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Infrared Spectra Alteration in Water Proximate to the Palms of Therapeutic

Practitioners

Article  in  EXPLORE The Journal of Science and Healing · December 2014

DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2014.12.008

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 ORIGINAL RESEARCH

INFRARED SPECTRA ALTERATION IN WATER PROXIMATE TO THE PALMS OF

THERAPEUTIC PRACTITIONERS
Stephan A. Schwartz, 1# Randall J. De Mattei, 2 Edward G. Brame Jr.3 and S. James P. Spottiswoode 4

Through standard techniques of infrared (IR) spectropho- The authors believe the most representative evidence for the
tometry, sterile water samples in randomly selected sealed effect appeared in the sample group of Treated vs Calibration
vials evidence alteration of infrared (IR) spectra after being Controls using the zinc selenide IRE (P ¼ .0004). The second
proximate to the palms of the hands of both Practicing hypothesis, that there existed a direct relationship between
and Non-practicing Therapy Practitioners, each of whom intensity of effect and time of exposure, was not confirmed.
employed a personal variation of the Laying-on-of-Hands/ This study replicates earlier findings under conditions of
Therapeutic Touch processes. This pilot study presents 14 blindness, randomicity, and several levels of controls. Envi-
cases, involving 14 Practitioners and 14 Recipients. The first ronmental factors are considered as explanations for the
hypothesis, that a variation in the spectra of all (84) Treated observed IR spectrum alteration, including temperature,
spectra compared with all (57) Control spectra would be barometric pressure, and variations dependent on sampling
observed in the 2.5–3.0 mm range, was confirmed (P ¼ .02). order. They do not appear to explain the effect.
Overall, 10% (15) of the spectra were done using a germa-
nium internal reflection element (IRE), and 90% of the Key words: Infrared spectra, therapeutic intent, hydrogen
spectra (126) were done with a zinc selenide IRE. The bonding, healing, water
difference in refractive index between the two IREs skews
the data. The zinc selenide IRE spectra alone yield P ¼ .005. (Explore 2015; 11:143-155 & 2015 Published by Elsevier Inc.)

INTRODUCTION This earlier research suggests the existence of an objectively

Studies by researchers in a variety of disciplines, notably by measurable infrared (IR) signature which is independent of
biologist Bernard Grad at McGill University1; biochemist M. measurements on living systems. However, the work has not
Justa Smith at Rosary Hill College and Roswell Park Cancer been uniform in methodology or controls, making cross-
Hospital2; physicist Elizabeth Rauscher at University of study correlations and comparisons very difficult. Some of
California, Berkeley3; and psychologist Caroll Nash of St. the work has also been subject to methodological criticism,
Joseph's University,4 reported increased vitality in Treated i.e., how the bottles were filled, and whether tap water, used
sub-populations of cell colonies, enzymes, and seedlings in in several instances, could contain substances that might
comparison with controls. In each study, treatment consisted produce the effect. This pilot study incorporated such
of some variation of an historical technique known as Laying- criticisms into its design to test the initial findings and, if
on-of-Hands, or a modern nursing program known as they held up, to establish a database of sufficient size to guide
Therapeutic Touch. Critics argue, however, that the high future work.
variability of living systems, rather than the independent The IR portion of the electromagnetic spectrum was
variable of therapeutic intent being studied, may account for selected for monitoring, based on the assumption that,
the positive results reported in such experiments. Work done although we do not know the mechanism, what we are
by Grad using near-infrared (IR) spectrophotometry has observing is a change in the oxygen–hydrogen (O–H) bond-
suggested a possible avenue for research defensible against ing. The state of O–H bonding is best observed in the
such criticisms.1 Dean and Brame5 continued that line of infrared where the fundamental stretching frequency occurs,6
research, and their results supported Grad's findings. although earlier research suggests that overtones and
combinations of overtones of the phenomenon occur at
higher frequencies up to the ultraviolet (UV) region.7
1 Distinguished Consulting Faculty, Saybrook University. Because these UV bands are overtones, they are weaker and
2 Senior Researcher, Mobius Society. less clearly defined.
3 Dr. Brame is deceased. What exactly is the physical parameter being measured in
4 Chief Scientist Geonet Technologies. these studies and what is known about the physics of the
# Corresponding author. Stephan A. Schwwartz, P.O. Box 905, Langley, system giving rise to it? We provide a brief sketch of infrared
WA 98260, USA. spectroscopy and its use for determining the structure
e-mail: [email protected] of water.

& 2015 Published by Elsevier Inc. EXPLORE March/April 2015, Vol. 11, No. 2 143
ISSN 1550-8307/$36.00 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2014.12.008
 The infrared is a region of the electromagnetic spectrum or bonds in these groups, and a dynamic equilibrium exists
range of frequencies of electromagnetic oscillations. For any among these multi-molecular species and single water mole-
frequency of radiation, there is a corresponding wavelength; cules at a given temperature and pressure. In contrast, in
shorter wavelengths correspond to higher frequencies. Fre- continuum models, it is proposed that all possible hydrogen
quency is usually measured in waves per centimeter (cm1) bonds are formed but that there is a range of bond strengths.
and wavelength in micrometers. The infrared portion of the Regardless of the explanatory model employed, the absorp-
spectrum extends from 2.0 mm (5000 wave numbers) to tion occurring at this frequency is very intense, and it can
16.0 mm (625 wave numbers). This experiment focused on only be studied in thin films of liquid or by reflection
the 2.5–4.0 mm range (4000–2500 wave numbers). methods. Thin-film transmission techniques are technically
Substances absorb electromagnetic radiation at specific more difficult than those used in reflection, which has an
frequencies, and these features of their spectra are called additional advantage. Reflection methods, particularly the
absorption bands. Such absorption of energy occurs when the multiple internal reflection (MIR) method used in this study,
frequency of the radiation coincides with the natural fre- measure absorption in the thin layer of molecules near the
quency of oscillation of some part of the molecular structure surface of the liquid. In terms of the mixture model, it is here
of the substance. This is an example of resonance and the near the surface that the smaller molecular species of water
infrared is of particular interest because many chemical bonds molecules, monomers, dimers, and trimers, are concentrated.
have resonances, and hence absorption bands, in this region. These smaller molecular species contain a higher percentage
For instance, the frequency of the fundamental stretching of unbonded O–H groups than is found in higher analogs.
oscillation of the covalent bond between the oxygen and The earlier research suggests that the alteration produced in
hydrogen atoms in a water molecule occurs in the infrared water samples acted upon by Therapeutic Practitioners affects
region at a frequency of 3400 cm1.8 the hydrogen bonding, either by changing the strengths of the
The covalent bond, however, is only one of two distinct bond, as in the continuum model, or by affecting change in
types of chemical bonding present in water. So-called hydro- the proportion of hydrogen bonded molecules, as the mixture
gen bonds also exist between molecules in close proximity. model would have it. Whichever model is used to explain
These hydrogen bonds, although much weaker than covalent these changes, IR internal reflection spectroscopy is partic-
bonds, still exert considerable influence on the properties of ularly sensitive to O–H variations and is the appropriate
water at ambient temperatures and pressures when the technique for this measurement. We should also note that
thermal energy of the molecules is comparable to the hydro- there is a possibility that what we are seeing is an entirely
gen bond energy (Figure 1). different interaction that happens to present itself in the
The fundamental stretching frequency of the O–H bond in infrared at the same frequency as the O–H bonding. It is,
water is particularly affected by the amount of hydrogen however, likely that the observed effect is a result of O–H
bonding, and considerable literature exists on the exact shape bond changes rather than some unknown influence which
of this absorption band. Discussion of this subject though is happens to generate a similar absorption band.
carried out within the context of one or another of two broad In this experiment, the beam of infrared radiation used to
classes of models of the structure of water: (1) mixture and measure the absorption reflects off the interface between a
(2) continuum.9 In mixture models, it is assumed that substance of very high refractive index and the liquid water,
hydrogen bonding between single water molecules which has a lower refractive index. When this occurs, the
(monomers) groups them into dimers (two linked), trimers electromagnetic wave penetrates a very short distance into the
(three linked), and so on up to higher analogs. Thermal material of lower refractive index. To minimize this distance,
agitation causes breaking and reforming of the hydrogen in which the absorption is being measured, it is desirable to
use the largest angle of incidence relative to the perpendicular
and to have as high as practical a refractive index in the
internal reflection element. Since the penetration depth can
be made very small by these techniques, on the order of a
single wavelength of the infrared radiation, the absorption
incurred during each reflection is slight. Therefore, it becomes
essential that the infrared beam undergo many reflections and
absorptions in order to accumulate an easily measurable total
absorption. The MIR unit used in this study routes the
infrared beam through 25 reflections.
With these considerations in mind, and in view of the
earlier research on Therapeutic Touch effects on the IR
spectrum of water, we attempted to design an experiment
that would show the largest obtainable effect and measure it
accurately and reliably. The Practitioners were motivated by
placing them in a real healing session. The design of the
experiment incorporated multiple levels of controls and
Figure 1. The water structure of two linked molecules, called a produced a data set of sufficient size and consistency for
dimer. It is the hydrogen bond that is presumed to be affected. statistical evaluation.

144 EXPLORE March/April 2015, Vol. 11, No. 2 IR Spectra Alteration in Water
 Definition of dependent variable. We measured the absorp-
tion at two frequencies (f1 ¼ 3620 cm1 and f2 ¼ 3350 cm1)
at the peak and shoulder of the absorption band. To normalize
the absorbance values, a baseline was constructed beginning at
3800 cm1 across to 2700 cm1 (Figures 2 and 3).

The Development of the Ratio

The absorbance at 3620 cm1, Au is defined by
 
T1
Au ¼ log ð1Þ
T2
Similarly, at 3350 cm1, Ab is defined by
 
T3
Ab ¼ log ð2Þ
T4
Then, the dependent variable R is given by
   
Figure 2. Example spectrum and the points of measurement from Ab T3 T1
which the ratio was developed. R¼ ¼ log = log : ð3Þ
Au T3 T2
Although this definition of R already gives a first-order
HYPOTHESES correction for absorption variation due to environmental
Hypothesis One and instrumental factors, for this pilot study, we measured
The Null Hypothesis predicts that there will be no significant ambient temperature and barometric pressure, as well as
difference in the ratio, defined below, resulting from infrared logging the duration and starting and ending times for each
spectrophotometric analysis of the water from each session, phase of the Therapy Session and the spectrophotometric
whether the sample comes from a Calibration Control,
Session Control, or a Treated water vial.
We predict that in some or all of the Treated samples, a
change in the infrared spectra of the samples will occur such
that the ratio, defined below, will have a reduced value in
comparison with the Session and Calibration Control sam-
ples. We expect that some Practitioners will be more effective
in producing the decreased ratio value than others.

Hypothesis Two
The second Null Hypothesis predicts that there will be no
differential between five-minute exposed vials and those
exposed for 10 or 15 min.
We predict that the magnitude of the change in the ratio
value will increase with exposure time to the Practitioner, the
change being greatest in the 15-min samples.

PROTOCOL
Design
This pilot study is designed to explore an effect evidenced in the
O–H bonding of water as a result of the intent and action of one
person to therapeutically influence another. The independent
variable is the action and intent of the Practitioner; the
dependent variable is a ratio derived from the infrared spectrum.
Although the water samples are the focus of this research,
in order to create an optimal setting for studying the
independent variable, trials were carried out during actual
Therapy Sessions. In earlier research, the Practitioners directed
their therapeutic intention directly into the bottles. However,
with “intent” as our independent variable, an actual therapeu-
tic session with its possibility of effective aid to a fellow
human being, presumably, held greater motivation than
Figure 3. Measurement of actual spectrum.
acting solely on bottled water.

IR Spectra Alteration in Water EXPLORE March/April 2015, Vol. 11, No. 2 145
analyses. The history of motion during the experiment phase (see the section Therapy sessions). Six of the Practitioners
of the study was recorded by video-taping each session. were individuals who had participated in other Mobius
research, seven were from the staff of The Healing Light
Vial numbering and utilization. In total, 61 vials were Center Church (HLCC), and one was an independent
uniformly marked with an integer from 1 to 61. From the Practitioner. Therapy Practitioners are considered as
total pool of 61 vials, utilization occurred as follows: 42 vials Practicing if they have received training and
were treated on the basis of three for each healing session (3  characteristically administer Therapy Sessions of this
14 ¼ 42); 19 were designated as controls—14 to be matched, type. They are classified as Non-practicing if they have
one each, with each session's set of Treated vials; and five to received no training and/or do not characteristically
be used as Calibration Controls, one per day, before each function as Practitioners.
analysis of session samples. 2. Recipients: Recipients were people with diagnosed illnesses.
It was presumed by their association with this experiment
that they were open to the feasibility of treatment in this
Controls. There were two levels of control samples in this study:
way. Most (11 of 14) of the Recipients were drawn from
the client list of the HLCC; the others were known to
1. Calibration Controls: Prior to each dayʼs initial session, one
Mobius personnel. Selection criteria were limited to time,
vial was randomly selected and designated the Calibration
availability, and the desire to find people with genuine
Control. It was used as a relative reference point, reflecting
need who might best motivate the Practitioners. The
environmental variables, against which to evaluate the
ailments were pronounced and included lung cancer,
Treated and Session Control samples. A Calibration
AIDS, arthritis, and recovery from surgery. Recipients were
Control spectrum was run by each spectroscopist prior
apprised of the nature of the experiment and the reasons
to taking the spectrum of each of the remaining four vials
for the presence of cameras, vials, and personnel during a
in each five-vial session set.
pre-session orientation meeting with a Mobius researcher.
2. Session Controls: Each Therapy Session had four vials
No fees were collected for the therapeutic services rendered
randomly assigned to it. One of these was designated as
during the course of this experiment series.
the Session Control. This vial served as a second level of
3. Researchers: Three researchers were involved in the execu-
control. Its history was the same as those designated
tion of this pilot study. Researcher 1 controlled all
“Treated,” except that it was not taken into the Therapy
assistants and materials, coordinated all Therapy Sessions,
Session Room and was not handled by the Practitioners.
and ran all randomization programs. Researchers 2 and
3 carried out the spectrophotometric measurements of the
water samples. Researcher 1 was blind to any information
Analyses. Testing the stated hypotheses involves a compar- pertaining to the IR measurements taken by Researchers
ison of the mean values of R found for the three sample 2 and 3. Researchers 2 and 3 were blind as to who the
populations of Treated, Session Controls, and Calibration Practitioner and Recipient were, when and for how long
Controls. It was determined that, depending on the distribu- each Practitioner had treated the water samples, and which
tion of the R values in these populations, a suitable statistical vials had been designated Session Controls. Each was also
test (t-test for normal distributions and Mann–Whitney U test blind to the spectra obtained by the other spectroscopist.
for non-normal distributions) would be chosen to determine 4. Video coordinator: A video cameraman, independent of the
whether there was a significant difference between these mean three researchers, had the responsibility for the taping. He
R values. The nature of the distribution would be determined was blind as to the number or time assignment for each
by the Rankit graphical method.10 Possible artifacts of vial, as well as the outcome of the spectrophotometry
temperature, barometric pressure, and variations dependent analyses. A video-record, including timing, was made of
on sampling order would be examined and such effects each session. A log marking the time the sessions began
corrected for if possible. and ended, time code numbers, Practitioner and Recipient
Because the measured R values might vary in time after the code references, and the tape cassette was maintained by
sessions, the analyses of the water samples were held at the the Video Coordinator.
same times each day with uniform intervals between each
analysis session and within each session's five spectra run. We
will explore one evaluation of Practitioner sub-populations— Therapy sessions. Sessions lasted approximately 45 min, dur-
a comparison by group, not individual, between “Practicing” ing which time Researcher 1, the Practitioner, and the
and “Non-practicing” Therapy Practitioners. Recipient were present in a small room equipped with a
typical padded therapy or massage table and a chair. The
Participants. There were four categories of personnel Video Coordinator was outside of the Session Room viewing
involved with this study: the activities on the monitor. Typically during the Therapy
Session, much as Krieger11 describes, passes of the hands were
1. Practitioners: A total of 14 Practitioners participated. made over the subject's body, and verbal communication was
Practitioners (Practicing and Non-practicing) are defined employed. Each Practitioner was allowed to use their own
here as individuals who attempted, by other than medical procedure during the healing sessions. While none of the
means, to beneficially affect the health of ailing individuals Practitioners were specifically trained in Dr. Kreiger's method

146 EXPLORE March/April 2015, Vol. 11, No. 2 IR Spectra Alteration in Water
Table 1. Comparison of Therapeutic Touch and Laying-on-of-hands
Therapeutic Touch Laying-on-of-Hands
Medical or nursing context Usually in a religious context
No correlation between the professing of faith and healing faith Usually considered related to healing or spiritual healing
A natural potential that is actualized or made to happen Thought of as a gift, or as of the spirit

known as Therapeutic Touch, many operated outside the material. The vial was slipped into the tube and posi-
context of Laying-on-of-Hands. The difference, as interpreted tioned against the Practitioner's palm. Velcro™ patches at
by Kreiger, and reported by Dean,12 is described in Table 1. each end of the tube were fastened in place on the back of
There is no definitive term that adequately covers the the hand to hold the vial securely against the palm
approaches of this study's Practitioners, but just as some (Figure 6). The Practitioners then went about their
clearly fell under the Laying-on-of-Hands definition, others normal practice with minimal consideration for the
were much more aligned with the Therapeutic Touch cate- intrusion of the water container.
gorization (including a registered nurse and a medical doctor 4. Pseudo-random number generator (RNG): To make all vial
who participated as Practitioners). No medication, manipu- assignments, a pseudo-random number generator seeded
lation, or physical intrusion into the Recipient's body was from the computer's internal clock was used. The seed
involved. number was the elapsed seconds from the preceding
midnight.
Human experimentation. In accordance with Federal Stand- 5. Barometer and thermometer: A Micronta 63-841 thermom-
ards for human experimentation, all participants in this experi- eter calibrated to tenths of a degree centigrade and a
ment series signed a release. This release is based on one Giscard aneroid barometer calibrated to tenths of an inch
approved by the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) were located next to the spectrophotometer in the
Human Subject Protection Committee, August 9, 1985. Spectroscopy Room.
6. Vial rack: A Styrofoam disk, measuring approximately 6-
Apparatus in in diameter by three-fourth-in thick, had four holes cut
in its top to seat four vials. The rack was used to transport
1. Experimental area: This experiment occurred in three the vials to and from the Therapy Session Room, Vial
rooms in the HLCC. The room where the spectroscopy Storage Room, and Spectroscopy Room. Its circular form
took place was isolated from the room where the Therapy was designed to obviate unconscious cueing by any
Sessions took place and could be reached only through its arrangement of the vials in a line (Figure 7).
own exterior door (Figure 4). 7. Spectrophotometer: The Spectrophotometer used was a
2. Water samples: Three flats (25 per) of 50-ml single dose Perkin–Elmer grating infrared model 237B with a drum
(containing no alcohol preservative) vials of bacterial- recorder. All trials were run at fast setting, Grating Slit 7.
static water for injection were purchased from a medical 8. Multiple internal reflection (MIR) unit: A JANOS Technol-
supply house. They all came from the same lot. The vials ogy Corporation MIR was used in conjunction with the
each had a break-off, tamper-proof cap. Vials obtained Perkin–Elmer spectrophotometer. The MIR unit consists
were expired INVENEX; single dose glass bottles; 50 ml; of four mirrors that route the light beam through the
no. 185-50; Sterile Water for Injection, USP; pH 5.0–7.0; sample (Figure 8).
lot #1858547N-F (Figure 5). 9. The sample cell: This is essentially two plates of steel held
3. Water-vial holder: The water-vial holder was a tube sewn together by four knurl-top screws. Each plate has an oval
closed at one end made of Creslan™—a white nylon-like section routed out; into this is fitted an “O” ring gasket.

Figure 5. The water vials. On the left as used in the sessions; on

Figure 4. Schematic layout of the Healing Light Center in Glendale, the right cap seal off showing rubber seal through which needles
California, where the experiment took place. were inserted.

IR Spectra Alteration in Water EXPLORE March/April 2015, Vol. 11, No. 2 147
 Figure 8. Multiple internal reflection unit schematic.

Each plate is topped by a fitting suitable for attachment

to the syringe holding the sample. These fittings channel
into tubes cut in the steel, and it is in this way that the
liquid sample is introduced, until the void caused by the
routing is filled—to be held in place by the “O” ring as it
lies uniformly along the surface of the internal reflection
element (Figure 9).
10. Internal reflection element (IRE): The IRE resembles a
standard microscope slide, except that it consists of an
infrared transparent material, with ends cut at a 601 bevel.
Figure 6. The water-vial holder containing a vial in place during a
The 601 bevel was used in our IREs (and dictated the
session.
placement of the cell in the MIR) because, as Harrick
reports, of three optional angles available for the MIR,
601 produces the shallowest penetration of the water and,
hence, the most sensitive measurement of the O–H
bonding relationship in the sample.13

PROCEDURE
Scheduling
Two schedules need to be borne in mind:

1. Overall schedule: The experiment series was run over the

course of five days. No more than three healing sessions
were run in any one day. Three days produced 30 spectra.
Because of the substitution of the zinc selenide for the

Figure 7. The water-vial holder containing a vial in place during a Figure 9. Sample cell being dried between measurements. Note
session. also needle and syringe ready for discard. Each was used but once.

148 EXPLORE March/April 2015, Vol. 11, No. 2 IR Spectra Alteration in Water
 broken germanium plate, one day produced 31. One day (5) Run “dry” IRE background (5) Participants fill out Mobius
had only two sessions producing 20. The total number of spectrum Myers–Briggs Personality
spectra was 141. The spectroscopy kept to the planned Inventory. Recipients give
schedule allowing 60 min between each session's two medical history
spectrophotometric analysis periods. It took approximately (6) Vial assignment for session via
60 min to run five analyses (12  5 ¼ 60). It took RNG.
approximately 40 min from the time the 15-min vial of a (7) Three designated Treated vials
removed from Storage Room and
given session left the Practitioner's hand, until the first
taken to Therapy Room.
spectrum was made.
Designated Session Control
2. Individual session schedule: With the first vial in place in the
remains in Storage room.
cloth vial holder, each Practitioner began the session with
(8) Begin Session.
the Recipient. Researcher 1 kept track of the time, down to (9) Timed vials and logged timings.
seconds, that each vial was exposed. Using a stopwatch, he (10) Video-taping carried out.
began timing as soon as the vial was proximate to the (11) Video log maintained.
Practitioner's hand and stopped timing when the vial (12) End Session.
holder was removed. The first vial was in place for five (13) Treated vials placed in carrier
minutes, the second for 10 min, and the third for 15 min. rack and session control added.
To avoid creating any sense of pressure on either Practi- (14) Vials taken to
tioner or Recipient, the Practitioner was then allowed any Spectrophotometry Room.
additional desired time, without a vial in place, to reach a (6) Receive vials. (15) Participants independently
satisfactory closure on the session. debriefed.
(7) Run Calibration Control spectrum.
(8) Cleanse IRE.
Spectrophotometric Measurements (9) Run session vials logging
There were two measurements taken of each vial assigned to a temperature and barometric
given session: pressure, starting and ending time for
each spectrum as well as run speed
1. First measurement: Researcher 2 carried out the first measure- and grating slit used.
ment. Every sample of water was extracted from the vial using (16) Prepare Therapy Room—
a fresh, sterile, disposable 5-ml syringe and needle. The obtain workbooks for next
sample was taken directly from its vial and deposited onto session.
the Janos MIR unit's Sample Cell. After each measurement,
the MIR Sample Cell was taken apart, and it and the IRE
were dried completely. Each analysis session began with a (10) Second calibration spectrum run.
calibration run. The barometric pressure, scan split, grating (11) Second running of session vials logging
slit, temperature, and starting and ending times of the run temperature, barometric pressure, starting and
were logged on the spectrum chart as well as another form. ending time for each spectrum as well as run
2. Second measurement: Researcher 3 repeated the water anal- speed and grating slit; vials stored.
ysis on the same spectrophotometer at a pre-determined Second Session Second Session
interval after the first measurement was completed. In this Steps 6–11 repeated as in Session 1 Steps 3–16 repeated as
way each vial was analyzed twice by different people, in Session 1
obviating criticisms of an individual's measurement tech-
nique or the postulation of some influence across the Spectrophotometry Track Therapy Session Track
Researchers 2 and 3 Researcher 1
samples by the analyzer rather than the Practitioners.
Third Session Third Session
The following steps describe the sequence of events that Steps 6–11 repeated as in Session 1 Steps 3–15 repeated as
occurred in each day's sessions. (12) At day's end, transformation of spectra in Session 1
measurements into ratio values
Spectrophotometry Track Therapy Session Track (13) Computer entry of raw data

Researchers 2 and 3 Researcher 1

First session First session
(1) Allow instrument to reach (1) RNG to select daily control
equilibrium Calibration; this vial to RESULTS
Spectroscopy room Hypothesis One
(2) Check gain and operating features (2) Video coordinator sets up We predicted that in some or all of the Treated samples a
(3) Run zero-line spectrum using (3) Briefing of Practitioner and change in the infrared spectra would occur such that the
sample from Calibration Control defined ratio would have a reduced value in comparison with
Recipient the Session and Calibration Control samples. We expected
(4) Run 100% line (4) Obtain permissions that some Practitioners would be more effective in producing

IR Spectra Alteration in Water EXPLORE March/April 2015, Vol. 11, No. 2 149
the decreased ratio value than others. The results confirmed Table 3. Mean Values and Standard Deviations Between the Two
these predictions (Table 2). Measurements

Hypothesis Two Spectroscopist One Spectroscopist Two

We predicted that the magnitude of the change in the ratio
Mean Stnd. Dev. Mean Stnd. Dev.
value would increase with exposure time to the Practitioner,
the change being greatest in the 15-min samples. This was not Calibration controls 3.27 0.14 3.27 0.15
confirmed (P 4 .2). Stnd. Dev., standard deviation.

Inter-Spectroscopist Calibration Consistency

The uniformity of the mean values and standard deviations should be noted that ambient temperatures only were
between the two spectroscopists suggest no significant differ- recorded and used in the above plot. This effect of temper-
ence between their performances. Calibration Controls show ature on infrared absorption bands is well reported in the
relative consistency, both by spectroscopist and between literature, and there have been several studies of water
spectroscopists, indicating correct measurement technique focusing specifically on the absorption bands studied in this
and consistent sampling (Table 3). experiment. Unfortunately, none of the studies used the
attenuated total reflection (ATR) spectroscopy technique
Data Distribution employed here. However, two studies of reflectance IR
Using the Rankits (graphic analysis) approach, a linear trans- spectra1,15,16 and a further study of the Raman spectrum in
formation of the ratio values for each population was this region17 report values for the temperature coefficient of R
performed using tables giving Rankit values in relation to consistent with one another and comparable to that observed
population n.14 These values were plotted on semilogarithmic in this study. Thus, although the unreported ATR method
(1 cycle 70 divisions) paper. From this, a skewed distribution may give slightly different band profiles from reflectance IR
was apparent, which determined that the Mann–Whitney U and Raman spectroscopy, the uniformity of the two other
test was appropriate. approaches suggests that samples measured in this experiment
by ATR should show, as they do, a similar temperature
Internal Reflection Element Variations coefficient. Because the observed temperature coefficient is of
At the beginning of the fourth measurement of the second the same sign and order of magnitude as the published values,
session, the germanium plate from the MIR unit broke; in its it is probable that this study is seeing an effect on R due to
place we substituted one of zinc selenide. The germanium the sample temperature, and not an artifact produced by
IRE, with its higher refractive index, consistently produced equipment fluctuation.
lower ratios and, thus, artificially skewed the combined The temperature shift required to produce a mean effect
overall analysis. We eliminated the 15 (of 141) ratios from equal to that observed in this study—ΔR ¼ 0.08—is shown
all vial categories taken with the germanium IRE. The below for water samples with a reference temperature of 251C
germanium ratios alone constitute too small an n to achieve (Table 6). The mean temperature of this study was 25.81C.
truly meaningful results. The zinc selenide ratios alone yield To mimic the mean effect observed in this study, a 21
significant results (Table 4). difference of room temperature would be required between
sampling the Treated and Calibration Controls. This magni-
Environmental Effects tude of temperature shift was not observed; the mean shift
The following ranges of temperature and barometric pressure was 0.441C. To encompass the full range of the effect would
were recorded during the course of the experiment (Table 5). require a change of þ111C as some samples changed by ΔR
¼ 0.46.
Temperature. We plot below the observed ratio values However, since we only recorded the ambient temperature
against the recorded room temperature at time of analysis during the spectrophotometric sessions, other considerations
(Figure 10). need to be examined. One concerns whether it is possible that
The ratios show a slight negative temperature coefficient the handling of samples during treatment sessions resulted in
across the aggregate samples. This same slight negative slope
was observed in both germanium (0.08) and zinc selenide Table 4. Zinc Selenide IRE Only (Temperature-Adjusted Ratios)
populations (0.055), and within all vial populations. It
z Scores P Value (One
Tailed)
Table 2. Mann–Whitney U Tests for Temperature-Adjusted Ratios
All treated vs all controls 2.56 .005
z Scores P Value (One Tailed) All treated vs calibration controls 3.54 .0004
Germanium and zinc selenide IREs Five minutes 3.06 .001
All treated vs all controls –2.03 .02 10 min 2.52 .006
All treated vs calibration controls –2.93 .002 15 min 3.02 .001
All treated vs session control –0.26 .4 All treated vs session control 0.46 .3
IRE, internal reflection element. Calibration controls vs session controls 2.8 .002

150 EXPLORE March/April 2015, Vol. 11, No. 2 IR Spectra Alteration in Water
Table 5. Zinc Selenide IRE Only (Temperature-Adjusted Ratios) Table 6. Examples of Temperature Effects on R
Temperature (1C) Barometric Pressure (in) Temperature 1C þ to Mimic Mean Spectroscopy Source
Coefficient 1C1 Observed Effect Technique
Range ¼ 6.3 Range ¼ 0.3
Maximum 28.6 Maximum 30.1 0.041 2.0 ATR-IR This study
Minimum 22.3 Minimum 29.8 0.027 3.0 Reflectance IR Pinkley
et al.15
0.021 3.8 Reflectance IR Hale
their having higher temperatures at measurement than Cali-
et al.16
bration or Session Control samples, something that would
not be reflected in the ambient measurements. To explore this 0.026 3.1 Raman Schultz
question, a worst-case scenario was constructed, and a series and
of post hoc experiments was carried out. Hornig17
Under most circumstances, the Creslan vial holder posi- ATR-IR, attenuated total reflection infrared.
tioned only a part of the cloth-covered vial surface against the
Practitioner's slightly cupped palm. To create the worst-case
scenario, we tightly grasped unsheathed sample vials, from the left the hand of the Practitioner. Second spectroscopic
same lot used in the main study, for 15 min in the naked measurements typically occurred an hour and a half after
hand. Fifteen minutes of such exposure raised the water that. Using the worst-case scenario determined by the first
temperature in the vial, by 101C above the mean ambient post hoc experiment—a sample heated to 101C above
temperature of 25.81C. Measurements were taken using a ambient temperature and then measured only 15 min later
Tegam digital thermometer, model 8751F (verified calibration —and given the established thermal time constant, we found
to 0.11F), equipped with a 24-gauge Type T thermocouple that a vial would be 71C above ambient at the time its first
sensor, with a time constant less than one second. The sensor spectrum was taken.
was inserted through the rubber seal directly into the This led to exploration of a third temperature issue
approximate center of the vial. The water within the vials involving the Sample Cell/IRE unit itself. Could handling
was then allowed to equilibrate toward ambient. of the unit introduce a temperature effect not revealed by the
The thermal time constant of the water within the vials ambient measurement? Post hoc experiments were carried out
was such that the temperature differential between sample in which the thermocouple sensor was inserted, via the same
and ambient halved every 29 min. Spectra from a given channel through which the water was injected into the “dry”
session were taken from 15 to 73 min after the time a vial Sample Cell, as it was being handled during the preparation

Figure 10. Temperature vs ratios.

IR Spectra Alteration in Water EXPLORE March/April 2015, Vol. 11, No. 2 151
for spectra taking. An ambient reading was taken and 1.5 ml range of effect. To explore this, we took the mean of the ratios
of water was extracted from the previously held vial and of each measurement category, i.e., all first-of-the-day Cali-
injected into the Sample Cell. The sensor was re-inserted into bration Control sample ratios, all second-measurement-of-
the water-filled Sample Cell, which was placed into the MIR, the-day Calibration Control sample ratios, and so on up to
and readings were taken at the beginning and end of the two measurement six (Figure 11).
minutes required to take a spectrum. During the course of a
typical five-vial measurement session, we found that the Practitioner Sub-Populations
Sample Cell temperature varied above ambient by no more The total population of Practitioners was considered as being
than 0.51C between spectrographic measurements, and that made up of two sub-populations, Practicing and Non-
even this rise dissipated during the approximately three- practicing. Using the zinc selenide IRE, we compared the
minute period it took to prepare for the next spectrum Treated vs Calibration Control sub-populations. This
taking. These experiments also revealed that samples 71C resulted in the elimination of two actively Practicing Therapy
above ambient, which were injected into the IRE for Practitioners, leaving seven Practicing compared with five
spectrophotometric analysis equilibrated very rapidly and Non-practicing. The comparison showed is showed in
closely to the temperature of the Sample Cell. This is not Table 7.
surprising since the 1.5 ml of water in the Sample Cell cavity Those who trained in some kind of therapeutic technique,
is spread out in a shallow film within a steel casing. and characteristically involved themselves in such activities,
These post hoc studies make it clear that, since the metal produced more significant results than those who had not
has a much greater thermal capacity than the water, the undergone such training or who did not characteristically
Sample Cell temperature is the significant factor in determin- involve themselves in such activities.
ing the sample temperature at the time of spectroscopic
measurement, and that temperature increase within the vials,
caused by handling, is not a significant factor. Similarly, DISCUSSION
handling the metal Sample Cell is not a significant concern The central difficulty in interpreting this experiment's results
because of the waiting time it took to prepare the spectro- lies in the Session Controls, a few of which also show
photometer for the next spectrum measurement. evidence of having been acted upon. For reasons discussed
Having thus established that spectra were taken at a in the section Results, we do not feel that environmental
temperature approximating ambient, we corrected for the effects provide a compelling explanation for either the overall
slope observed in the regression line, producing an adjusted effect or the changes in the Session Control sub-population
ratio, Ra by specifically. However, eliminating temperature as a cause does
little to advance our understanding of what affected the water
Ra ¼ R þ 0:041 ðT  25Þ ð4Þ
samples. If the effect is not the result of environmental
where Ra ¼ the temperature-adjusted ratio, R ¼ the uncor- factors, what could have caused the change in the IR spectra?
rected ratio, and T ¼ temperature. In seeking an answer to this question, the fact that only some
The Mann–Whitney U tests were then run using the Session Controls were affected lends possible support to two
corrected ratios from both the germanium and zinc selenide explanatory models.
populations. The results of these calculations provided data,
upon which the Hypothesis One analysis was based, although Emotive–Intention Model
the z score difference between the two datasets was quite The independent variable of this experiment was the “intent”
small. The z score difference between the adjusted and of the Practitioner, and this therapeutic intent may have, as a
unadjusted ratios, in the most pronounced category, Treated major component, a highly charged emotional state. This
vs Calibration, changed only from 2.97 to 2.93. model, in addition to proposing a partial explanation for the
overall effect, suggests that we neglected to fully appreciate
Barometric pressure. The barometric pressure was logged at the the psychological impact produced by a Therapy Session in
time each spectrum was produced and over the course of trials designing the experiment. Researcher 1 also had a highly
covered a range of only 0.3 in. These were optimal experimental emotional experience, and he alone knew the identity of all
conditions, but because this range was so small, we can say four samples from each session, including which was the
nothing concerning the pressure–ratio relationship. control. He was the only person who handled the Session
Controls until they were delivered to the Spectroscopy
Sampling and Order Variations Room. Since the Calibration Controls show no effect, the
There is a second possible pressure effect to consider. Air was Session Controls presumably were not affected by any factor
pushed into the vials through the syringe and needle in order in the spectroscopy room.
to offset the vacuum created by withdrawing the water At the time of the sessions, Researcher 1 sometimes
sample. The Treated and Session Control vials each under- reported being deeply “moved” and “excited.” So powerful
went two measurements, while each of the Calibration were these experiences that Researcher 1 was later shown to
Control vials underwent either four or six, depending on have ineptly handled a tape recorder with which he was fully
whether two or three sessions were held on a given day. familiar and which he had used many times over several years.
Presumably, since the Calibration Controls experienced the He could qualify as being in an altered state as Ludwig18
greatest variance for this factor, they should show the greatest defines the word. If one considers the correlation between

152 EXPLORE March/April 2015, Vol. 11, No. 2 IR Spectra Alteration in Water
 Figure 11. Sub-populations by sequence of measurement.

high emotion and extraordinary human performance of all with this data set is that the size of the phenomenon does not
kinds, the possibility of Researcher 1 being an affecting agent increase simply with time of exposure, and that it can take five
cannot be eliminated. Indeed, an extreme scenario could be minutes or less to produce a significant change. Both the
developed in which all affected vials were the result of some Emotive–Intention and Proximity models could conceivably
influence on the part of Researcher 1, and that the produce such a change.
Practitioners produced none of the effect. We must (1) reduce system noise by utilizing even higher
purity water and employing a more advanced spectropho-
Proximity Model tometer, which allows for continuous calibration readings;
The Treated and Session Control vials from each Therapy (2) monitor sample temperature at the IRE and create base-
Session were within several inches of one another and may lines establishing the exact nature of any temperature coef-
have had some direct glass-to-glass contact. This model ficient through repeated trials on water samples at different
proposes that some undefined field effect, perhaps along the controlled temperatures; (3) implement greater automation,
lines discussed by Sheldrake and others19 caused the Treated involving continuous Teflon tubing, rather than water vials,
Vials to affect the Session Controls through proximity. The in this way eliminating researcher handling of the samples and
Proximity Model might co-exist with the Emotive–Intention allowing for greater sampling frequency per session, which
Model, but alone it does not explain how the Treated samples could potentially answer questions as to how long it takes to
were affected, unless one postulates that the few affected cause change in the samples, and possibly lead to evaluation
Session Controls caused changes in the Treated samples of individual practitioner effects; and (4) maintain strict
during the time the last vial left the hand until the first separation of Control and Treated water samples and carry
measurement was taken in the Spectroscopy Room. How this out proximity studies to shed light on the existence of any
might occur through the glass of the vials we do not speculate. such effect.
This experiment did not control for such an effect. The selection of the palms of the hands as the site to
monitor was based on the almost universal ethno-historical
association of the hands with healing. This does not imply,
Future Research however, that the palms are the only place on the body at
Subsequent work should do more than replicate the existence which to place the water. Two small studies suggest that at
of the effect observed in this study; it should give a more least one other site exists on the body where water has been
accurate reading of true magnitude. Similarly, it should also affected, and that proximity is an aspect whose parameters are
refine how long it takes to affect the water. What we can say not understood. Dean reports a successful experiment with a
British woman, Rose Gladden, where the bottle was placed at
her throat.20 Brame (E.G. Brame, Measuring changes in the
Table 7. Mann–Whitney U Test (Temperature-Adjusted Ratios)
structure of water exposed to healers and healing circles,
Zinc Selenide IRE P (One Tailed) unpublished technical report, 1977) describes an experiment
in which a group of people were several feet from a target vial.
Practicing (treated vs calibration controls) –3.08 .001
The anecdotal literature of absent healing, where Practitioner
Non-practicing (treated vs calibration controls) –1.75 .04
and Recipient are separated, sometimes by long distances,

IR Spectra Alteration in Water EXPLORE March/April 2015, Vol. 11, No. 2 153
suggests that distance may be no more a factor in this effect Medicine Research Institute and Research Advisory Commit-
than it is in remote viewing.21 tee, particularly Harvey Grady and William Tiller, for their
The comparison between those individuals trained, and suggestions; Douglas Dean and Bernard Grad for their
experienced, in such therapeutic activities, and those who are assistance and guidance; Robert M. Nakamura for his stat-
not has been explored in only a preliminary way. While the istical suggestions; William Truett and the JANOS Technol-
results clearly suggest a correlation between experience of ogy Corporation for the contribution of a Multiple Internal
Practitioner and robustness of effect, this data set does not Reflection Unit; Rosalyn Bruyere, Greg Zuspan, and the staff
directly speak to finer analyses concerning individual Practi- of The Healing Light Center Church for their cooperation
tioner techniques. The results do suggest that even with no during the week of fieldwork at their facility; Bill Handler for
training, or regular practice, it is possible to alter the IR making video-taping of the sessions possible; and Michael
spectrum if the intent is strong. For this reason, we feel this Cuneo of Brain Power for his assistance in statistical
issue of intent is very significant and should be a major programming.
consideration in any experiment design.
This report does not take a position of preference for any REFERENCES
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