Just Say No to Therapeutic Touch!

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Krieger D. The response of in vivo human hemoglobin to an active healing therapy by direct laying on of hands. Human Dimensions 1972;1:12–15.

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Meehan TC . Therapeutic touch. In: Bulechek GM , McCloskey JC , editors. Nursing interventions: essential nursing treatments (2nd ed). Philadelphia: Saunders, 1992.

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Bullough VL , Bullough B. Therapeutic touch: why do nurses believe? Skeptical Inquirer 1993;17(2):169–174.

Clark PE , Clark MJ . Therapeutic touch: is there a scientific basis? Nurs Res 1984;33(1):38–41. Reprinted in Stalker DR , Glymour C , editors. Examining holistic medicine. Buffalo NY: Prometheus Books, 1985.

Bandman EL , Bandman B. Critical thinking in nursing. Norwalk CT: Appleton & Lange, 1995:274,287.

Heidt P. Effect of therapeutic touch on the anxiety level of hospitalized patients. Nurs Res 1979;(4):660–662.

Quinn JF . Therapeutic touch as an energy exchange: testing the theory. Adv Nurs Sci 1984;6(2):42–49.

Wirth DP , Richardson JT , Eidelman WS , O'Malley AC . Full thickness dermal wounds treated with noncontact therapeutic touch: a replication and extension. Complementary Therapies in Medicine 1993;(1):127–132.

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Meehan TC . Quackery and pseudoscience (letter). Am J Nurs 1995:17.

Rosa LA . Survey of "research" on therapeutic touch: a report to the therapeutic touch review committee, Health Sciences Center, University of Colorado. Loveland CO: Front Range Skeptics, 1994.

Rosa LA . Therapeutic touch. Skeptic 1994;1(3):40–49.

Claman HN . Report of the chancellors’ committee on therapeutic touch. Denver: University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, 1994.