History of 'Hands on Healing'

Origin - Healing has been practiced for thousands of years in many communities and countries. In some cultures, healing been the prerogative of selected persons; king, priest, rabbi, monk, elder, prophet, and so on, who are acknowledged to have had a talent for healing. In Britain during the reign of the Stuarts and Tudors the ‘royal touch’ was very popular. After prayer the King would touch the sufferer with his hand and then give him a coin. The practice of ‘royal healing’ reached its peak at the end of the seventeenth century when Charles II was giving the royal touch to around five thousand sufferers a year.

Pre-Christ - Healing was a well-established form of treatment five hundred years before Christ, about the time when the Greeks introduced Hygienic Therapy, which is rest, fresh air and diet as principal weapons against disease. Pre Civil War America was just as interested in Complementary Therapy (albeit those therapies were seen in a slightly different form) as modern day America. In Georgian Britain fashionable society showed a marked interest in all things complementary and no doubt in ages in the future people will feel they have ‘discovered’ new doctrines that stand somewhat outside the orthodox.

Recognised - It is now recognised that this talent is more widespread than previously understood: throughout the world many ordinary people are dedicated to helping others using healing, through prayer or by the ‘laying-on of hands’, as an active part of their philosophy of life and religious practice, whatever that may be.

Many forms - Healing can take many forms. It may be that the person simply wishes to talk about problems that affect their life. The healer must appreciate that this is an important role in healing, but also recognise that possibly the person may require more skilled counselling than you can offer. Should this be the case, it is important to indicate that whilst you are prepared to listen, possibly more expert advice is needed and perhaps you can recommend whom they should see.

Complementary - Healing is complementary to orthodox medicine. We should always aim to work in co-operation with the medical profession remembering that if a patient is referred by a doctor to a healer, the doctor retains overall responsibility for that patient. At present healing is being accepted by the BMA (British Medical Association) and patients have a right to request healing. Similarly, the vet (RCVS) retains overall responsibility for animals. It is the duty of each and every healer to maintain the dignity and professionalism of their calling and ensure that through the use of good practice and the Code of Conduct they work towards the total acceptance of healing.

Underlying causes - What must be realised is that although the patient presents physical symptoms there may be underlying causes of illness such as: - unresolved conflict, guilt, stress, negative thinking, etc.

(Extract from the The Alliance training guide)