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Polarity therapy, or polarity balancing, is a form of energy therapy based on the belief that changing your body’s electromagnetic field can treat various bodily issues.

Dr. Randolph Stone, an osteopath, chiropractor, and naturopath, developed this form of alternative medicine in 1947.

Like other types of energy therapies, such as reiki and biofield energy healing, there’s not much scientific evidence that proves polarity balancing can treat any particular disease or illness.

Many studies that have found potential benefits of energy therapies have been criticized in the scientific community for poor methodology and conflicts of interest.

In this article, we take a deeper look at how polarity balancing is thought to work and whether it has any potential health benefits.

Polarity balancing practitioners use a combination of meditation, hands-on techniques, nutrition, yoga, and exercises to holistically help realign your body’s energy balance.

Like other energy therapies, the concept of polarity relies on the assumptions that:

  1. Illness results from blocked energy flow.
  2. The mind and body have the power to heal themselves.
  3. Healing can be assisted through manipulation of the body’s internal energy field.

An assumption that’s unique to polarity balancing is the idea that the body’s flow of energy is controlled by positive and negative charges in the body’s electromagnetic field.

During a polarity therapy session, your practitioner will start by searching your body for the source of energy blockage by checking for symptoms like pain and muscle tension.

Once the source is identified, the practitioners will use a variety of techniques, including a specialized massage, to free the flow of energy.

But there’s a lack of scientific evidence that blockages in energy are responsible for any known health issues. So, energy therapy techniques aren’t widely accepted in the traditional medical community.

Polarity balancing doesn’t treat any specific disease or illness. It might be able to support overall wellness by encouraging a healthy diet, exercise, and the other inclusion of other potentially beneficial activities, like yoga and meditation.

Proponents of polarity balancing believe that if energy flow is disrupted by stress, you can develop:

Although there’s no scientific evidence to support the use of polarity therapy to treat any particular illnesses, polarity therapy has been used to treat symptoms of:

Polarity therapy for cancer-related fatigue

Energy therapies are sometimes used as a complementary treatment for cancer therapy. There’s no evidence they can treat cancer, but they may be able to help manage some symptoms.

An older 2011 pilot study looked at the effect of polarity therapy on cancer-related fatigue in 45 women undergoing radiation therapy for breast cancer.

The women received either standard clinical care, three modified massages, or three polarity therapy treatments.

The researchers found a slight improvement in fatigue in the polarity therapy group compared to the standard treatment group. There was little difference between the modified massage group and the polarity therapy group.

Polarity therapy for stress

A 2012 study examined the potential benefits of polarity therapy on the stress levels of caregivers looking after people with dementia. The 42 participants either underwent eight sessions of polarity therapy or could choose one of several relaxing activities, such as yoga or basket weaving.

The researchers found that participants who underwent polarity therapy had significant reductions in stress levels and depression compared to the other participants.

Polarity balancing and reiki are energy therapies that supposedly work by releasing blocked energy channels in your body. Both techniques use similar hands-on techniques and have little scientific evidence to support their use.

The idea that your body’s electromagnetic charge plays a role in blocking your energy flow is unique to polarity balancing.

Below is a breakdown of their differences.

Reiki

  • Reiki comes from Japan, and it’s usually accepted that it was created by Dr. Mikao Usui. It’s thought to involve the transfer of energy from the palms of the practitioner to the patient.
  • It’s believed that energy stagnates in the body when there’s an injury or emotional pain.
  • A practitioner may transfer energy with their hands in contact with the client or slightly above the client’s body.
  • Sessions are generally shorter than polarity balancing.

Polarity balancing

  • Polarity balancing is influenced by Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine.
  • Proponents believe that changes in your body’s electromagnetic fields block your body’s energy flow.
  • Practitioners use their hands in contact with your body to release energy.
  • Sessions generally take longer than reiki sessions.

A qualified polarity balancing practitioner can help you build a holistic polarity therapy program to treat your particular health concern. They can also advise you on how to incorporate polarity therapy together with conventional medicine.

You can find a qualified practitioner by using the American Polarity Therapy Association directory. Practitioners listed in this directory have completed the educational and clinical requirements to become board certified.

Polarity balancing often incorporates exercises and yoga into the therapy. A qualified practitioner can explain the best way to add these exercises to your daily routine.

Here are two simple exercises you can do at home.

Squat

  1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and turned slightly outward.
  2. Squat down as far as you can with your arms in front of you and your knees in line with your feet.
  3. Let your body relax into the pose and sink further as your muscles loosen.
  4. Hold for at least 1 minute.

Woodchopper

  1. Stand with your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
  2. Inhale and raise both hands together overhead as if you’re raising an axe to cut wood.
  3. Bring your hands down quickly between your legs as you exhale.
  4. Repeat at least 10 times.

Further reading

If you want to learn more about balancing your polarity, you can read the following books:

You can find these books at your local library, or order them online by clicking the links above.

Was this helpful?

Polarity balancing is a technique that purportedly helps release blocked energy channels in your body. Proponents of this alternative medicine believe that these channels become blocked by imbalances in your body’s electromagnetic field.

There’s no evidence that polarity therapy can treat any particular illness. However, many people find the therapy relaxing, and it’s unlikely to have any side effects. More research is needed to fully explore its potential benefits.