Part 4 - Public and Health Authorities
As the world shifts toward more holistic and personalized approaches to healthcare, the influence of public and health authorities plays a pivotal role in shaping the acceptance and integration of energy healing and complementary therapies. While conventional medicine remains dominant, the growing demand for integrative care raises important questions: How do different countries balance scientific rigor with alternative practices? What challenges do energy healers face in gaining legitimacy? This chapter explores the evolving landscape of energy healing, the regulatory frameworks in various countries, and the efforts of practitioners to bridge the gap between tradition and innovation in medicine.
4.1 - The Influence of Public Authorities on Conventional and Holistic Medicine
Western public authorities derive their influence from the established paradigm of conventional medicine, shaped by the cultural, economic, and industrial development of our civilization. Conventional medicine is the backbone of health and social protection systems, with a long history of scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness. While public authorities have supported the development of holistic or complementary medicine to varying degrees, this support depends on the prevailing political and social will in each country. As a result, the legal status and implementation of holistic or complementary medicine vary across nations.
In most Western countries, complementary therapists are not considered licensed doctors, and their disciplines are not integrated into public university curricula. Typically, care from complementary therapists is not reimbursed by insurance. However, complementary therapies are often freely practiced and sometimes included in a patient’s care plan alongside conventional medicine. This combination is known as integrative medicine, which takes a holistic, patient-centered approach, adapting care to the patient’s specific needs and lifestyle.
As Laurel McEwen , PhD, notes “Integrative medicine is a holistic, patient-centered approach that offers health pathways adapted to the patient's specificity and takes into account their lifestyle, medical needs and overall health. To do this, it integrates various conventional and complementary care techniques to allow patients to recover and then maintain their health. This means a patient may be treated with surgery and antibiotics, followed by acupuncture, massage and cooking classes; while another may receive energy therapy from Healing Touch and meditation support in addition to their chemotherapy .” - Extract from her paper Integrative Medicine in the United-States and France (Hegel, vol. 10, 2020).
4.2 - Global Differences in the Acceptance and Implementation of Integrative Medicine
The approach to complementary and integrative medicine varies significantly between countries. In the United States, before 1998, medical care and education systems were almost entirely centered around conventional Western medicine, with alternative therapies largely marginalized. Medical schools prioritized the biomedical model, focusing on anatomy, biochemistry, pathology, and pharmacology, leaving little room for complementary practices.
However, by the late 20th century, patient demand for holistic, personalized care began to shift the focus. In 1998, the U.S. Congress created the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), spurring research into alternative therapies. As a result, nearly 100 medical schools, including prestigious institutions like Harvard, Columbia, Duke, and Stanford, have integrated alternative approaches into their curriculum. Many hospitals now offer energy therapies like Reiki, particularly in cancer treatment and support.
Europe saw a similar trend, with the European Parliament passing a law in 1997 encouraging the recognition of alternative medicine and granting citizens the freedom to choose their therapeutic options. Countries like Switzerland and Germany have long embraced alternative medicine. In Germany, for instance, ‘Heilpraktikers’ (health practitioners) have been practicing since 1939 after passing a special commission, regardless of whether they hold a diploma. Switzerland has regulated alternative therapies by law for years, and cutting-edge integrative medicine centers are widespread in both countries.
Meanwhile, in Scandinavia and Spain, healers enjoy almost complete freedom in practicing complementary medicine. In contrast, France remains resistant to recognizing energy therapies officially, making it the most refractory nation in Western Europe. Complementary therapists in France, including energy healers, operate without official acknowledgment from authorities.
4.3 - The Role of Official Medical and Professional Authorities in Energy Healing
The regulation of medical practices in Western countries is overseen by powerful bodies such as the American Medical Association (AMA) in the U.S., the General Medical Council in the U.K., and the National Council of the Order of Physicians in France. These organizations ensure the health and safety of their populations through the enforcement of ethical codes and standards. They play a crucial role in shaping the healthcare system and advancing medical research, which often emphasizes conventional medicine.
Conventional medicine has an organized and structured system, which gives it significant power to influence public authorities. While this structure can lead to a near-monopoly on healthcare, it also promotes caution to avoid excesses and protect social protection systems. Medical authorities generally guide patients first toward conventional medicine for diagnosis and treatment, with complementary therapies considered as secondary options. This protocol aligns with the practice of most complementary practitioners.
However, despite the recognition of some complementary practices like acupuncture, meditation, and hypnosis, most energy therapies remain marginalized by official medical authorities. Energy therapies are often dismissed as pseudoscience due to a lack of strong scientific evidence, and conventional medicine practitioners tend to prioritize treatments backed by clinical research.
In response to the lack of formal recognition, many energy practitioners have organized into professional associations and unions across the Western world. These organizations aim to promote their practices, represent their members’ interests, and ensure visibility in the public sphere. For example, in the U.S., the Academic Collaborative for Integrative Health represents a large network of complementary health practitioners. The Australasian Integrative Medicine Association performs a similar role in Australia, and the GNOMA (Groupement National pour l’Organisation des Médecines Alternatives), founded in France in 1951, advocates for alternative medicine in Europe. These organizations help energy practitioners coalesce around a shared code of ethics, establish training centers, and provide a unified voice when dealing with public authorities and the media.