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Infrared Spectra Alteration in Water Proximate to the Palms of Therapeutic Practitioners. Stephan A. Schwartz, Randall J. De Mattei, Edward G. Brame,Jr., Ph.D. & S. James P. Spottiswoode, M.Sc.
Through standard techniques of infrared spectrophotometry, sterile water samples in randomly selected sealed vials evidence alteration of infrared (IR) spectra after being proximate to the palms of the hands of both Practicing and Non-practicing Therapy Practitioners, each of whom employed a personal variation of the Laying-on-of-Hands/Therapeutic Touch processes. This pilot study presents 14 cases, involving 14 Practitioners and 14 recipients. The first hypothesis, that a variation in the spectra of all (84) Treated spectra compared with all (57) control spectra would be observed in the 1.5-3.0 micrometer range, was confirmed (p = 0.02). Ten percent (15) of the spectra were done using a germanium Internal Reflection Element (IRE). Ninety percent of the spectra (126) were done with a zinc selenide IRE, and the difference in refractive index between the two IREs skews the data. The zinc selenide IRE spectra alone yield p = .055. The authors believe the most representative evidence for the effect appeared in the sample group of Treated vs. Calibration Controls using the zinc selenide IRE (p = 0.0004). The second hypothesis, that there existed a direct relationship between intensity of effect and time of exposure was not confirmed. This study replicates earlier findings under conditions of blindness, randomicity, and several levels of controls. Environmental factors are considered as explanations or the observed IR spectrum alteration, including temperature, barometric pressure, and variations dependent on sampling order. They do not appear to explain the effect.
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