Reiki therapy is a type of alternative therapy commonly referred to as energy therapy. It originated in Japan at the end of the 1800s and involved universal energy from the practitioner’s hands to the patient.
People used energy therapy in different ways for centuries. Advocates claim that it works with energy fields throughout the body.
There is some debate surrounding Reiki. And it isn’t easy to prove its effectiveness through scientific techniques. However, many people who receive Reiki say it works, and its popularity is growing. Google’s search for the word currently returns no less than 68,900,000 results.
A 2007 survey shows that 1,2 million people in the United States (U.S.) have tried Reiki or similar therapy at least once in the previous year. More than 60 hospitals provide Reiki treatments to patients.
Key Facts
Here are some of the key points about Reiki. In the main article, you can find more details.
- Reiki is a type of energy therapy
- Despite scepticism in some circles, popularity is rising
- It includes the transfer of energy by the laying on of hands
- Reiki supporters claim that they can treat many problems and emotional states
- Small studies show that Reiki can slightly relieve pain. But no studies have proven that it effectively cures any disease
- Some hospitals in the United States and Europe are offering Reiki, but insurance rarely covers it
What happens in a Reiki session?
A peaceful environment is best for Reiki therapy, but you can do it anywhere. The patient is seated in a comfortable chair, or lying on a table, fully dressed. Music may or may not be available, depending on the choice of the patient.
The practitioner holds his hands lightly on or around specific areas of the head, limbs, and torso, using different fingers’ different shapes, for 2 to 5 minutes. You can place your hand over 20 different parts of the body.
If there is a specific injury, such as a burn, you can hold your hand just over the wound.
When the practitioner places his hands gently on or over the body, the energy transfer takes place. During this time, the hands of the practitioner may be warm and tingling. You should hold each hand position until the practitioner thinks that the energy has stopped flowing.
When the practitioner feels that the heat or energy in their hands has faded, they may remove their hands and be able to place them over a different body area.
Reiki Techniques
Practitioners use many different types of techniques as part of Reiki therapy. These may include:
- Beaming
- Centring
- Clearing
- Focusing
- Infusing
- Raking
- Smoothing
Impact of Reiki
Reiki practitioners have made a variety of claims regarding the technique’s health benefits. But there is a lack of good scientific evidence to support its use. Some opponents have gone so far as to say that the practice is a pseudo-scientific fraud.
Some of Reiki’s purported benefits include:
- Boosting mood
- Decreasing fatigue
- Lowering stress
- Reducing tension, headaches, and nausea
- Reliving pain
- Relieving symptoms of depression and anxiety
The problem is that much of the evidence available is limited. In the few available studies, many have not been peer-reviewed, do not involve a control group, and depend on small sample sizes.
A systematic analysis of 2015 found that there was not enough data to show whether Reiki therapy effectively reduced stress and anxiety.
A systematic review conducted in the Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine in 2017 found that sufficient evidence was available. It suggested that Reiki was more successful than placebo. Because the practice is healthy and gentle, the authors of the study suggested that it could manage various chronic health conditions.
Reiki’s energy therapy: What is the Truth?
While Reiki grows in popularity, questions remain.
Reiki claims to enable relaxing, relieve pain, speed up recovery, and improve certain symptoms. But few scientific results support any specific health benefits. Many people criticized it for claiming to cure illnesses without scientific evidence. Some have described the claims as being fraudulent.
Critics say it flies in the face of our current understanding of the laws of nature. Advocates say that the benefits of well-being and decreased stress are real but difficult to measure in scientific analysis.
Scientists remember that there is a lack of high-quality studies into its effectiveness. No research has yet shown that it is no more powerful than placebo, they say.
A literature review published in 2008 found that there was not enough data to support Reiki therapy as an effective treatment for any disorder and that Reiki’s effectiveness remained unproven.
Cochrane published a study of the Reiki trials and the treatment of anxiety and depression in 2015. The authors found that there was “insufficient evidence to show whether or not Reiki is beneficial to individuals with anxiety or depression over 16 years of age or both.” Of the few trials that were performed, most were of low quality, with small sample sizes, no peer examination, or no test group.
Meanwhile, research published in BMC Nephrology has indicated that allowing dialysis patients, for example, to benefit from “healing touch” could be worthwhile, especially if there are free volunteers. Pressure reduction can be just mild, but it is non-traumatic, does not hurt, and helps people to believe like they are doing something” themselves to relieve their pain.
More recently, Annie Harrington told the U.K. to MNT. The Reiki Federation has a “large document cataloguing several research studies.” Maybe these results are being studied by the Federation and the U.K.’s Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC), helping bring Reiki further into the mainstream.
Is Reiki harmful?
The U.S. National Center for Therapeutic and Integrative Health (NCCIH) notes that Reiki “has not been clearly shown to be useful for any health-related purpose.” However, they note that it does not seem to have harmful effects.
The key issue seems to be that people with serious health problems may opt for Reiki and other complementary therapies instead of rigorously checked modern medicine. However, using it with other therapies is not likely to be dangerous.
Indeed, touch alone, whether with or without “universal energy,” seems to have many benefits, from building trust to improving general well-being.
Kosovich points out that costly conventional therapies currently available often have serious side effects and can or may not succeed. Many citizens would also want the freedom to choose an alternative.
The Bottom Line
Reiki therapy has been in use for over a century. However, it has occasionally been associated with side effects such as discomfort and tiredness. There is also limited scientific data and regulation behind the procedure.
Other possible disadvantages of Reiki include inconsistent profits and paying out of pocket. It also does not specifically treat any of the disorders.
Reiki, however, is a subjective experience, and you may want to check it yourself. To find a reiki practitioner, ask your friends or massage therapists for help. Check the background and certification of the practitioner. Make sure you feel relaxed around them before you book a session.
