Hidden Frequencies: What a 2020 Study Reveals About Biofield Healing Energies

The concept of the human biofield, a subtle energy field surrounding and permeating the body, has gained increasing attention in integrative medicine and energy healing practices. Modalities like Reiki, Healing Touch, Therapeutic Touch, and various forms of biofield therapy are based on the idea that practitioners can influence this field to promote physical, emotional, and spiritual healing.

But what does science say about the actual measurable properties of this biofield? A fascinating peer-reviewed study published on December 24, 2020, in Global Advances in Health and Medicine provides one of the most rigorous attempts to define specific electromagnetic frequency bands associated with biofield activity. Titled “Biofield Frequency Bands—Definitions and Group Differences”, the research by Jens Rowold and Paul D. Hewson used advanced electrophysiological measurements to identify consistent high-frequency patterns emitted by the human body, patterns that appear stronger in experienced biofield practitioners.

The Study Setup: Measuring the Unseen

The researchers conducted their experiments in an electrically shielded laboratory to minimize external interference. They measured high-frequency voltage (>200 Hz) using surface electromyography (EMG) - typically used for muscle activity but here adapted to detect subtle biofield signals - at seven key points along the spine corresponding to traditional energy centers or chakras and the brain.

Two groups participated:

• 20 experienced biofield practitioners (BPs) — trained healers with an average of nearly 14 years of experience who actively perform energy work for healing purposes.
• 24 university students (STs) — a control group without biofield training, performing everyday tasks like role-playing.

In total, data from 342 exercises (including yoga, prayer, compassion practices, and other biofield techniques) were analyzed. The team applied sophisticated signal processing, including power spectral density analysis and Parallel Factor Analysis (PARAFAC), to identify consistent patterns across body locations and activities.

The Key Discovery: 10 Specific Biofield Frequency Bands

The analysis revealed 10 distinct frequency bands (FBs) in the range of approximately 180–1100 Hz. These bands were remarkably consistent across different body parts and types of exercises.

What makes this particularly intriguing is that biofield practitioners labeled these frequencies using “colors” — a system rooted in earlier biofield research (notably by Valerie Hunt) where practitioners reported perceiving specific colors during energy work, each linked to different physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual states.

Here are the 10 identified biofield frequency bands, complete with their approximate central frequencies and boundaries. Here are some visual representations of energy healing concepts and the color spectrum often associated with biofield frequencies:

• #1 Dark Blue — Central ~183 Hz (range 135–240 Hz)
• #2 Green(1) — Central ~288 Hz (240–322 Hz)
• #3 Green(2) — Central ~351 Hz (322–423 Hz)
• #4 Yellow — Central ~452 Hz (423–509 Hz)
• #5 Orange — Central ~553 Hz (509–605 Hz)
• #6 Red(1) — Central ~654 Hz (605–706 Hz)
• #7 Red(2) — Central ~759 Hz (706–793 Hz)
• #8 Bright Blue — Central ~817 Hz (793–851 Hz)
• #9 Purple — Central ~927 Hz (851–971 Hz)
• #10 White — Central ~1023 Hz (971–1163 Hz)

These frequencies are significantly higher than the typical brainwave bands (delta, theta, alpha, beta <100 Hz) studied in conventional neuroscience.

Why This Matters: Practitioners vs. Controls

The most compelling finding was the difference between groups. Biofield practitioners showed significantly higher spectral power (stronger signals) across most of these frequency bands compared to the student control group. The statistical significance was extremely strong (p < 1e-18 overall), suggesting that trained healers may cultivate and amplify these electromagnetic patterns through their practices.

This supports the idea that biofield therapies involve real, measurable energetic phenomena — and that intentional training can enhance them.

Implications for Healing and Future Research

While the study didn't directly prove that these specific frequencies cause healing effects, it provides a replicable method for measuring biofield activity. The higher power in practitioners aligns with their reported use of the biofield for healing purposes.

The authors propose these frequency bands as potential biomarkers for future biofield research — perhaps to objectively assess practitioner skill, track treatment effects, or explore links to health outcomes like reduced inflammation, improved emotional balance, or accelerated tissue repair.

Limitations include the relatively small sample size, specific recruitment of practitioners from one training program, and focus solely on electromagnetic aspects (the biofield may include other elements like biophotons).

This 2020 study represents an important step toward bridging ancient energy healing traditions with modern scientific measurement. By defining 10 specific high-frequency bands (roughly 180–1160 Hz) associated with biofield activity - and showing they are stronger in experienced healers - opens the door for more rigorous investigation into how subtle energies might influence health.

Whether you're a skeptic, a practitioner, or simply curious about the frontiers of mind-body medicine, this research reminds us that some of the most intriguing aspects of human biology may still lie in frequencies beyond our everyday perception.

For the full study, check the original open-access article: Biofield Frequency Bands—Definitions and Group Differences.

References

Biofield Frequency Bands – Definitions and Group Differences(link is external) was originally published in Glob Adv Health Med. 2020; 9: 2164956120982568  and is available on the National Library of Medicine PubMed Central site.