By Donna Clifford, RN, CMT, CPT

This article describes a study of Polarity Therapy at Atlanticare Medical Center in the Boston area. After much approval processing, this study came to life in 1996, finishing in November 1996.

As part of the Healing Connection Department headed by Dr. Harvey Zarren, I worked six months with patients with all diagnoses. Our funding came from a private donation. After much education of staff, physicians, and patients, Polarity Therapy was offered to patients under informed consent, free of charge, and as part of an information gathering process.

During a six month period,1 worked on seventy patients, twenty staff members and one physician, totaling 204 sessions.

The primary result of polarity sessions was relaxation. A feeling of peace, rest, or deep relaxation was noted in 194 of the 204 sessions.

Patients stated that they experienced pain relief in many different situations:

· headache

· stress related blood pressure

· arthritic pain

· chronic & acute muscular back pain · muscle spasm · leg ulcer pain

· fractured rib pain

· post operative nausea

· fractured hip pain

· post operative incision pain

· bladder irritation secondary to foley catheter irritation

· CVA parathesias and contractures

· dyspnes secondary to COPD

· chronic constipation · mental depression.

In addition to the primary results categories shown on the chart below, patients reported numerous other benefits.

Polarity touched the life of everyone who received it as well as the attitude of the staff. I began to see a shift in the energy of the environment by the fifth month. The newness and excitement had somewhat worn off and nurses and doctors were writing polarity consults in the patient's record because results were evident. Polarity became almost as common as a trip to x-ray!

Staff members showed more interest as the study was in its last month. Since the beginning of our hospital based healing, several nurses have been certified in polarity therapy. The polarity room was located in the cardiac care unit where this work was welcomed and honored.

The energy of a hospital was very difficult to work in. It felt like I was clearing the whole state of Massachusetts as layers of energy emerged. The effects of the sessions didn't last as long or reach as deep a soul level as my private practice. I believe this is due to the toxicity of the institution. I also found this very draining on my own energy systems and required personal

sessions twice a week in order to keep my energy vital.

Some patients did not participate or did not have a positive experience. These responses included:

· refused to receive Polarity Therapy due to disinterest (20)

· Did not participate due to not having a doctor's order (19)

· discharged without completing evaluation form (8)

· not impressed/received no benefit from Polarity (4)

Many healing moments occurred that will never show up in a graph. Each patient has a story to tell of how their life-force is being drained. The energy step-down/breakdown is well advanced by the time a patient reaches hospital admission. It is my vision to see Polarity Therapy continue in this hospital as well as every health facility. I hold this work in its light to pioneer the path of healing in the medical model.

Donna Clifford has a Polarity Therapy practice in Salem, MA.