EMP 742 B. Rubik 3 credits
Introduction to the Human Biofield: Scientific and Philosophical Concepts
Description
Living systems are complex, nonlinear, dynamical, self-organizing systems of ionic, molecular, intracellular, cellular, and extracellular components, structures, patterns, and processes in continual interaction and transmutation through the mediating effects of energy fields imbued with information. The living system continually exchanges mass, momentum, and energy-with-information within and across multiple levels of organization to heal, maintain, or—in the case of humans—advance themselves. This course will provide a philosophical and scientific overview of holistic biotonic principles that are central to the organism, including the vital force or bioenergy field, also called the biofield. Such holistic field concepts have played central roles in the traditional worldviews and healing systems of all indigenous cultures on earth. Both Eastern and Western biofield concepts will be covered in this course. Although such holistic field concepts generally have been frowned upon in conventional Western science and medicine for over a century, their resurrection may be essential to building an appropriate scientific foundation for energy medicine. The most recent work in biofield science and its future prospects will also be discussed.
Objectives
- Define energy and information, as well as energy-with-information
- Elucidate at least four different concepts of vital force or vital energy in Eastern and Western culture and explore the differences among them
- Explain self-organizing (or “far-from-equilibrium”) dynamical systems theory and homeodynamics and how they are related to health and healing
- Explain how biofield concepts have been used in developmental biology and cognitive neurophysiology
- Explain the anatomy of the acupuncture system and its function from a biofield perpective
- Elucidate the chakra system from a biofield perspective
- Compare and contrast the dominant biomedical paradigm with a biofield perspective
- Explain how the biofield may provide a scientific foundation for energy medicine
- Explore the possible relationship between the biofield and consciousness in the context of various theories and views emerging from the scientific and medical community
- Analyze some recently published research that is at the forefront of biofield science, both experimental and theoretical
- Assess the key areas for future research that are likely to further the development of a scientific basis for energy medicine
Topics
Concepts of energy and information in philosophy, physics, and biophysics; the élan vital, chi, prana, and other bioenergy and biofield concepts; the role of self-organizing dynamical systems theory in biology and medicine; homeodynamics; the biofield in embryology and cognitive neurophysiology; East-West theories of the acupuncture system, including the meridians, acupuncture points, and dantians; East-West views of the chakra system; holistic biotonic principles in relation to the dominant biomedical paradigm; recent progress in biofield theory and experiment; the possible relationship between biofields and consciousness; directions for future research.
Texts
- Benor, D. Spiritual Healing: Scientific Validation of a Healing Revolution
- Rein, G. Bioinformation Within the Biofield: Beyond Bioelectromagnetics Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 10(1), pp. 59-68
- Rubik, B. The Biofield Hypothesis: Its Biophysical Basis and Role in Medicine Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, December 2002, 8(6), pp 703-718
- Rubik, B. The Unifying Concept of Information in Acupuncture and Other Energy Medicine Modalities Proceedings of the 1996 Medical Acupuncture Research Foundation Symposium on the Physiology of Acupuncture. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, Vol. 3, Suppl. 1, pp S-67-S-76
- Rubik, B. The Perennial Challenge of Anomalies at the Frontiers of Science In: Bastide, M. (ed.) Signals and Images Kluwer Academic Publishers, Amsterdam, pp 15-28
- Rubik, B. Information, Energy, and the Unpredictable Whole Advances: The Journal of Mind-Body Health, vol 13 (2), Spring 1997, pp 67-70
- Rubik, B. Energy Medicine and the Unifying Concept of Information Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, March, vol 1(1): pp 34-39
- Rubik, B., Pavek, R., Greene, E., Laurence, D., Ward, R. Manual Healing Methods In: Rubik, B. (11-member editorial review board), NIH Report Alternative Medicine: Expanding Medical Horizons U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington DC, pp 113-157
- Savva, S. Hypothesis of the Biofield http://www.whps.com/misaha/hypot.htm (Aug 2006)
- Yount, G. Biofield Perception: A Series of Pilot Studies with Cultured Cells Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 10(3): pp 463-7
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