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According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), energy medicine is a domain in CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) that deals with energy therapy categories of two types: veritable - those that can be measured, and putative - those yet to be measured.
Veritable energies use vibrations such as sound and electromagnetic forces, visible light, magnetism and laser beams. They involve the use of specific, measurable wavelengths and frequencies to treat patients (i.e. MRI, pacemakers, radiation therapy, ultraviolet light, sound energy therapy - music and tuning forks - light therapy and magnetic therapy). Interestingly, sound, light and magnetic therapy were at one time considered immeasurable.
In contrast, putative energy therapy categories have, according to the NIH, defied measurement by reproducible methods. The concept behind these therapies is that human beings are infused with a subtle form of energy that surrounds the body, and this energy can be manipulated to create harmony and balance within the body.
The most common of these therapies are acupuncture, reflexology, qi gong, polarity therapy, cranialsacral therapy, shiatsu (acupressure), Zen body massage and biofield therapy. Biofield therapy is the area where energy healing is categorized.
Although applied differently in each case, acupuncture, qigong, shiatsu, Zen body massage and biofield therapy are based on the concept that invisible channels (meridians) form a circuit/network throughout the body and that energy is dispersed by way of this circuit/network throughout the body.
The NIH website states that energy medicine is a frontier of modern research for the development of new diagnostic and treatment systems. Much research is being performed in that direction.
For more information:
International Society for the Study of Subtle Energy and Energy Medicine (ISSSEEM)
National Institute of Health
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Knoxville, TN 37919