Touch for Health Research

Research Focus

Our research focus is divided into five distinct areas:

1. Studies associated with the Reliability and Validity of the Manual Muscle Test (MMT)

2. Efficacy of the Touch for Health Model

3. Studies focused on basic TFH Techniques which form the foundation of the Touch for Health model: Origin/Insertion Techniques; Neurolymphatic Points; Neurovascular Points; Spinal Reflexes; Emotional Stress Release (ESR); Goal-setting.

4. Research Results of Similar Disciplines such as Acupuncture and Acupressure, Reiki, Shiatsu and Energy Psychology for explaining the Mechanics of individual systems and their efficacies.

5. Theoretical Scientific Thought in the areas of Theoretical Physics (Quantum Mechanics and the String Theory) and Science to help explain some of the techniques and more profound results that have been historically experienced using TFH. These include topics such as the mind-body-spirit connection, the powers of intention and attraction, synchronicity, placebo, neurotransmitters and neuropeptides.

1. Reliability and Validity of the Manual Muscle Test (MMT) - is selected first because it is an essential element of Touch for Health. It is beyond our goals to prove the existence of the meridian system which has been known about and documented by the Chinese for 5,000 years. Today, there are leading-edge devices and machines that can detect and measure some of these energies. James Oshman, Ph.D., a scientist and author of Energy Medicine: The Scientific Basis says that he is asked to evaluate these new devices. He said in June, 2007, "The human hand is still much more flexible and powerful than these machines."

Terminology for the muscle test has also changed over the years. The process is sometimes called muscle monitoring, muscle testing and Donna Eden, author of Energy Medicine calls the process energy testing. In these pages, these terms can be and are used interchangeably. In March 2007, Scott Cuthbert and George J. Goodheart, Jr. published a Literature Review of the studies done on Manual Muscle Test since 1915.

Abstract: Manual Muscle Testing / Monitoring

2. Efficacy of the Touch for Health Model - since the first Touch for Health book was released in 1974 by Dr. John Thie, DC, millions of people around the world have benefitted from the use of TFH. There is supported by abundant anecdotal evidence. In his 35-year practice, Dr. Thie estimated that he, alone, balanced 500,000 people during his career while using the TFH techniques. There has also been an effort that goes back over 30 years to create a central database of results that would serve as empirical data for research into the effectiveness of the TFH techniques.

The eTouch for Health software, released in 2003, is a data-collection tool that has an Internet Gateway where session results can be submitted to an online database. This online database has been functioning since 2006. It is accessible to research members via online login and allows searching of the database via the Researcher's browser.

In 2007, another data collection tool was announced by Brian Esty. Details of this system will be coming soon.

3. Foundational TFH Techniques - there is a subset of techniques that have formed the foundation of TFH which are distinct from the dozens of techniques in TFH that are also used in other disciplines. These foundational techniques include: Origin/Insertion Techniques; Neurolymphatic Points; Neurovascular Points and Spinal Reflexes. While TFH shares the use of techniques such as Meridian Tracing and Luo Points, these foundational techniques receive special attention in our research.

Understanding stress and its affects upon the body is increasingly being studied and documented in almost all health care disciplines. The elimination of the affects of stress is at the center of the holistic TFH model. One of the key techniques taught in TFH is Emotional Stress Release (ESR) and versions of it are taught in every level of the TFH training series. In its holistic focus, TFH combines ESR with the Chinese Five Element Emotions and Goal-setting with Affirmations.

Two of the intervention techniques used in TFH, the Neurovascular and Neurolymphatic are thought to focus on relieving stress at the cellular level. Stimulating Neurovascular Points are theorized to increase blood flow at the micro capillary level for regions of cells associated with the functioning of specific organs and their related muscles with a result that they relieve stress within the system.

Stimulating the Neurolymphatic Points are theorized to increase the functioning of the Lymphatic System which removes waste and toxins from the cells and thereby relieving stress within the system.

Dr. John Thie and Mat Thie evolved and expanded the TFH model with the use of the 5 Element Metaphors as a powerful balancing method. These techniques are used to relieve stress in the body and soul by focusing on goals and then interpreting and correcting energy imbalances using creative verbalization that connects the goal to the metaphor of a meridian, element or muscle. This holistic technique involves mind-body-emotions and soul for producing profound results.

Table of TFH Research Abstracts

4. Research Results from Similar Disciplines - The distinction of TFH is that the muscle test is used to evaluate energy states that are recognized in other disciplines. TFH also borrows techniques from these other disciplines, such as acupressure, and the muscle test is used to evaluate and confirm the effectiveness of the technique. For example, a muscle will test weak or unlock. Next, acupressure holding points associated with the meridian/muscle are held. The muscle test is then used to evaluate whether there was any affect. In TFH, it is standard for there to be an immediate affect and improvement in the muscles ability to lock and hold when light pressure is applied. Another result is that pain often subsides and range of motion improves and the people often report a feeling of relaxation.

TFH has been able to synthesize other techniques and be able to verify their effectiveness by the use of the muscle test. So, when studies are done in these related disciplines, it is a logical assumption that these studies will also relate to Touch for Health directly and indirectly. Therefore, another purpose of this website is to serve as a collection of studies from these related disciplines with the inference that they are also valid to the TFH model.

Energy Psychology is one of the disciplines that shares many foundations with TFH. David Feinstein, Ph.D., a leader in the field and fellow researcher released in Sept. 2007 a new paper entitled, Energy Psychology: A Review of the Preliminary Evidence. This is an example of related research that we are very interested in cataloging and linking to from this site.

Table of Related Research Abstracts

5. Theoretical Scientific Thought - In Progress

Candace Pert, Ph.D., in her book Molecules of Emotion, the Science Behind Mind-Body Medicine states that neuropeptides. are the informational substances of the body that transmit information regulating bodily functions and reactions to stimuli, particularly stress. She continues with her findings and theories where she states that memories are stored throughout the body, and those from tramau and stress having long-lasting affects.

Purpose

This page presents the foundational theories, scientific evidence, and assumptions upon which Touch for Health Energy Kinesiology techniques are built upon. The purpose of this page is to provide descriptions, background, the discoverer (when known) and scientific studies that relate to the technique.

This is a group effort of the IKC and TFHKA Research Membership and will updated as new information is received.

The links found on this page are meant to be starting points for researchers with the resulting summaries, abstracts, reviews and studies listed here serving as a clearinghouse of information.

Background

The Touch for Health (TFH) model is a synthesis of a variety of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practices, theories and concepts coupled with the modern discovery of 'Muscle Testing / Muscle Monitoring / Energy Monitoring / Stress Monitoring' which is used as a bio-feedback tool. Other similar disciplines such as Acupuncture, Acupressure, Qi Gong, Tai Chi, Yoga, Reiki and Shiatsu are all built upon the existence of an energetic meridian system in the body and the belief that good health is achieved through a balance of Yin and Yang and free flow of these vital subtle energies. It is believed in these disciplines that these subtle energies are essential to life and are in addition to the structural, biochemical, circulatory and nervous systems of the body as documented in modern science.

The use of the Manual Muscle Test/Monitoring (MMT) is unique and sometimes controversial in TFH and related models. In 1963, Dr. George Goodheart, DC discovered the link between the muscle tests, as defined by Kendall & Kendall (which are used for determining muscle range of motion and functionality) and Origin / Insertion Proprioreceptor Techniques (Spindle Cells, Golgi Tendon Apparatus), Neurolymphatic Points (Bennett Points) and Neurovascular Points (Chapman Points). He used the MMT as a tool to monitor before and after muscluar functions and then used the techniques listed above as interventions and monitored their affects with the MMT. Later, the deeper associations with the energetic meridians and associations with the organs of the body were added and the MMT continued to be used as a bio-feedback tool. It has been found to be especially effective in monitoring the affects of stress in the body.

Goodheart is the founder of Applied Kinesiology (AK) which uses the MMT as an additional, but not primary diagnostic tool. John Thie created the non-diagnostic Touch for Health model from a subset of the AK techniques.