Effect of Jin Shin Jyutsu Energy Medicine Treatments on Women Diagnosed With Breast Cancer

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of 10 weekly treatments of Jin Shin Jyutsu (JSJ), as practiced by a qualified practitioner, for women diagnosed with breast cancer. Design: A pretest, posttest exploratory evaluation project design was used. Twenty-nine women provided complete data. Method: Adaptation, social support, activities of daily living, helpfulness of JSJ, and project participation goals were measured by an investigator-developed questionnaire prior to and at the end of the 10 JSJ sessions. Findings: Nonparametric statistical analyses revealed that at the end of the JSJ sessions, women had higher levels of adaptation and performance of activities of daily living but no difference in satisfaction with social support than at the beginning of project participation. Descriptive analyses indicated that women reported that JSJ was helpful and that their goals had been met. Content analysis of goals revealed that the women wanted to feel better physically and emotionally and to live a fuller life and were seeking balance in life. Conclusions: JSJ may be an effective intervention for women with breast cancer. Although the sample size was small and a single practitioner provided treatment, the results indicate that a large-scale evaluation with multiple practitioners is warranted.