HELPING YOU MAKE SMART AND DISCERNING CHOICES
The Basics
Reiki is a Japanese energy healing technique. It is used for stress reduction, relaxation and also promotes the body’s natural capacity for self-healing from engaging with an unseen "life force energy".
The Reiki practitioner will place their hands near or lightly on your body, allowing the Reiki energy to flow to you. Clothing usually remains in place except for shoes and coat.[1]
reiki's 100 year History
Reiki was founded and developed by Mikao Usui in the early 1920s following his spiritual retreat which included ancient Buddhist/Shinto traditions.
Centred on balancing "universal life force energy" (Rei-ki) for self-healing and wellness, the Reiki method and technique was refined by Usui’s student Chujiro Hayashi with attention to hand positions.
Life force healing
Concepts of subtle energy (prana or chi) and life force for healing date back thousands of years across ancient cultures, arising in yogic, Chinese, and Egyptian traditions. In Christianity the laying on of hands is referenced in different gospels, particularly placing hands on the sick while praying for recovery.
There are similarities between Reiki and Pranic healing.
The latter also works on on the body's energy pathways (chakras and meridians) but in comparison is a more a logical, systematic, and diagnostic approach. [2]
reiki as a complementary therapy
In the UK, several NHS hospitals use Reiki as a complementary therapy, primarily to support cancer care, palliative care, and staff wellbeing.[3]
It is usually offered alongside conventional treatments to aid relaxation, reduce stress, and manage symptoms, rather than as a curative treatment itself.
More than placebo
Whilst it is noted that many studies are small or limited with an opportunity for high-quality research, a 2017 review of the available clinical studies of Reiki, found when viewed collectively, there was reasonably strong support for Reiki being more effective than placebo as a therapy that activates the parasympathetic nervous system to heal body and mind.[4]
The ability of Reiki to generate attention and focus in mindfulness, meditation and relaxation can be considered worthwhile in itself; the placebo effect is highly beneficial and can work as effectively as active treatments in providing relief for symptoms modulated by the brain such as pain, anxiety and fatigue.
Side effects, risks and criticism
Reiki is considered safe and beneficial with the most acknowledged risk being that it is not used in replacement to conventional treatment for disease.
Some people may experience temporary discomfort or emotional release during or after a Reiki session which may be perceived as undesirable or unsettling but also as part of a healing process.
What to Look for
in a reiki Service Provider
Reiki is not legally regulated in the UK and qualifications are not mandatory, however in the UK there registering bodies including the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC), the Reiki Council [5] or UK Reiki Federation.[6]
The International Centre for Reiki Training (ICRT) holds a Reiki Membership Association of practitioners and teachers with a code of ethics and standards of practice. The level of qualification and professional training achieved via ICRT is represented by levels from Licensed Reiki Master Teacher (LRMT), Professional Member (P), to Affiliate Member (A).
Rieki - reference text and further reading:
[1] https://www.reiki.org/faqs/what-reik
[2] https://pranichealinglondon.com/the-history-of-modern-pranic-healing/
[3] Dyer NL, Baldwin AL, Pharo R, Gray F. Evaluation of a Distance Reiki Program for Frontline Healthcare Workers' Health-Related Quality of Life During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Glob Adv Integr Med Health. 2023 Aug 20;12:27536130231187368. doi: 10.1177/27536130231187368. PMID: 37614464; PMCID: PMC10443426.
[4] McManus DE. Reiki Is Better Than Placebo and Has Broad Potential as a Complementary Health Therapy. J Evid Based Complementary Altern Med. 2017 Oct;22(4):1051-1057. doi: 10.1177/2156587217728644. Epub 2017 Sep 5. PMID: 28874060; PMCID: PMC5871310.
[5] https://www.reikicouncil.org.uk
[6] https://www.reikifed.co.uk
This article is for informational purposes only.
For medical advice or a diagnosis, consult a qualified professional health care provider.