Understanding How Pranic Healing Facilitators' Observed Experiences and Outcomes Arise: A Critical Realist Explanatory Model.

Abstract

Pranic Healing (PH) is a naturopathic modality rooted in the biofield concept of prana (life force), employing non-touch techniques to normalize and balance the energy body to support well-being. While the primary focus of Pranic Healing facilitators (PHFs) is the improvement of recipient health, previous studies suggest that PH techniques of hand sensitization and pranic energization enhance practitioners' own well-being. This study aimed to explore PHFs' experiences during PH practices through qualitative exploration and a critical realist lens to identify the underlying generative mechanisms that explain how perceived energetic experiences are processed and contribute to healing outcomes. Twelve PHFs with 6-26 years of experience from six regions of India participated in in-depth telephonic interviews. Deductive and inductive thematic analysis, followed by retroductive reasoning to examine the empirical, actual, and real domains of experience, a layered explanatory model linking practitioner experiences, healing processes, and outcomes, were made. In addition to established PH-related experiences, two newly emergent categories among PHFs were recognized. PH functioned as a generative mechanism activating interconnected somatic, biofield, psychological, and consciousness-related healing processes. These findings provide an explanatory framework for understanding how PH practices generate perceived therapeutic and transformative outcomes leading to flourishing, which may further motivate practitioners to practice PH.