Pranic Healing is a form of complementary therapy that is used to help alleviate symptoms of chronic pain and illness. Our study aims to evaluate the efficacy of Pranic Healing as a natural complementary treatment for symptoms of chronic pain and clinical symptoms associated with Disorder of Brain-Gut Interaction (DGBI) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in paediatric and young adult patients.

This is a prospective, longitudinal, qualitative and quantitative experimental study. Inclusion criteria: 5–24 years old, chronic pain, patients with a diagnosis of DGBI or IBD. Patients underwent 8 weekly Pranic Healing sessions. Pranic Healing protocols synonymous with patients’ physical and psychological medical diagnosis were applied. Routine medical care was continued during treatment. Data collected included Pain-Visual Analogue Scale (P-VAS), medication dosage and frequency, and symptoms journal.

The primary outcome was the improvement in the intensity and frequency of pain. Secondary outcomes were improvements in the intensity and frequency of nausea, diarrhoea, constipation, vomiting, and sleep disturbance due to symptoms. The tertiary outcome was the improvement in patient anxiety.

38 participants were recruited (32 DGBI, 6 IBD) between July - Nov 2022. M: F ratio was 14:24. Median age was 13 years (range 7– 20 years). At the end of the 8-week treatment, patients’ clinical responses to treatment were evaluated and categorised as Complete Clinical Response, Partial Clinical Response or No Clinical Response (see table 1 data available for Phase 1 and 2 patients). At Week 16–20 (8–12 weeks after the last session), patients’ clinical responses were further evaluated (see table 1 data currently available for Phase 1 patients).

Our preliminary study shows that whilst continuing with medical care, Pranic Healing appears to enhance the relief of symptoms associated with DGBI and IBD. Further review at 8–12 weeks after Pranic Healing treatment completion showed sustained or further improvement of symptoms. More studies are needed to provide sufficient scientific evidence of its efficacy as a complementary therapy.