Theta Healing Awareness Week (Part 3)

On the subject of Theta Healing, a recent visitor to the blog has written to say

"Thank you very much for the additional exposure! The more people hear about Theta Healing, the more that are likely to benefit from it. There is, as you know, no such thing as bad publicity..."

Well, I'm a big fan of Vianna Stibal's magical finger therapy, so I'm happy to help.

I've decided that this week is going to be the First Annual "Theta Healing Awareness Week".

To help publicise the event, here is some extra "additional exposure" in the shape of dozens of new ASA/Trading Standards complaints. Feel free to join in the fun!

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TRACY HOLLOWAY

"The website makes a health claim for Theta Healing (a form of hands-on healing comparable to reiki) which I suspect are misleading.

1. http://www.thetadnahealing.co.uk/thetahealing/who-we-are.php

"After her own life changing 3 days [into] her first Theta Basic training [course], Tracy was completely healed of the asthma she'd been suffering from since she was a child."

I'd like to challenge whether the advertiser can substantiate her claim that Theta Healing can cure asthma, whether the claim is misleading, whether it is irresponsible, and whether it might discourage essential treatment.

I have captured screenshots of the website, available at the following URLs:
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=MudRHZ0wZ3

I confirm that I have no connections with the advertiser or with the alternative health industry."

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LYN RICHARDSON

The website makes a number of health claims for Theta Healing (a form of hands-on healing comparable to reiki) which I suspect are misleading.

1. http://www.theta-healing.org.uk/origin.html

"In 1995 Vianna Stibal a Naturopath, Massage Therapist, and Medical Intuitive discovered that the way she did Readings could also do an instant healing. At that time Vianna was ... just diagnosed with cancer that was quickly destroying her right femur. Everything she had tried using conventional and alternative medicine failed and she was eventually told that she had lymphatic cancer with only a couple of months to live... Suddenly she discovered that using the same technique she used to do the readings could also heal the physical body. When she tried it on herself, her right leg that had shrunk by 3" regained it's [sic] former size and the pain disappeared. The healing was subsequently confirmed by medical doctors and to this day the leg continues to be perfectly healthy."

I'd like to challenge whether the advertiser can substantiate her claims that Theta Healing can cure cancer, heal the physical body, make legs grow by three inches and eliminate pain.

I'd also like to challenge whether the claim that Stibal's cure "was subsequently confirmed by medical doctors" can be substantiated, because I understand from researching previous complaints that there is considerable doubt about the veracity of this claim.

2. http://www.theta-healing.org.uk/origin.html

"Curious to understand why the technique was working, Vianna solicited the help of a physicist and with an electroencephalograph discovered that the simple technique tapped into Theta waves. Over many years it was discovered that the technique utilized a Theta and Gamma wave to achieve instant healing..."

I'd like to challenge whether the claims that Theta Healing has been validated by science are misleading.

3. http://www.theta-healing.org.uk/abouttheta.html

"By going into a theta brainwave state, the practitioner is able to command and witness the healing taking place."

I'd like to challenge whether the claim that Theta Healers can "command and witness the healing taking place" can be substantiated.

4. http://www.theta-healing.org.uk/abouttheta.html

"By learning to change your brain wave cycle into the theta state you can actually watch the Creator accomplish instantaneous physical and emotional healing. Until now, theta brain waves were believed to be accessible only in deep sleep or yogi-level meditation."

I'd like to challenge whether the claim that Theta Healers can "watch the Creator accomplish instantaneous physical... healing" can be substantiated.

I'd also like to challenge whether, when it was "discovered", Theta Healing was the only method (besides deep sleep and meditation) to achieve "theta brain waves" since, off the top of my head, I can think of half a dozen alternative methods.

5. http://www.theta-healing.org.uk/basic.html

"As well as learning to identify your own beliefs you will practice pulling them for others in the class. This practice can quickly reveal systems of belief that may take traditional psychotherapy years to uncover and goes even further by showing the body how to replace limiting beliefs or feelings with positive ones. Issues of safety are emphasised, especially when making genetic changes in the body."

I'd like to challenge whether the claims that Theta Healing is vastly superior to psychotherapy, and that Theta Healing can make "genetic changes to the body", can be substantiated.

I have captured screenshots of the website, available at the following URLs:
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=k2zFALBRmX
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=BlJbWN4REU
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=ThzgGmXqvW

I confirm that I have no connections with the advertiser or with the alternative health industry."

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EDWARD STOPLER

"The website makes a number of health claims for Theta Healing (a form of hands-on healing comparable to reiki) which I suspect are misleading.

1. http://www.thetasoulhealing.com/thetahealing.html

"In 1995 Vianna Stibal, a Naturopath and Intuitive discovered that she could do instant healings. This all came about when Vianna... was diagnosed with Cancer that was destroying her right femur. Everything she had tried using conventional and alternative medicine had failed. Then she discovered that the simple technique she used in intuitive readings could heal. Her leg was healed instantly."

I'd like to challenge whether the advertisers can substantiate their claim that Theta Healing can cure cancer.

2. http://www.thetasoulhealing.com/thetahealing.html

"Curious to understand why the technique was working so well, Vianna found the help of a Physicist and they used an Electrocephalogram (E.E.G) to discover that the simple technique tapped into Theta waves."

I'd like to challenge whether the claims that Theta healing works "so well" and that Theta Healing has been validated by science are misleading.

3. http://www.thetasoulhealing.com/thetahealing.html

"Vianna went on to treat many thousands of clients successfully..."

I challenge whether the claim that Stibal has treated "many thousands of clients successfully" can be substantiated.

4. http://www.thetasoulhealing.com/thetahealing.html

"Theta healing works by accessing the natural Theta Brain Waves that links us to the subconscious part of our minds... This gives us the ability to find the root causes of our issues or illnesses, as without finding these, our issues reappear again and again."

I challenge whether the claims that Theta Healing can "give us the ability to find the root causes of our...illnesses" and that without Theta Healing, "our issues reappear again and again" are misleading.

5. http://www.thetasoulhealing.com/thetahealing.html

"The reason Theta Healing is so effective is..."

I challenge whether the claim that Theta Healing is "so effective" is misleading.

6. http://www.thetasoulhealing.com/thetahealing.html

"Theta healing is different because although issues are highlighted by the practitioner, the actual work in releasing the issues and creating change is done directly from the Creator of all that is and not through the Practitioner at all."

I challenge whether the claim that Theta Healing is performed not by the practitioner, but by "the Creator of all" is misleading, because I worry that ordinary consumers might interpret it as a claim for efficacy.

7. http://www.thetasoulhealing.com/thetahealing.html

"THETA HEALING CAN HELP YOU WITH THE FOLLOWING AREAS OF YOUR LIFE... Health and Well Being: With Theta Healing you can scan the body and identify the location of a dis-ease. Then the root cause of the dis-ease is found through listening to the clients life and experiences."

I challenge whether the claim that Theta Healers "can scan the body and identify the location of a dis-ease" and find "the root cause of the dis-ease" can be substantiated.

I have captured screenshots of the website, available at the following URLs:
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=bg0qmPr64i
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=QQq83fF5Gp
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=EhI6Zeodby
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=dQFipXot4D

I confirm that I have no connections with the advertiser or with the alternative health industry."

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ANNE-MARIE CARRATU

"The website makes a number of health claims for Theta Healing and its distant cousin, reiki, which I suspect are misleading.

1. http://www.reiki-light.co.uk/theta_healing-242.htm

"On the physical side, using Theta Healing has prevented burns and sprained ankles from occurring, healed injured knees, improved hearing, facilitated people to walk again, and has been successfully used in working with degenerative and debilitating diseases such [as] Aids and Cancer."

I'd like to challenge whether the advertiser can substantiate her claims that Theta Healing has been "successfully used in working with degenerative and debilitating diseases such [as] Aids and Cancer".

I'd also like to challenge whether the advertiser can substantiate her claims that Theta Healing can treat burns, sprained ankles and injured knees, and improve hearing and mobility.

2. http://www.reiki-light.co.uk/theta_healing-242.htm

"Theta Healing can also cure physical ailments instantly..."

I challenge whether the claim that Theta Healing can "cure physical ailments instantly" can be substantiated.

3. http://www.reiki-light.co.uk/theta_healing-242.htm

"Theta Healing was developed over a 10-year period by Vianna Stibal... During a session with a client, Vianna discovered that she could command and witness the instant healing of physical ailments. At the time, she had lymphatic cancer that was destroying her right femur. She had tried all the conventional methods and some alternative therapies as well. When she applied her new discovery to her cancer, her leg was healed instantly - it immediately returned to normal length, the swelling went down, and the cancer disappeared - instantaneously!"

I challenge whether the claim that Theta Healing can cure cancer "instantly" or "instantaneously" can be substantiated.

4. http://www.reiki-light.co.uk/theta_healing-242.htm

"The Scientific Evidence - Curious to know why her technique was working, Vianna enlisted the help of a physicist... In addition, more and more books are now being published that confirm and validate that the Theta brainwave gives us access to both our subconscious mind AND allows us to tap into this level this higher level of consciousness."

I'd like to challenge whether the claim that Theta Healing has been validated by science is misleading, because I understand there are no rigorous clinical trials available to support claims of efficacy.

5. http://www.reiki-light.co.uk/Benefits_of_Reiki-246.htm

"Some Benefits of Reiki - Below is a list of some of the benefits of Reiki... Helps with depression... Strengthens and supports the immune system... Releases toxins... Helps to relieve pain... Relieves headaches including migraines... Relieves conditions such as arthritis and rheumatisim... Promotes healing for all acute illness or injury... Promotes healing for all chronic illness e.g. asthma/eczema... Helps with insomnia, thereby aiding better sleep... Reduces blood pressure... Reduces the need for alcohol and drugs... Helps with addictions... Raises the vibration within the body... Beneficial to all animals..."

I'd like to challenge whether the advertiser can substantiate her claims that reiki can treat clinical depression, migraines, arthritis, rheumatism, "all acute illness or injur[ies]", "all chronic illness", asthma, eczema, insomnia and addictions, and that reiki "reduces the need for alcohol and drugs", relieves pain, releases toxins, reduces blood pressure, improves the immune system and is "beneficial to all animals".

I have captured screenshots of the website, available at the following URLs:
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=9a4Nx0lQNi
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=D5gUOWq7uV
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=jxU5QKBVJg

I confirm that I have no connections with the advertiser or with the alternative health industry."

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VANYA SILVERTON

"The website makes a number of health claims for Theta Healing (a form of hands-on healing comparable to reiki) which I suspect are misleading.

1. http://www.thetalondon.com/about.html

"WHERE DOES THETA HEALING COME FROM? In 1995 Vianna Stibal a Naturopath, Massage Therapist, and Intuitive Reader discovered that the way she did Readings could help with instant healings. Vianna... was diagnosed with cancer that was quickly destroying her right femur. Everything she had tried using conventional and alternative medicine had failed. Then she discovered that the simple technique she used in Readings could heal and her leg was instantaneously healed... Later it was discovered that the technique utilized a Theta and Gamma wave to achieve an instant healing..."

I'd like to challenge whether the advertiser can substantiate her claim that Theta Healing can cure cancer "instantaneously".

2. http://www.thetalondon.com/about.html

"WHAT CAN THETA HEALING DO?... perform body scans to see what is going on with your body and why ailments are manifesting... Other areas can include: Addictions - Allergies - Anger Management - Anxiety - Bereavement - Commitment Phobia - Confidence - Depression - Drug Abuse - Emotional Issues - Fears - Guilt - Health Issues - Jealousy - Loneliness - Motivation - Negative Emotions and Thoughts - Obsessions - Panic Attacks - Personal Development - Phobias - Rejection - Self-Confidence - Sexual Issues - Shame - Shyness - Stage Fright - Stress - Trauma - Unhappiness - Worry."

I'd like to challenge whether the advertiser can substantiate her claims that Theta Healers can "perform body scans to see what is going on with your body and why ailments are manifesting" and that Theta Healing can treat addictions, allergies, depression, drug abuse, health issues, panic attacks and "sexual issues".

3. http://www.thetalondon.com/howdoesitwork.html

"By lowering the brain's frequency to include a theta brain wave, it becomes possible to select information recorded in the DNA... ThetaHealing™ is a technique that helps us to consciously choose which DNA should be 'switched on' and which should be 'switch off'. This means that we can actively reprogramme cellular information to release outdated information and in its place install or activate better instructions... ThetaHealing™ is such an easy technique, that children as young as six are using it with results!"

I'd like to challenge whether the advertiser can substantiate her claims that Theta Healers can "select information recorded in the DNA", "consciously choose which DNA should be switched on and which should be switched off", "actively reprogramme cellular information" and "activate better instructions".

I'd also like to challenge whether the claim that "children are young as six" are using Theta Healing "with results" is misleading.

I have captured screenshots of the website, available at the following URLs:
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=1iCI9ei8Jl
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=RhnrwqXMB7

I confirm that I have no connections with the advertiser or with the alternative health industry."