Effectiveness of Distant/Remote Blessing Treatment on Cognitive-motor Function: A Randomized Double-blind Placebo-controlled Trial

A randomized, double-blind clinical trial tested whether remote blessing (biofield energy) therapy improves cognitive and motor functions in 117 adults with self-reported neuropsychological impairments. Participants were assigned to a blessing treatment group, a sham control group, or a naïve control group. At 90 and 180 days, the blessing group showed statistically significant improvements in language function, working memory, episodic memory, locomotion, standing balance, dexterity, grip strength, and muscle endurance compared to both control groups. No adverse effects occurred. The authors conclude that remote blessing therapy is safe, non-invasive, and enhances cognitive-motor functions.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Background Biofield therapies can be administered in person (hands-on treatment) or remotely, and this study focuses on the latter. A literature review did not find any reports on the effectiveness of remote biofield energy /blessing therapy in enhancing cognition and motor function performance in adults. Objective The aim of this study was to examine the effect of distant/remote blessing (biofield energy) therapy on the cognitive and motor functions in adults with self-reported neuropsychological impairments using NIH Toolbox®. Methods The present study was a randomized, double-blind clinical trial involving 117 participants with self-reported neuropsychological impairments. These participants were stratified into three distinct groups: control, sham control, and blessing/biofield treatment as the intervention. At baseline (day 0), day 90, and day 180, NIH Toolbox® was employed to evaluate all participants’ cognitive and motor function scores. Results In the blessing treatment group, language function score (p <0.01), working memory (p <0.0001), and episodic memory (p <0.0001) scores exhibited statistically significant differences compared to both the naïve control and sham control groups. Moreover, in the blessing intervention group, a substantial improvement was observed in locomotion (p <0.0001), standing balance (p <0.01), dexterity (p <0.01), grip strength (p <0.05), and muscle endurance (p <0.05) compared to the naïve control and sham control groups. Importantly, no adverse effects were reported during the study period. Conclusion The study outcomes revealed that distant/remote blessing/biofield energy therapy is safe, non-invasive, and less expensive. It enhances cognitive-motor functions in adults with perceived neuropsychological impairments. Clinical Trial Registration CTRI/2022/07/043736.