A medical intuitive is an
alternative medicine
Alternative medicine is any practice that aims to achieve the healing effects of medicine despite lacking biological plausibility, testability, repeatability, or evidence from clinical trials. Complementary medicine (CM), complementary and alt ...
practitioner who claims to be able to use their intuitive abilities to find the cause of a physical or emotional condition through the use of insight rather than
modern medicine. Other terms for such a person include medical clairvoyant or medical psychic.
History
The practice of claiming to use
intuition or
clairvoyance for medical information dates back to
Phineas Parkhurst Quimby (1802–1866), whose intuitive healing practice began in 1854.
Edgar Cayce
Edgar Cayce (; 18 March 1877 – 3 January 1945) was an American clairvoyant who claimed to channel his higher self while in a trance-like state. His words were recorded by his friend, Al Layne; his wife, Gertrude Evans, and later by his s ...
(1877–1945) was known as one of the most well known medical clairvoyants.
William M. Branham
William Marrion Branham (April 6, 1909 – December 24, 1965) was an American Christian minister and faith healer who initiated the post-World War II healing revival, and claimed to be a prophet with the anointing of Elijah, who had come ...
, the father of the Pentecostal
Latter Rain Movement, was said by his followers to be able to discern the health condition of people that attended his services, and in many cases heal them of their affliction.
Reception
Making a formal
medical diagnosis is not a practice for many medical intuitives. In a few cases medical intuitives have been hired by hospitals, clinics and medical offices, particularly in California.
Many medical professionals and psychologists attribute perceived anecdotal successes by medical intuitives to a combination of
wishful thinking,
confirmation bias
Confirmation bias is the tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms or supports one's prior beliefs or values. People display this bias when they select information that supports their views, ignoring ...
, the
placebo effect, and
regression fallacy associated with self-limiting conditions.
[
A few educational institutions offer graduate degrees that include "research-based training" and certifications for medical intuitives.]Huffington Post
''HuffPost'' (formerly ''The Huffington Post'' until 2017 and sometimes abbreviated ''HuffPo'') is an American progressive news website, with localized and international editions. The site offers news, satire, blogs, and original content, and ...
'' article about it as "a promotion of a dubious pseudoscientific medical claim".
See also
* Energy medicine
* Faith healing
* Psychic
References
External links
Association of Medical Intuitives
Medical Intuitives : What do they see ?
{{DEFAULTSORT:Medical Intuitive
Alternative medical diagnostic methods
Parapsychology
Pseudoscience