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Odic force (also called Od õd and Odyle) is the name given in the mid-19th century to a hypothetical vital energy or life force by Baron Carl von Reichenbach (1788-1869), an accomplished chemist (known for his analysis of creosote, waxy paraffin, and phenol). Von Reichenbach coined the name from that of the Norse god Odin and the Odic force was mentioned greatly in the book Reveal the Power of the Pendulum written by Karl Spiesberger. Reichenbach entered upon an investigation of the manner in which the human nervous system could be affected by various substances, and was led to conceive the existence of a new imponderable force allied to electricity, magnetism and heat, which he thought was an emanation from most substances and to the influence of which different persons are variously sensitive. To this vitalist theory of his he gave the name of Odic force. Proponents of the concept suggest that Odic force permeates all plants, animals, and humans. It took its place in the 19th century as one of many proto-scientific ideas leading towards a unified theory of vitalism. Believers in Odic force say that it is visible in total darkness as colored auras surrounding living things, crystals, and magnets, but that viewing requires hours first spent in total darkness, and that not everyone has the ability to see it. They state that it resembles the eastern mystical concepts ch'i and prana. However, they regard the Od, not as associated with breath (like ch'i), but mainly with claimed electromagnetic properties. Although he gave no attention to animal magnetism at the time, in vogue with mesmerism and other quack theories, the subject was inevitably encountered by him in his researches. This, however, he pursued independently of all experiments and theories that had been made so far. Baron von Reichenbach developed the concept of Odic force during the 1850s in his Researches on Magnetism, Electricity, Heat and Light in their relations to Vital Forces. His claims included that his Odic force had a positive and negative flux, and a light and dark side. Individuals could supposedly "emanate" it, particularly from the hands, mouth, and forehead. He believed it had other uses, and that for example crystals could store it within themselves as "crystalod". The Odic force concept was once thought to explain the phenomenon of hypnotism. In Britain an impetus was given to this view of the subject by the translation in 1830 of Reichenbach's Researches, by a professor of chemistry in the University of Edinburgh. These researches tried to show many of the phenomena to be of the same nature as those described previously by Franz Mesmer, and even long before Mesmer's time by Swedenborg. Von Reichenbach hoped to develop a scientific proof for a universal life force, but since his experiments relied not on instruments but on perceptions reported by allegedly psychically sensitive and psycho-kinetically adept individuals, it never acquired currency in the general scientific community. His ruminations and pseudoscientific works on Od were published in several books. The Odic theory never acquired currency among mainstream scientists, so instead it lies today among mystical concepts such as chi and prana of the Far East. As of late, the Odic theory has become popular again amongst New Age groups. Criticisms of this theory usually include references to the Placebo effect.
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