Revision 460739429 of "Polarity therapy" on enwiki

{{Infobox Alternative Medicine | image=Yin and Yang.svg | claims = Healing can be achieved through manipulation of complementary (or polarized) energies.|topics = [[Energy (esotericism)]], [[Energy medicine]]|origyear = 1940s| origprop = [[Randolph Stone]] | laterprop = [[Pierre Pannetier]] | seealso= [[Reiki]], [[Therapeutic touch]]}}
{{Energy therapy}}
'''Polarity therapy''' is an [[alternative medicine|alternative ]] [[energy medicine]] system developed in the 1940s by Doctor [[Randolph Stone]].<ref name=InteliHealth>{{cite web|url=http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/8513/34968/358862.html |title=Polarity |accessdate=2008-12-27 |date=2008-04-29 |publisher=Natural Standard }}</ref> It proposes that health benefits can be achieved through manipulation of complementary (or polarized) forces, a form of [[energy (esotericism)|energy]] currently unknown to science.  Little [[empirical evidence]] for the efficacy of this technique has been found and there is no empirical support for its underlying ideas.<ref name=InteliHealth />

==Beliefs==
Polarity therapy is an [[alternative medicine|alternative ]] [[energy medicine]] system, centered on the concept of a [[Energy (esotericism)|human energy field]].<ref name="Oschman">Oschman, J.: Energy Medicine, The Scientific Basis, page 10. (Churchill Livingstone, 2000).</ref> Advocates and practitioners of polarity therapy claim that this is an invisible and intangible energetic system is the substrate for all phenomena. Using touch, verbal interaction, exercise, nutrition and other methods,<ref>American Polarity Therapy Association: Standards for Practice (Fourth Edition), page 2. APTA, 2003.</ref> practitioners of polarity therapy seek to balance and restore the natural flow of energy which, it is claimed,{{Who|date=December 2008}} flows from the universe and into the body through the [[chakras]]. While an electromagnetic metaphor is often used, Stone emphasized that the energy concept had a larger context; he referred to it as the "Breath of Life"<ref>Stone, R.: "Polarity Therapy Vol. I", page 2. CRCS, 1986.</ref> and used [[esotericism|esoteric language]] (such as ''ki'', ''ch'i'', ''prana'' and ''life force'') from spiritual traditions (especially mystic [[Christianity]],<ref>Stone, R.: "The Mystic Bible." RSSB, 1956.{{pn|date=November 2011}} Initially trained to be a Lutheran priest, Stone has Biblical references throughout all of his books.{{fact|date=November 2011}}</ref> [[Ayurveda]],<ref>Morningstar, A,: The Ayurvedic Guide to Polarity Therapy. Lotus Press, 2002.{{pn|date=November 2011}} This presents Polarity concepts from the perspective of the Ayurvedic health care system{{fact|date=November 2011}}</ref> [[Taoism]], [[Hinduism]],<ref>Burger, B.: Esoteric Anatomy. North Atlantic Books, 1998.{{pn|date=November 2011}}</ref> [[Buddhism]],<ref name="sills" >Sills, F.: The Polarity Process. North Atlantic, 2002.{{pn|date=November 2011}}</ref> [[Sufism]] and [[Yoga]]<ref>Wehrli, K.: The Why in the Road. Earthlit Press, 2005.{{pn|date=November 2011}}</ref>) to describe polarity therapy.

According to proponents, blockages in the flow of energy lead to pain and [[disease]] or may be experienced as stuck emotions and lack of vitality. The aim is to re-establish "balance" or "correct" the energetic flow. In addition to polarity bodywork,{{clarify|date=November 2011}} specific polarity [[yoga]] exercises, counseling/positive thinking, and nutritional recommendations are claimed to enhance vitality.

==Practice==

Polarity therapists claim to work with the reciprocal, complementary or "polarized" forces, which they describe with the traditional Chinese words yin and yang.{{fact|date=November 2011}} Although the concept of polarity implies two forces in opposition, these dualities are said by some{{who|date=November 2011}} to be mediated by a subtle third neutral factor, leading to the idea that phenomena are essentially triune in nature.{{fact|date=November 2011}} In Ayurveda, the three factors are known as ''Rajas'', ''Tamas'', and ''Satva''.{{fact|date=November 2011}}

Polarity therapists claim to work with [[energy medicine|energetic patterns]] (similar to [[acupuncture]] [[Meridian (Chinese medicine)|meridians]], and marma points).  The [[caduceus]], representative of the ida and pingala, is another aspect of the nadis/chakra system that is thought to be manipulated during certain types of polarity treatments.{{fact|date=November 2011}} According to Stone, the purpose of life is "the fulfillment of consciousness".<ref>Chitty, J. and Muller, M.L.: Energy Exercises, page 123-124. Polarity Press, 1990.</ref>

Polarity therapy is often connected with other forms of [[alternative medicine]], such as [[Oriental medicine]], [[Ayurveda]], [[craniosacral therapy]], [[energy medicine]] and [[osteopathy]], which all attempt to explore the subtle energetic factors in health conditions from their particular cultural viewpoints. Many chiropractic, osteopathic, and cranial manipulations and naturopathic perspectives and techniques are explored in Stone's writings and diagrams.

Polarity therapy has four distinct areas of technique:  touch, stretching and exercise, diet, and mental-emotional process.<ref name="sills" />

==Scientific investigations==
Two studies by a group at the [[University of Rochester]] have suggested that polarity therapy may be effective in controlling symptoms of cancer-related fatigue.<ref name=Roscoe>{{cite journal |pages=8–13 |doi=10.1177/1534735404273726 |title=Treatment of Radiotherapy-Induced Fatigue Through a Nonpharmacological Approach |year=2005 |last1=Roscoe |first1=J. A. |journal=Integrative Cancer Therapies |volume=4 |pmid=15695472 |last2=Matteson |first2=SE |last3=Mustian |first3=KM |last4=Padmanaban |first4=D |last5=Morrow |first5=GR |issue=1}}{{MEDRS|date=November 2011}}</ref><ref name=Mustian>{{cite journal |pages=27–37 |doi=10.1177/1534735410397044 |pmc=3085180 |title=Polarity Therapy for Cancer-Related Fatigue in Patients with Breast Cancer Receiving Radiation Therapy: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study |year=2011 |last1=Mustian |first1=K. M. |last2=Roscoe |first2=J. A. |last3=Palesh |first3=O. G. |last4=Sprod |first4=L. K. |last5=Heckler |first5=C. E. |last6=Peppone |first6=L. J. |last7=Usuki |first7=K. Y. |last8=Ling |first8=M. N. |last9=Brasacchio |first9=R. A. |journal=Integrative Cancer Therapies |volume=10 |pmid=21382958 |issue=1}}{{MEDRS|date=November 2011}}</ref> Another study has suggested that polarity therapy may be a feasible and culturally acceptable approach to reducing stress, depression, and pain in [[Native American]] populations.<ref name=Korn>{{cite journal |pages=368–77 |doi=10.1093/geront/gnp032 |pmc=2682170 |title=A Randomized Trial of a CAM Therapy for Stress Reduction in American Indian and Alaskan Native Family Caregivers |year=2009 |last1=Korn |first1=L. |last2=Logsdon |first2=R. G. |last3=Polissar |first3=N. L. |last4=Gomez-Beloz |first4=A. |last5=Waters |first5=T. |last6=Ryser |first6=R. |journal=The Gerontologist |volume=49 |issue=3 |pmid=19377083}}{{MEDRS|date=November 2011}}</ref>

A 2007 review of the literature on the use of several [[alternative medicine]] treatments, including polarity therapy, concluded that insufficient data exists to recommend any specific complementary medicine modality for cancer-related fatigue.<ref name=Sood>{{cite journal |pages=8–13 |doi=10.1177/1534735406298143 |title=A Critical Review of Complementary Therapies for Cancer-Related Fatigue |year=2007 |last1=Sood |first1=A. |last2=Barton |first2=D. L. |last3=Bauer |first3=B. A. |last4=Loprinzi |first4=C. L. |journal=Integrative Cancer Therapies |volume=6 |pmid=17351022 |issue=1}}{{MEDRS|date=November 2011}}</ref>

The claim that blockages in the flow of energy lead to pain and disease directly contradicts the [[germ theory of disease]].{{fact|date=November 2011}}

==See also==
* [[Ayurvedic]]
* [[Craniosacral therapy]]
* [[Energy medicine]]
* [[Kabbalah]]
* [[Meridian (Chinese medicine)]]
* [[Naturopathic]]
* [[Osteopathic]]
* [[Radionics]]
* [[Randolph Stone]]
* [[Theosophy]]
* [[Vibrational Medicine]]

==Books==
Between 1947 and 1954, Stone published seven books describing polarity therapy principles and applications. These were subsequently consolidated into three volumes:<ref>Stone, R.: "Polarity Therapy, Vol. II", page 227 ff. CRCS, 1986.</ref> 

*''Polarity Therapy Vol. I'' CRCS (1986)  ISBN 978-1570670794
*'' Polarity Therapy Vol. II'' CRCS (1986)  ISBN 978-0916360252
*''Health-Building'' The Book Publishing Co. (1999) ISBN 978-1570670817

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.polaritytherapy.org/ American Polarity Therapy Association]
* [http://www.ukpta.org.uk/ UK Polarity Therapy Association]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Polarity Therapy}}
[[Category:Energy therapies]]
[[Category:Pseudoscience]]

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