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| === Conceptual precedents=== | === Conceptual precedents=== | ||
| Subtle energy fields and non-physical linkages between people are posited in various other healing and spiritual traditions. For example, ]s are one common description of personal energy fields, ] and ] are other non-scientific traditions and practices of healing by means of energy, and both modern ] concepts and ancient ] and ] concepts are supportive of the idea of a universal non-physical connection or "all living beings being one". | |||
| The idea of subtle energy is also paralleled by terms in other fields, including ], ] and ]. Similar to the subtle energy fields proposed in radionics, none of these accord with any accepted ]. | The idea of subtle energy is also paralleled by terms in other fields, including ], ] and ]. Similar to the subtle energy fields proposed in radionics, none of these accord with any accepted ]. | ||
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Radionics is a body of ideas and practice concerning the concept of subtle energy and its transmission from one person to another (or any living being) for healing purposes. The ideas behind radionics originated in the early 1900s with Albert Abrams (1864-1924).
The concepts of such fields is not uncommon in alternative medicine, and is also according to its practitioners associated with extrasensory perception (ESP), but are not recognized scientifically, nor is there much support for the ideas and practices from the scientific community. As a result Radionics is usually classed as a pseudoscience.
Background
Description of Radionics
Radionics is a form of alternative healing premised on the existence of a subtle energy field surrounding each living being, and a non-physical connection and unity (sometimes called the "universal mind" ) between living beings that is indifferent to the physical space between them. It holds that this field:
- "... sustains and vitalises it . If the field is weakened, for example by stress or pollution, then eventually the physical body also becomes weak, leaving it susceptible to illness. The aim of radionics is to identify the weaknesses in this field and to correct them, and thereby alleviate or prevent physical or emotional dis-ease. This subtle field cannot be accessed using our conventional senses."
Radionics practitioners use techniques similar to dowsing to focus their own senses, identify weaknesses in the field and assist in the selection of healing remedies. These may include both physical instruments, of which Abrams himself designed thirteen, as well as use of items "unique to the individual" such as hair or their signature, as focussing aids for the the healing effect of the practitioner's own subtle energy.
The description of these fields and related connections as universal and non-physical also means that according to its practitioners, Radionics is capable of use either in person or remotely, for healing purposes.
Conceptual precedents
Subtle energy fields and non-physical linkages between people are posited in various other healing and spiritual traditions. For example, auras are one common description of personal energy fields, spiritual healing and energy healing are other non-scientific traditions and practices of healing by means of energy, and both modern extrasensory perception concepts and ancient mystical and nondual concepts are supportive of the idea of a universal non-physical connection or "all living beings being one".
The idea of subtle energy is also paralleled by terms in other fields, including orgone, odic force and qi. Similar to the subtle energy fields proposed in radionics, none of these accord with any accepted scientific theory.
History
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Radionics and healing
Radionics as a healing technique is based on the idea that all life and matter contains vibrations and harmonics which radionics seeks to manipulate: "all drugs that are specific in the treatment of disease have a definite vibration rate."
According to this idea, a healthy person will have certain 'energy frequencies' moving through their body that define health, while an unhealthy person will exhibit other, different 'energy frequencies' that define their health disorders. Radionic devices are purported to diagnose and restore persons to health by applying healing frequencies to balance out the 'discordant' frequencies of sickness. Radionics borrows the word frequency to describe an imputed energy type and differs from usual meanings since it does not correspond to any property of the known forms of energy.
Albert Abrams developed thirteen devices claimed to detect such frequencies and/or cure people by matching their frequencies. Abrams became a millionnaire leasing his devices. he was also considered by the American Medical Association to be the "dean of gadget quacks."
The first complete report on Radionics was compiled by Edward Wriothesley Russell in his book "Report on Radionics" (1973).
Types of radionic devices
George de la Warr, founder of Delawarr Laboratories was who first made an intensive use and development of radionic devices, standarising some of these.
There are two main types of radionic devices. The first is simply an analysis tool, that is said to determine what is wrong with the subject being diagnosed. The second is a treatment tool used to attempt to heal or cure the subject of whatever is thought to ail them. These two may also be combined into a single device.
The typical radionics analysis device has a metal cup referred to as the well, a large collection of knobs numbered 0 to 9 on each dial, and a metal plate referred to as the stick plate. A cable may also be used to attach a sensor plate to the body of the person receiving treatment.
A radionics treatment device has all the base components of the analysis device, plus additional wells to be used to hold the material used to heal the subject. It may also have a power cord that is said to provide a base frequency rate to send the healing rate into the patient.
Diagnostic usage
To operate a typical radionic device, a sample material is placed in the well, such as blood, saliva, or urine. The knobs act as a counter and are used to estimate the frequency at which the sample is thought to be vibrating. The stick plate is operated by the analyst who drags a finger across this plate while adjusting the knobs.
As the knobs are adjusted, there is a point where their finger sticks more firmly to the plate than at any other settings. This is referred to as "getting the stick." This point of greatest sticking is the setting for that knob. The analyst then moves on to adjusting the next knob to the point of greatest stick, and so on, until all knobs have been adjusted. The final readout across all knobs is described as the frequency for the sample material.
This method of operation is highly subjective, since it depends on an analyst experienced with moving their finger across the stick plate and interpreting what the sensations mean.
Scientific assessment of Radionics
Assessment of theory
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Assessment of devices
Radionic devices do not accord with the theories of biology or physics. In that sense they can be described as magical in operation.
The power of radionics is said to lie in the rates or frequencies it measures and then feeds back to the patient. Although a healing substance can be directly used to feed healing frequencies back into the patient, the substance is not actually needed if its healing frequency rate is known.
Internally, a radionic device is very simple, and may not even form a functional electrical circuit. In radionics, the wiring in the analysis device is simply used to conduct the frequencies from the well, across the measurement knobs, and to the stick plate. No actual electrical current flows.
A radionic device does not use or need electric power, though a power cord may be provided so that the power line can provide a "base rate" on which the device operates to attempt to heal a subject.
Typically, little attempt is made to define or describe what, if anything, is flowing along the wires and being measured.
References
- ^ http://www.radionic.co.uk/What_is_radionics.htm
- http://www.radionic.co.uk/
- Great American Quacks
- Article on Royal Rife at Quackwatch
See also
- Albert Abrams, originator of the theory
- Ruth Drown
- George de la Warr
- Royal Raymond Rife
External Links
- Radionics in the Skeptic's dictionary
- British Radionic Association
- Radionic and Dowsing informations