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Foundation for Epigenetic Medicine

The Foundation for Epigenetic Medicine is the research arm of the National Institute for Integrative Healthcare. It is currently involved in several research projects.

The Foundation for Epigenetic Medicine has performed groundbreaking research in many areas of physical and mental health. Our Research Portfolio below shows the dozens of studies that we have performed and published in peer-reviewed journals.

Make a donation to support the work of the Foundation!

 

Research Projects

Veterans Stress Solution

The Veterans Stress Solution connects veterans suffering from PTSD with therapists and life coaches who offer EFT. It has also conduced several studies measuring the effect of EFT on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which affects an estimated 800,000 veterans who have returned from Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as some 400,000 Vietnam veterans. Results of this research are shared at the website of the Veterans Stress Solution, where vets can also connect with practitioners.

Epigenetic Medicine Prize

The Epigenetic Medicine PrizeThe National Institute for Integrative Healthcare encourages the development of therapies that affect individuals epigenetically by awarding an annual monetary award to recognize practical applications of epigenetics. Such applications can be psychological (e.g. Energy Psychology interventions), social (e.g. childhood nurturing, which enhances the expression of the genes in the hippocampus that dampen stress), or biomedical. The inaugural recipient was Randy Jirtle, PhD, of Duke University Medical Center, for his pioneering work discovering the epigenetic effects of Agouti gene suppression. We need $15,000 for the next prize.

APA Petition

The American Psychological Association (APA) is the professional association for American psychologists. The National Institute for Integrative Healthcare supports a drive to establish Energy Psychology as a “division” or interest area within APA.

Energy Medicine Research Database

A great deal of research has been done in the past few decades to validate the efficacy of Energy Medicine methods. This has resulted in the publication of hundreds of studies in peer-reviewed professional journals. This bibliography is designed to be a reference guide to this body of literature.

Research Portfolio

Church, D., Stapleton, P., & Sabot, D. (2020). Brief EcoMeditation associated with psychological improvements: A preliminary study. Global Advances in Health and Medicine, 9. doi:10.1177/2164956120984142

Church, D., Stapleton, P. & Sabot, D. (2019). App-based delivery of Clinical EFT: Cross-sectional study of app user self-ratings. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 8(10), e18545.

Church, D., & Clond, M. (2019). Is online treatment as effective as in-person treatment? Psychological change in two relationship skills groups. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 207(5),315-319

Yount, G., Church, D., Rachlin, K., Blickheuser, K., & Cardonna, I. (2019). Do noncoding RNAs mediate the efficacy of Energy Psychology? Global Advances in Health and Medicine, 8, 2164956119832500.

Church, D. and David, I. (2019). Borrowing Benefits: Clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) as an immediate stress reduction skill in the workplace. Psychology, 10, 941-952

Bach, D., Groesbeck, G., Stapleton, P., Sims, R., Blickheuser, K., & Church, D. (2019). Clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) improves multiple physiological markers of health. Journal of Evidence-based Integrative Medicine, 24 , 2515690X18823691.

Church, D., Stapleton, P., Yang, A., & Gallo, F. (2018). Is tapping on acupuncture points an active ingredient in Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT)? A systematic review and meta-analysis of comparative studies. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 206(10), 783–793. doi: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000000878

Church, D., & Feinstein, D. (2017). The manual stimulation of acupuncture points in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder: A review of Clinical Emotional Freedom Techniques. Medical Acupuncture, 29(4), 1-12. doi:10.1089/acu.2017.1213

Groesbeck, G., Bach, D., Stapleton, P., Blickheuser, K., Church, D., & Sims, R. (2018). The interrelated physiological and psychological effects of EcoMeditation. Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine, 23, 2515690X18759626.

Church, D., Stern, S., Boath, E., Stewart, A., Feinstein, D., & Clond, M. (2017). Emotional Freedom Techniques to treat posttraumatic stress disorder in veterans: Review of the evidence, survey of practitioners, and proposed clinical guidelines. Permanente Journal, 21(2), 16-23. doi: 10.7812/TPP/16-100

Church, D., & Nelms, J. (2016). Pain, range of motion, and psychological symptoms in a population with frozen shoulder: A randomized controlled dismantling study of clinical EFT (emotional freedom techniques). Archives of Scientific Psychology, 4(1), 38-48. doi:10.1037/arc0000028

Church, D., Yount, G., Rachlin, K., Fox, L., & Nelms, J. (2016). Epigenetic effects of PTSD remediation in veterans using clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques): A randomized controlled pilot study. American Journal of Health Promotion, 1-11. doi:10.1177/0890117116661154

Church, D., Sparks, T., & Clond, M. (2015). EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) and resiliency in veterans at risk for PTSD: A randomized controlled trial. Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing, 12(5), 355-365. doi:10.1016/j.explore.2016.06.012

Church, D. (2014). Clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) as single session therapy: Cases, research, indications, and cautions. In M. Hoyt & M. Talmon (Eds.), Capture the moment: Single session therapy and walk-in service. Bethel, CT: Crown House.

Church, D. (2014). Reductions in pain, depression, and anxiety symptoms after PTSD remediation in veterans. Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing, 10(3), 162-169.

Church, D., & Brooks, A. J. (2014). CAM and energy psychology techniques remediate PTSD symptoms in veterans and spouses. Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing, 10(1), 24-33. doi:10.1016/j.explore.2013.10.006

Church, D., Feinstein, D., Palmer-Hoffman, J., Stein, P. K., & Tranguch, A. (2014). Empirically supported psychological treatments: The challenge of evaluating clinical innovations. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 202(10), 699-709. doi:10.1097/NMD.0000000000000188

Church, D., & Palmer-Hoffman, J. (2014). TBI symptoms improve after PTSD remediation with Emotional Freedom Techniques. Traumatology, 20(3), 172-181.

Church, D, & Feinstein, D. (2013). Energy psychology in the treatment of PTSD: Psychobiology and clinical principles. In T. Van Leeuwen & M. Brouwer (Eds.), Psychology of trauma (pp. 211-224). Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science.

Church, D., Hawk, C., Brooks, A. J., Toukolehto, O., Wren, M., Dinter, I., & Stein, P. (2013). Psychological trauma symptom improvement in veterans using Emotional Freedom Techniques: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 201(2), 153-160. doi:10.1097/NMD.0b013e31827f6351.

Stapleton, P., Church, D., Sheldon, T., Porter, B., & Carlopio, C. (2013). Depression symptoms improve after successful weight loss with Emotional Freedom Techniques: A randomized controlled trial. ISRN Psychiatry, 2013, 573532. doi:10.1155/2013/573532

Church, D., De Asis, M., & Brooks, A. J. (2012). Brief group intervention using Emotional Freedom Techniques for depression in college students: A randomized controlled trial. Depression Research and Treatment, 2012, 1-7. doi:10.1155/2012/257172

Church, D., & Downs, D. (2012). Sports confidence and critical incident intensity after a brief application of Emotional Freedom Techniques: A pilot study. Sport Journal, 15(1).

Church, D., Piña, O., Reategui, C., & Brooks, A. J. (2012). Single session reduction of the intensity of traumatic memories in abused adolescents after EFT: A randomized controlled trial. Traumatology, 18(3), 73-79. doi:10.1177/153476561142678.

Church, D., Yount, G., & Brooks, A. J. (2012). The effect of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) on stress biochemistry: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 200(10), 891-896. doi:10.1097/NMD.0b013e31826b9fc1.

Gurret, J-M., Caufour, C., Palmer-Hoffman, J., & Church, D. (2012).Post-earthquake rehabilitation of clinical PTSD in Haitian seminarians. Energy Psychology: Theory, Research, and Treatment, 4(2), 33-40. doi:10.9769/EPJ.2012.4.2.JPH.

Church, D. (2010). The treatment of combat trauma in veterans using EFT: A pilot protocol. Traumatology, 16(1), 45-55. doi:10.1177/1534765609347549

Church, D. (2010). Your DNA is not your destiny: Behavioral epigenetics and the role of emotions in health. In R. Klatz & R. Goldman (Eds.), Anti-aging therapeutics (Vol. 13, pp. 35-42). Chicago, IL: A4m American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine.

Church, D., & Brooks, A. J. (2010). The effect of a brief EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) self-intervention on anxiety, depression, pain and cravings in healthcare workers. Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal, 9(5), 40-44.

Feinstein, D., & Church, D. (2010). Modulating gene expression through psychotherapy: The contribution of non-invasive somatic interventions. Review of General Psychology, 14(4), 283-295. doi:10.1037/a002125

Church, D., & Brooks, A. J. (2010). Application of Emotional Freedom Techniques. Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal. 9(4), 46-48.

Church, D. (2009). The effect of EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) on athletic performance: A randomized controlled blind trial. Open Sports Sciences, 2, 94-99. doi:10.2174/1875399X00902010094.

Church, D., Geronilla, L., & Dinter, I. (2009). Psychological symptom change in veterans after six sessions of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT): An observational study. International Journal of Healing and Caring, 9(1).

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