Let’s pull back the curtain on this powerful modality. Whether you’re a curious newcomer or a seasoned energy work enthusiast, understanding these 15 side effects will help you navigate your healing journey with clarity, compassion, and a little practical wisdom.
What Exactly Is Bio Energy Healing?
Bio energy healing (or biofield therapy) operates on the idea that our bodies are surrounded by an invisible energy field—often called the “life force” or “chi.” Practitioners use techniques like Reiki, acupuncture, or qigong to clear blockages, restore flow, and stimulate the body’s innate ability to heal. Think of it as a tune-up for your energetic blueprint. While skeptics may dismiss it as placebo, studies suggest these practices can lower cortisol levels, improve immune function, and even reduce chemotherapy side effects. But like any therapy that shifts your inner landscape, it can stir up unexpected reactions.
The 15 Side Effects of Bio Energy Healing—And How to Work With Them
1. Emotional Release: When Tears (or Laughter) Bubble Up Unannounced
Maria, a trauma survivor, walked into her first Reiki session expecting calm. Instead, she spent 20 minutes sobbing uncontrollably as stored grief surfaced. “It felt like a dam broke,” she recalls.
Why It Happens: Energy work often unlocks emotions trapped in the body. A 2018 study in Frontiers in Psychology found that somatic therapies (which include energy healing) can trigger sudden emotional releases as the nervous system recalibrates.
Try This: Keep a journal nearby. Writing post-session helps process emotions. If overwhelm hits, try humming—a simple vagus nerve exercise to soothe your system.
2. The “Energy Hangover”: Fatigue That Feels Like You’ve Run a Marathon
After his initial qigong session, David slept for 12 hours straight. “I was wiped, but in a good way—like my body was finally repairing,” he says.
Why It Happens: Your body may divert energy to heal deeper issues, leaving you temporarily drained.
Try This: Hydrate with electrolyte-rich drinks and rest without guilt. Schedule sessions on low-demand days.
3. Tingling or Heat: Your Body’s “Check Engine” Light
Clients often report warmth in areas where energy stagnates. Sarah felt a “pins-and-needles” sensation in her healed knee—a sign energy was addressing residual trauma.
Why It Happens: Increased blood flow or nerve activation as blockages clear.
Try This: Breathe into the sensation. Visualize it as healing light. If discomfort persists, alert your practitioner.
4. Headaches: The Price of a Mental Purge
“My first few Reiki sessions gave me migraines,” admits teacher Lena. “But they faded as I drank more water.”
Why It Happens: Detoxification or sudden shifts in cerebral energy flow.
Try This: Apply peppermint oil to temples, stay hydrated, and reduce screen time post-session.
5. Vivid Dreams: Your Subconscious Joins the Healing Party
After energy work, graphic dreams about exes or childhood homes are common. Mark dreamt of reliving his divorce—then woke feeling lighter.
Why It Happens: The brain processes unresolved memories during REM sleep.
Try This: Place a dream journal by your bed. Sketch symbols or feelings upon waking.
6. Symptom Flare-Ups: The “Worse Before Better” Paradox
Chronic pain sufferers sometimes report temporary spikes in discomfort. Yoga teacher Emma’s old back injury ached for days post-session before vanishing.
Why It Happens: The body prioritizes deeper healing over surface-level symptoms.
Try This: Warm Epsom salt baths and gentle stretching ease this phase. Track progress to stay motivated.
7. Emotional Sensitivity: Crying at Coffee Commercials
Post-session, you might feel raw—like your emotional armor’s been removed.
Why It Happens: Energy work lowers stress hormones, heightening emotional receptivity.
Try This: Set boundaries. Politely postpone intense conversations until you feel grounded.
8. Dizziness: When Your Energy “Resets”
Rising too fast after a session can cause lightheadedness—a sign your body’s adjusting.
Try This: Sit for 5 minutes post-session. Snack on nuts or dark chocolate to stabilize blood sugar.
9. Sleep Pattern Shifts: From Insomnia to Deep Slumber
Some sleep like babies; others toss restlessly as energy integrates.
Try This: Limit caffeine, try yoga nidra meditations, or adjust session timing.
10. Increased Thirst: Your Body’s Cry for Hydration
Energy work accelerates cellular detox. Chef Tom drank double his usual water for a week post-healing.
Try This: Add lemon or cucumber to water for gentle detox support.
11. Muscle Twitches: Nerves Firing in New Ways
Random twitches in your legs or eyelids? Normal—and temporary.
Try This: Magnesium supplements or Epsom salt baths can calm nerves.
12. Feeling “Detached”: The Observer Effect
Post-session, you might feel spacier than usual—a sign you’re releasing old identities.
Try This: Ground by walking barefoot on grass or holding a hematite stone.
13. Skepticism Creeps In: “Is This Even Real?”
Doubts often arise during plateaus. Therapist Jamal admits, “I questioned everything until my chronic pain disappeared.”
Try This: Note subtle shifts in a healing journal—better sleep, mood lifts—to reaffirm your path.
14. Relationship Shifts: When Growth Outpaces Your Circle
As you heal, toxic dynamics may feel intolerable. After energy work, graphic designer Priya ended a draining friendship. “I finally had the clarity to walk away.”
Try This: Communicate needs calmly. Seek communities aligned with your growth.
15. Spiritual Confusion: Losing Old Beliefs, Finding New Truths
Energy work can dismantle rigid belief systems. Former atheist Carlos began sensing “a guiding presence” post-sessions, sparking an existential crisis—and eventual peace.
Try This: Explore philosophies without pressure to “choose.” Meditation and nature walks help integrate insights.
The Light After the Storm
Bio energy healing isn’t a magic eraser—it’s a mirror, reflecting parts of yourself ready to heal. These side effects? They’re proof it’s working. Like a physical therapist pressing on a tender muscle, energy work nudges areas needing attention.
If symptoms persist or intensify, consult your practitioner. Pair energy healing with therapy, nutrition, and movement for holistic results.
Remember Maria, who sobbed through her first session? Six months later, she’s training to become a Reiki master. “Those tears were the beginning,” she smiles. “Now I feel more me than ever.”
Your healing journey is uniquely yours. Embrace the waves. Trust the process. And when doubt hits, revisit this list—not as warnings, but as milestones whispering, You’re alive. You’re growing. You’re becoming.
