Buzz
Often labeled as pseudoscience, traditional Chinese medicine, holistic healing methods, and shamanic rituals are actually time-honored practices with histories spanning millennia. With growing global interest, scientists are conducting extensive research to explore the validity of these unconventional fields. Thanks to modern advancements like brain imaging, we can now observe brain activity during practices such as meditation or acupuncture, providing insights into their effects on the mind and body. Below is a curated list of the top 10 scientific findings in this area.
10. Acupuncture
This ancient practice, involving the insertion of needles at specific points on the body, has roots tracing back thousands of years, with the earliest records dating to around 100 B.C. While it remains a cornerstone of traditional Chinese medicine, focusing on treating underlying causes rather than symptoms—unlike Western medicine—it is increasingly embraced in the West. The UK's National Health Service acknowledges acupuncture's ability to stimulate the production of pain-relieving endorphins, even offering it free of charge in certain regions.
Given that the UK NHS now provides acupuncture, it raises the question: Is there scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness? Absolutely! Over 3000 clinical trials have investigated acupuncture's benefits across a wide range of conditions. For instance, the British Acupuncture Council highlights numerous studies demonstrating its positive impact on obesity.
In 2014, Manyanga et al. published a comprehensive review on acupuncture for pain management. The study analyzed 12 trials that compared acupuncture with standard care, placebo, and no treatment for osteoarthritis. Findings revealed notable pain relief, enhanced mobility, and improved quality of life, with longer treatment durations yielding greater benefits. The Canadian research team concluded that acupuncture is a viable alternative to conventional painkillers for osteoarthritis patients.
Acupuncture earns a strong endorsement, provided you can get past the initial apprehension of having numerous needles inserted into your skin simultaneously.
9. Meditation
The National Center for Biotechnology Information lists over 4000 papers under the search term “meditation efficacy,” with 400 published in the last year alone. While meditation has been a centuries-old practice, especially in Eastern traditions, its effects are now being rigorously studied, particularly in the field of neuroscience. Research highlights benefits such as increased patience, self-confidence, happiness, reduced anxiety and depression, and a calmer, less judgmental outlook. These mental improvements often translate to greater physical vitality and energy. But what does the science say?
A study led by professors of Physiology, Anesthesiology, and Pharmacology investigated the impact of “Osho dynamic meditation” on stress hormone levels and its potential anti-stress effects. Osho, an Indian guru, introduced this form of meditation in 1970. It involves stages like chaotic breathing, emotional release, chanting “Hoo” while jumping, silence, and dancing. This practice is believed to reduce aggression, anxiety, and depression.
The study evaluated plasma cortisol levels, which indicate stress, before and after a 21-day meditation program. Results revealed a notable decrease in cortisol levels by the end of the trial. The research team concluded that Osho dynamic meditation effectively reduces stress, likely due to the release of suppressed emotions, psychological barriers, and past traumas. They suggest this meditation technique could be beneficial for managing stress and related physical and mental health issues.
Hard to believe? Consider this: Dr. Zoran Josipovic from NYU has been using fMRI to study the brains of Buddhist monks during meditation. Neuroscientists identify two brain networks—extrinsic and intrinsic—which operate alternately. The extrinsic network handles everyday tasks like making tea or exercising, while the intrinsic network, or “default network,” is associated with emotions and introspection. This network shows heightened activity in individuals with Alzheimer’s, depression, or autism, suggesting it’s a target for these conditions. Research indicates that experienced meditators, such as Buddhist monks, exhibit a clear separation between these networks. This discovery paves the way for new research into treating brain disorders by intentionally isolating the intrinsic network during meditation.
Could happy, meditating monks hold the key to future Alzheimer’s treatments? Neuroscientists believe so. Meditation appears to have profound and positive effects on the mind.
8. Sound / Music Therapy
Music plays a significant role in many lives, capable of uplifting moods or providing a soothing, calming effect. Studies have demonstrated that simply listening to music can lower stress and enhance the production of antibodies, strengthening the immune system. Emerging research suggests that music and sound therapy may have even more profound health benefits than previously understood.
In 2013, Music Director Anthony Holland collaborated with scientists at Skidmore College to explore the concept of tuning forks resonating in harmony. They theorized that if the correct frequency could shatter a crystal glass, perhaps a similar frequency could target and destroy harmful organisms, such as cancer cells. By 2015, Novobiotronics published a study on leukemia cells, revealing a 61 percent reduction in cancer cells when exposed to this specific frequency. While still in its early stages, Holland, a musician by passion, remains hopeful that this breakthrough could revolutionize cancer treatment.
Ultrasound is a widely recognized sound therapy, but histotripsy takes it further. This “non-invasive, mechanical tissue ablation” technique uses focused sound waves to generate microbubbles under intense pressure. These bubbles vibrate rapidly, releasing energy that destroys targeted tissue. Dr. William W. Roberts, an associate professor at the University of Michigan, is researching how histotripsy could benefit patients with liver cancer, prostate cancer, congenital heart conditions, and thrombosis.
7. Energy Healing (Reiki)
Reiki, a Japanese stress-reduction and healing technique, involves the “laying on of hands.” It operates on the principle that an invisible life force energy flows through chakras. When this energy is blocked, chakras become unbalanced, and Reiki aims to restore harmony by clearing these blockages.
Though unconventional, Reiki gained attention when renowned cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz invited Reiki master Julie Motz to assist during open-heart surgeries and heart transplant procedures. Dr. Oz has stated, “Reiki has become a sought-after healing art among patients and mainstream medical professionals.”
But is this claim valid? Researchers at the University of Arizona conducted a trial comparing Reiki to physical therapy for improving range of motion in patients with shoulder pain. The study found that a ten-minute Reiki session was equally effective as manual physical therapy in enhancing mobility for those with shoulder limitations. The team even proposed that physical therapists could benefit from Reiki training to reduce reliance on manual techniques.
In Brazil, scientists at the Institute for Integrated and Oriental Therapy in Sao Paulo examined Reiki's immediate impact on abnormal blood pressure. After a 30-minute session, they observed a significant reduction in blood pressure, indicating Reiki's potential as a complementary approach for managing hypertension.
A study in Turin, Italy, explored Reiki's effects on pain and anxiety in cancer patients visiting a day oncology unit. Twenty-minute Reiki sessions led to lower blood pressure and were deemed beneficial for enhancing overall well-being, relaxation, sleep quality, pain management, and anxiety reduction. The researchers suggested that integrating Reiki into hospital care could address both physical and emotional patient needs.
Who didn’t believe in hands-on healing before? And who still remains skeptical?
6. Qigong / Tai Chi
The ancient practice of Tai Chi has seen a surge in popularity in recent years, though it has been a cornerstone of daily life for millions in China for millennia. This art form, often regarded as a health and wellness exercise, continues to thrive globally.
But does Tai Chi deliver results, and what are its benefits? It is widely acknowledged that Tai Chi offers fitness and wellness advantages, especially for older adults. In 2016, researchers studied the impact of Tai Chi on mental focus in elderly participants after a 16-week program. Those who completed the program demonstrated marked improvements in cognitive tasks, highlighting Tai Chi's potential for enhancing mental clarity.
What about Qigong? Though less recognized than Tai Chi, Qigong is its foundational practice, sharing similar principles of promoting well-being, health, and enhanced cognitive function. In 2017, a German research team analyzed EEG brain activity during Qigong training. The results revealed significant shifts in brain activity, indicating that Qigong fosters a relaxed yet focused mental state, distinct from typical “mind-wandering.”
5. Mantra Chanting
The term “mantra” originates from Sanskrit, meaning “sound tool,” with “Om” (or Aum) being the most renowned. Like music, mantras produce vibrational frequencies that resonate with the brain, evoking emotions. Many cultures and individuals believe that repeating a mantra can shift physical and emotional energy, stirring deep emotional responses. But is there scientific evidence to support these claims?
In 2011, researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences in Bangalore studied the neurohemodynamic effects of chanting “Om” using fMRI. They found significant deactivation in the brain's limbic system during the chanting. The limbic system, responsible for higher mental functions and primal emotions, includes the amygdala (emotional center) and hippocampus (memory and emotional response). The results were compared to a study on vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), used to treat epileptic seizures and treatment-resistant depression, which showed similar limbic system deactivation. This suggests that chanting “Om” can induce inner peace and calm, comparable to electric shock therapy. A no-brainer, perhaps?
4. Telepathy and ESP
Is telepathic communication still science fiction? Not quite. An international team has developed a method to transmit “hello” mentally by recording brain signals in India, converting them into electrical stimulations, and sending them to recipients worldwide. This form of telepathy uses synaptic transmission. EEG records brain activity, which is decoded by a computer and emailed to researchers in France. The signals are then delivered to recipients via transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), allowing them to decode the message into words.
But is this true telepathy? Scientists say not exactly. They describe it as “transmitting information between brains using non-invasive, physical mechanisms.”
Another study defined telepathy as “communicating impressions between minds without using sensory channels.” Researchers explored its neural basis by examining a renowned mentalist and an ordinary individual. Both performed telepathic tasks during fMRI scans. The mentalist showed activity in the right parahippocampal gyrus (linked to emotions and inner thoughts), while the other participant activated the left inferior frontal gyrus (associated with everyday tasks). The findings suggest the limbic system plays a key role in telepathy, warranting further research.
In the 1990s, the CIA famously shut down their remote viewing studies under the Stargate program, though rumors persist that their research yielded intriguing results. As far back as the 1970s, the Stanford Research Institute conducted perception augmentation studies for the CIA. In their 1975 final report, Stanford concluded, “Our findings suggest that both specially selected and ordinary individuals can develop remote perceptual abilities to a level capable of useful information transfer.”
3. Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy often brings to mind health spas or unwanted Christmas gift sets from well-meaning relatives. However, this ancient practice, used for over 6000 years in Egypt, China, and India, promotes health and well-being. Ancient cultures believed specific scents influenced bodily systems—lavender for stress relief and relaxation, and lemongrass for repelling insects and easing aches.
In the 20th and 21st centuries, aromatherapy gained prominence for its therapeutic, cosmetic, and spiritual applications. Recent scientific interest has focused on its effects on mood, alertness, and stress. Studies using EEG and fMRI have shown promising results, such as reduced antidepressant doses for depressed patients after citrus fragrance therapy and decreased anxiety in dental patients exposed to orange oil.
How does it work? While the exact mechanism is still under study, the process begins when scent molecules are inhaled and detected by receptor cells. These signals travel to the brain's hypothalamus, triggering the release of pleasure-related hormones like serotonin and endorphins. There’s clearly some science behind it.
A 2017 study from the University of Calabria in Italy explored the clinical evidence and mechanisms of aromatherapy for managing behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in Alzheimer’s patients. The findings highlighted significant symptom relief, particularly for agitation, and noted positive brain activity changes. Bergamot essential oil, in particular, showed promise in alleviating chronic pain associated with Alzheimer’s.
Science confirms that pleasant scents can boost happiness, calmness, and relaxation. Giving flowers isn’t just a kind gesture—it also enhances well-being. It’s now scientifically validated.
2. Acoustic Levitation
The concept of acoustic or sound levitation has fascinated humanity for centuries, with theories linking it to ancient wonders like the pyramids of Giza and Machu Picchu. Today, Argonne National Laboratory is exploring acoustic levitation as a “containerless processing method” to improve the solubility of pharmaceutical molecules. Current drugs suffer from low solubility, limiting their effectiveness. Transforming them into amorphous forms could significantly boost their efficacy.
Argonne’s groundbreaking experiments with acoustic levitation have successfully produced pure amorphous forms, offering hope for optimizing clinical products. While the technique can’t yet move massive stone blocks, its potential for advancing pharmaceuticals is immense. As they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day—what might the future hold?
What about larger objects? Researchers from the University of São Paulo in Brazil and Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, UK, published a 2016 paper in Applied Physics Letters detailing their work on acoustic levitation. They successfully levitated a two-inch polystyrene ball, significantly larger than the acoustic wavelength in air. While this may not seem groundbreaking, it marks one of the first instances of levitating an object exceeding the acoustic wave's wavelength. Marco Andrade, a co-author, noted, “Currently, we can only levitate the object in a fixed position. Future efforts aim to develop devices capable of levitating and manipulating larger objects in air.”
Could this explain how the Pyramids were built? What ancient knowledge have we lost? Scientists are now actively exploring this possibility, and answers may soon emerge.
1. Hypnosis
Hypnosis is globally recognized, often used to combat addictions like smoking, aid weight loss, or overcome phobias. It’s also a popular stage performance. However, research is underway to validate its benefits and its potential to enhance lives. Many remain skeptical or fearful, questioning whether it’s mind control, something sinister, or a genuine tool for personal improvement.
In 2007, a study by Mount Sinai School of Medicine revealed that hypnosis before breast cancer surgery reduced anesthesia use and significantly decreased post-operative pain, nausea, fatigue, discomfort, and emotional distress compared to standard procedures. The approach also cut surgery time and costs, leading the team to endorse hypnosis for breast cancer patients.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine conducted brain scans on hypnotized individuals, revealing neural changes linked to hypnosis. Using a clinically guided hypnosis technique for treating anxiety, pain, and trauma, they scanned 57 brains and observed altered activity in specific brain regions. David Spiegel MD, the study’s senior author, confirmed these areas are involved in such treatments. He emphasized the potential of hypnosis to reshape how the mind controls perception and the body, noting it took 150 years to recognize the mind’s role in pain management. “We now have clear evidence that the brain can be retrained,” Spiegel stated.
Spiegel and his team are preparing to launch a new study on hypnosis’s effects on fibromyalgia. Recruitment will begin soon, and interested participants can apply here.
