In This Guide
The word "biofield" sounds like it belongs in science fiction. It doesn't. It was formally introduced in 1992 by an advisory panel convened by the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) — the world's largest biomedical research agency — to describe a phenomenon that existing terminology couldn't adequately capture.
Since then, the biofield has become the subject of hundreds of peer-reviewed publications, a dedicated research community, and clinical tools that can visualize it in real time. This guide covers the definition, the evidence, and the technology — with every claim linked to its published source.
The NIH Definition: What "Biofield" Actually Means
Official NIH Definition · 1992
"A massless field, not necessarily electromagnetic, that surrounds and permeates living bodies and affects the body."
Source: NIH Office of Alternative Medicine, 1992. Cited in: Rubik, B. J Alt Complement Med. 2002;8(6):703-17. PMID: 12614524
In 2015, Dr. Beverly Rubik (Institute for Frontier Science), Dr. Shamini Jain (UC San Diego), and colleagues published a landmark paper expanding this definition. They described the biofield as a complex organizing energy field engaged in the generation, maintenance, and regulation of biological homeodynamics — essentially, the field that keeps your body's systems coordinated and in balance.
Source: Rubik, B., Muehsam, D., Hammerschlag, R., Jain, S. "Biofield Science and Healing: History, Terminology, and Concepts." Global Advances in Health and Medicine. 2015;4(Suppl):8-14. PMC4654789 — Read full text →
This isn't a fringe concept. The authors' affiliations include the University of California San Diego (Department of Psychiatry and Center for Integrative Medicine), the California Institute of Integral Studies, the National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems (Bologna, Italy), and the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine. The paper has been cited over 460 times in subsequent research.
The biofield provides a modern scientific framework for what ancient healing traditions have described for millennia: prana in Hindu Ayurvedic medicine, qi in Chinese medicine, ki in Japanese medicine, and the vital force in Western vitalism.
Four Measurable Layers of the Human Biofield
The biofield is not a single thing — it's a composite of several physically measurable fields that your body generates continuously. Each layer has been independently confirmed by peer-reviewed research and can be detected with existing instruments.
The Four Measurable Layers of the Human Biofield
The heart alone generates an electromagnetic field detectable several feet from the body — as confirmed by magnetocardiography (MCG) using SQUID sensors. The biophotonic layer, discovered by Fritz-Albert Popp, consists of ultra-weak photon emissions from every living cell. These are not metaphorical — they are measurable at intensities of a few to several hundred photons per second per cm².
Source: Popp, F.A. "Properties of biophotons and their theoretical implications." Indian J Exp Biol. 2003;41(5):391-402. PMID: 15244259 — View on PubMed →
Published Evidence: What the Studies Show
The biofield is not an accepted concept in the same way that, say, the electromagnetic spectrum is. It's an emerging scientific framework supported by a growing body of research. Here's what the published evidence confirms, and where the field is still developing.
Published Biofield Studies by Research Domain
Based on Korotkov's 2018 review of EPI literature and IUMAB research database
Source: Korotkov, K. "Review of EPI papers on medicine and psychophysiology published in 2008–2018." Int J Complement Alt Med. 2018;11(6). DOI: 10.15406/ijcam.2018.11.00417 →
Key findings from published biofield research:
A Note on Context
Biofield science is an emerging field. While the studies cited above show statistically significant correlations and promising clinical utility, biofield measurement is not yet a mainstream diagnostic tool in Western medicine. The 400+ publications represent a substantial and growing evidence base, but further large-scale, multi-center validation studies are needed — and are actively underway at institutions worldwide. This guide presents the published evidence as-is, with direct links so you can evaluate it yourself.
The WHO's Recognition of Energy-Based Diagnostics
On January 1, 2022, the WHO's ICD-11 came into effect worldwide. For the first time, it includes Chapter 26: Traditional Medicine Conditions — codifying 150 disorders and 196 patterns based on traditional Chinese medicine diagnostic language, including energy-based diagnoses.
180+
Countries using ICD-11
150
TM disorders codified
196
Energy patterns classified
2022
Year enacted
Sources: WHO Traditional Medicine FAQ → · Aung, S.K.H. et al. "Incorporation of complementary and traditional medicine in ICD-11." BMC Med Inform Decis Mak. 2022;22(Suppl 6):381. PMID: 35773641 →
This is significant for biofield science because the meridian system — the same framework Bio-Well uses to map fingertip emissions to organs — is now part of the internationally recognized medical classification standard. It doesn't mean energy medicine is "proven" in the conventional sense, but it does mean the diagnostic concepts are taken seriously enough to be standardized at the highest level of global health governance.
How to Measure the Biofield Today
Several technologies can detect aspects of the biofield. The most comprehensive commercially available system is the Bio-Well GDV camera, which captures the biophotonic layer through electro-photonic imaging.
SQUID Magnetometry
Superconducting quantum interference devices detect the magnetic component of the biofield. Used in research to measure heart and brain magnetic fields. Lab-only; not portable.
Photomultiplier Tubes
Ultra-sensitive photon detectors that count individual biophotons. Used by Popp and others. Research-grade; requires darkroom conditions.
Bio-Well (GDV Camera)
Captures biophotonic emissions via controlled gas discharge. Portable, standardized, quantifiable. Full body + organ + chakra mapping in under 3 minutes. Used by 5,000+ practitioners globally.
Biofield Therapies: What Works and What's Proven
Biofield therapy is the broad term for therapeutic practices that work with the body's energy field to promote health. The NIH's National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health recognizes several categories:
Acupuncture
Stimulates specific meridian points. WHO recognizes for 28+ conditions. Well-studied with GDV measurement.
Reiki
Practitioner channels energy through hands. Growing evidence base for stress reduction and pain management.
Therapeutic Touch
Energy-based nursing modality. Practiced in hospitals worldwide since the 1970s. Studied for wound healing and anxiety.
Qigong / Tai Chi
Movement-based biofield practices. Extensively studied for balance, chronic pain, and cardiovascular health.
Yoga / Pranayama
Breathwork and postures that affect the energetic body. Bio-Well studies documented before/after scan changes.
Osteopathic Manipulation
Physical therapy with biofield effects. A published Bio-Well study showed measurable energy changes post-treatment.
What makes Bio-Well valuable for biofield therapy practitioners is the ability to measure before and after — providing objective, visual evidence that a therapy session created a detectable shift in the patient's energy field. This is the bridge between subjective experience and measurable data.
What a Biofield Scan Reveals
A single Bio-Well biofield scan — which takes under 3 minutes — produces a comprehensive energy report that includes:
Full Biofield Image
Visual map of your complete energy field, showing distribution, gaps, and asymmetries.
Organ Energy Levels
Each major organ system mapped from fingertip sectors via meridian connections.
Chakra Alignment
Seven major energy centers assessed for balance, over-activity, or under-activity.
Stress & Energy Index
Overall stress level and energy reserve calculated from total emission parameters.
Get Your Biofield Scanned
Find a certified Bio-Well practitioner near you and experience a biofield scan firsthand.
Find a Practitioner →See Bio-Well in Action
Watch a free demo to see exactly what a biofield scan looks like — and what the data means.
Watch Free Demo →
Sources Cited in This Article
- Rubik, B. "The biofield hypothesis: its biophysical basis and role in medicine." J Alt Complement Med. 2002;8(6):703-17. PMID: 12614524 →
- Rubik, B., Muehsam, D., Hammerschlag, R., Jain, S. "Biofield Science and Healing: History, Terminology, and Concepts." Glob Adv Health Med. 2015;4(Suppl):8-14. PMC4654789 →
- Popp, F.A. "Properties of biophotons and their theoretical implications." Indian J Exp Biol. 2003;41(5):391-402. PMID: 15244259 →
- Korotkov, K. "Review of EPI papers on medicine and psychophysiology 2008–2018." Int J Complement Alt Med. 2018;11(6). DOI: 10.15406/ijcam.2018.11.00417 →
- "Correlation of Electrophotonic Imaging Parameters With Fasting Blood Sugar." J Evidence-Based CAM, 2016. Download PDF →
- "Causal Relationships Between GDV Parameters and Leukocytogram." J Education, Health and Sport, 2021. Download PDF →
- "Analysis of the Influence of Osteopathic Procedures on the Psychophysiological State of Patients." EC Orthopaedics. Download PDF →
- "A Randomised, Blinded, Placebo-Controlled, Three Armed Parallel Study." National Institute of Homeopathy. Download PDF →
- "Prediction of competitive readiness of Paralympic athletes by GDV." Russian Ministry of Sport, 2016. Download PDF →
- "Psychophysiological Correlates of Athletic Success." Human Physiology, 2005. Download PDF →
- "Electro-Photonic Emission Analysis in Patients with COPD." Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 2024. Download PDF →
- "Engineering Approach to Identifying Patients with Colon Tumors." Open Biomed Eng J, 2016. Download PDF →
- Aung, S.K.H. et al. "Incorporation of complementary and traditional medicine in ICD-11." BMC Med Inform Decis Mak. 2022;22(Suppl 6):381. PMID: 35773641 →
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