. Shaffer
11. Bio-photons and bio-communication; R VanWijk
12. Energy Medicine: The Scientific Basis; J.L. Oschman
13. Biophoton detection as a novel technique for cancer imaging; M Takeda et al.
14. Comparison and Performance Evaluation of Human Biofield Visualization Algorithm; G Chhabra et al.
15. Clinical Studies of Biofield Therapies: Summary, Methodological Challenges, and Recommendations; S Jain et al.
16. The Potential Impact of Biofield Treatment on Human Brain Tumor Cells: A Time-Lapse Video Microscopy; M. K. Trivedi et al.
17. What is Life? Scientific Approaches and Philosophical Positions; D. Hans-Peter
18. Biofield Science and Healing: History, Terminology, and Concepts; B Rubik et al.
19. The Human Genome Project