# Zero balancing

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Alternative medicine devised by Frederick "Fritz" Smith in the 1970s

Zero balancing Alternative therapy

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**Zero balancing** is a type of [manual therapy](/source/Manual_therapy) devised by American osteopathic doctor Frederick "Fritz" Smith in the 1970s. Drawing from principles of [osteopathy](/source/Osteopathy), Chinese medicine and [Structural Integration](/source/Structural_Integration), Smith proposed that the [energy field](/source/Energy_(vitalism)) within the human body could be affected by manual manipulations, thus bringing health benefits. The practice teaches that currents of [energy](/source/Energy_(esotericism)) are stored within the human skeleton, and that these affect both physical and mental wellbeing.

Zero balancing is [pseudoscientific](/source/Pseudoscience).[1] Article writer and lawyer Jann Bellamy places zero balancing among many [vitalism](/source/Vitalism)-based practices that exist within the "cornucopia of quackery" of [massage therapy](/source/Massage_therapy). Bellamy writes that in the [United States](/source/United_States) the public are inadequately protected from such practices because of the lack of independent oversight; instead regulation is carried out within a "closed loop" system by massage-focused organizations.[1] [Edzard Ernst](/source/Edzard_Ernst) wrote in 2018 that zero balancing did not appear to have evidence published for its efficacy.[2]

## Description

According to Frederick Smith, the founder of zero balancing,[3]

Zero balancing teaches that the deepest currents of energy are in bone, that memory can be held in tissue, that energy fields in the body underlie mind, body and emotions, and that imbalances in the field precede pathology.

The Zero Balancing Health Association say that zero balancing "uses skilled touch to address the relationship between energy and structures of the body".[1]

The client stays fully clothed for the duration of the session in zero balancing. It includes techniques such as gentle lifting, pressing, rotating, and stretching of different body parts, with particular attention paid to the bone.[4]

## History

Fritz Smith, founder of zero balancing

Frederick Smith created zero balancing in the early 1970s, after studying [acupuncture](/source/Acupuncture) and being inspired by eastern philosophies.[4][5] Smith also had a background in other alternative therapies, including meditation, taoism, and yoga. His aim in creating the therapy was to "integrate the differing truths of eastern and western models of healing".[4][5]

## Training

Tutorial image showing common element with zero balancing's work on the bones of the feet

According to founder Frederick Smith in a 2009[\[update\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zero_balancing&action=edit) interview, there are more than 500 practitioners internationally, and another 500 in training, with most in England or the United States.[6] Practitioners are trained in its use as an adjunct skill, though it is also practiced as a self standing therapy.[4]

## See also

- [Chiropractic](/source/Chiropractic)

- [Rolfing](/source/Rolfing)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-jb_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-jb_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-jb_1-2) Bellamy J (17 September 2015). ["Massage Therapy rubs me the wrong way"](https://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/massage-therapy-rubs-me-the-wrong-way/). Science-Based Medicine. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190221041131/https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/massage-therapy-rubs-me-the-wrong-way/) from the original on 21 February 2019. Retrieved 7 February 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Zero balancing … zero evidence"](https://edzardernst.com/2018/05/zero-balancing-zero-evidence/). *edzardernst.com*. 3 May 2018. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20221123014201/https://edzardernst.com/2018/05/zero-balancing-zero-evidence/) from the original on 23 November 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-fritz_3-0)** Fritz Frederick Smith *quoted at* ["About Zero Balancing"](https://web.archive.org/web/20161008103242/http://www.zerobalancing.com/about/history_founder). Zero Balancing Health Association. Archived from [the original](http://www.zerobalancing.com/about/history_founder) on 8 October 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Geggus_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Geggus_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Geggus_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Geggus_4-3) Geggus, Pam (2004). "Introduction to the concepts of Zero Balancing". *Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies*. **8**: 58. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/S1360-8592(03)00066-4](https://doi.org/10.1016%2FS1360-8592%2803%2900066-4).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_5-1) Denner, Sallie Stoltz (November 2009). ["The Science of Energy Therapies and Contemplative Practice: A Conceptual Review and the Application of Zero Balancing"](https://journals.lww.com/00004650-200911000-00003). *Holistic Nursing Practice*. **23** (6): 315–334. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1097/HNP.0b013e3181bf3784](https://doi.org/10.1097%2FHNP.0b013e3181bf3784). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0887-9311](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0887-9311). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [19901607](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19901607). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [5126935](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:5126935).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Lauterstein_6-0)** Lauterstein, David (May–June 2009). ["Reflections, a conversation with Fritz Smith on Zero Balancing"](http://www.davidladen.com/articles/FritzSmithinterview.pdf) (PDF). *Massage and Bodywork*. p. 77. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220728023200/http://www.davidladen.com/articles/FritzSmithinterview.pdf) (PDF) from the original on 28 July 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Zero Balancing](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Zero_Balancing).

- [Zero Balancing Association](https://www.zerobalancing.com/)

v t e Types of massage Anma Balinese Bamboo Bowen technique Breema Champissage Erotic Hilot Lingam Lomilomi Mayan Medical Myofascial release Neuromuscular therapy Nuru Prostate Reflexology Shiatsu Stone Rolfing Structural integration Swedish Thai Trager approach Tui na Watsu Yoni Zero balancing

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Zero balancing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero_balancing) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero_balancing?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.