An Introduction to Reiki and its Holistic Benefits

Reiki is an alternative medicine that uses energy to heal. People who believe it works say that it does so because the practitioner transfers universal energy from his or her hands to the client.

Clinical study has not proven that Reiki works, so there is some disagreement about it. But many people who get Reiki say that it makes them feel betterTrusted Source.

In this piece, we explain what Reiki treatment is, what health benefits it is said to have, and what doctors think about it.

What is Reiki?

“Reiki” is a Japanese word that means “mysterious atmosphere, miraculous sign.” It is made up of the Japanese words “rei,” which means “universal,” and “ki,” which means “life energy.”

Reiki is a way to heal with energy. Practitioners say that energy can get stuck in parts of the body where there has been physical or mental pain. In the long run, these energy blocks can make you sick.

Energy medicine is like acupuncture or massage in that it tries to help the flow of energy and get rid of blocks. Reiki practitioners think that improving the flow of energy around the body can help people relax, ease pain, speed healing, and reduce other signs of illness.

In 1922, Mikao Usui came up with Usui Reiki Ryoho, which is the most recent form of Reiki. Reiki, on the other hand, has been used for about 2,500 years.

People also call Reiki palm healing or healing with the hands.

What happens in a Reiki session?

Most of the time, practitioners will give Reiki treatments in a quiet, private place. The surgery can happen anywhere, though. During a lesson, the client will be fully clothed and either sit in a comfortable chair or lie on a table.

The practitioner will then lightly place their hands on or over certain parts of the head, limbs, and body of the client. Most of the time, they will keep their hands in these poses for three to ten minutes.

If there is a specific injury, like a burn, the person giving the treatment will hold their hands just above the wound.

Advocates say that an energy shift happens when the practitioner holds their hands lightly on or over the body. During this time, the practitioner may say that their hands feel warm or tingly. They will hold each hand position until they feel that the energy has stopped moving.

When the practitioner no longer feels heat or energy in their hands, they move their hands to a different part of the body.

Some Reiki techniques

Some of the methods used in Reiki are called:

• centering
• cleaning
• beaming
• removing bad energies
• infusing
• smoothing, and raking the aura.

Some Reiki practitioners will use crystals and chakra healing wands to help with healing or protect a home from bad energy.

The chair of the Reiki Federation of the United Kingdom, Annie Harrington, told Medical News Today:

“The only thing Reiki needs is the person doing it. As a rule, we don’t use rocks, powders, or wands. But one of the benefits of Reiki treatment is that it can be sent over a long distance. Then, many practitioners use crystals to help with the energy waves.”

Sessions can last 45–90 minutes. Depending on what a client wants to do, the number of sessions will change. Some clients only want one lesson, while others want to work on a problem over several sessions.

Health benefits

Reiki practitioners say that it directs a type of universal energy called ki, which is pronounced “chi.” This is the same kind of energy that is used in tai chi.

It is said that this energy flows through the body. Reiki experts say that this energy can’t be measured with current scientific tools, but many people can feel it if they tune in to it.

Reiki is said to help people relax, help the body heal itself, and improve social, mental, and spiritual well-being. But no studies have shown this to be true for sure.

Some anecdotal evidence shows that it may help people feel deeply relaxed, help them deal with problems, reduce emotional stress, and improve their general health.

Some of the conditions that Reiki has been used to treat are:

• cancer
• Heart trouble
• anxiety
• depression
• constant pain
• infertility
• neurodegenerative
• disorders
• autism
• Fatigue from Crohn’s disease

It’s important to keep in mind that Reiki should never replace medical care.

But people with certain health problems might want to try Reiki in addition to their standard treatment. For example, Reiki may be helpful for some people with cancer because it may help them relax. Reiki therapy may help people who are stressed out by invasive treatments, fear, or stress feel better because it is a gentle method.

Individuals report different situations. Some people say the practitioner’s hands get hot, others say they get cold, and some say they feel waves moving through their bodies. Most people say that they feel less stressed and deeply relaxed.

Becoming a Reiki practitioner

In cupping treatment, special cups are put on your body at certain points to create suction. Thus you don’t need any training, schooling, or experience before you start the “attunement process” or Reiki training.

During this process, the Reiki master is said to give the student the tuning energy and healing skills.

There are different ways to learn Reiki, but most people learn:

• the energies around the body
• how to work with healing energy
• the ethics of working with clients

Some ways to get ready for attunement are to stay away from alcohol and coffee for 1–3 days, meditate, focus on nature, and let go of bad feelings.

There are three ways to learn something. People who reach the “Master” level can supposedly teach others and fix others from afar.

Reiki’s healing power: What is the evidence?

Reiki is becoming more famous, but there isn’t much evidence that it helps people in any way.

Reiki practitioners say that it can help people relax, lessen pain, speed up healing, and make some conditions better. But there aren’t many study results that show any specific health benefits.

Critics say that it goes against what we know about nature and how things work. However, some small studiesTrusted Source has found a link between Reiki and less pain and less worry.

Scientists say that there isn’t enough good study on how well it works. The National Centre for Complementary and Integrative HealthTrustworthy says that no study has shown that Reiki is good for your health.

In 2015, a review of studies on Reiki and the treatment of anxiety and depression found that “there is not enough evidence to say whether or not Reiki is helpful for people over 16 who have anxiety, depression, or both.”

The few studies that were looked at in the review were mostly of low quality, the authors said, with small sample numbers, no peer review, or no control group.

In comparison, a review article in the Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative MedicineTrusted Source found “reasonably strong support” for Reiki being more effective than a placebo at reducing pain and anxiety in people with chronic health conditions. But the reviewer is a member of the Australiasian Usui Reiki Association, so there may be some bias.

Annie Harrington recently told MNT that the U.K. Reiki Federation has a “big document with a list of many research trials.”

Regulatory issues: Time for a change?

Sometimes, regulators will ask Reiki websites to change their information so that it meets legal requirements. On sites that sell Reiki products, there may be a legal disclaimer that says the items are not medical devices meant to diagnose, treat, or avoid disease.

In the U.K., promises that Reiki can heal a wide range of diseases have been turned down more than once by the Advertising Standards Agency.

Is Reiki harmful?

Reiki is not dangerous because it does not involve touching.Known Source.

Reiki could be harmful, though, if people with major health problems choose Reiki and other alternative therapies over modern medicine that has been thoroughly tested.

A person who uses Reiki in addition to other methods is not likely to have bad side effects.

Where can I get Reiki?

More than 800 hospitals in the U.S. offer Reiki services to their patients at the moment.

As part of palliative care, it may be given for free in the U.K. by volunteers who work in places like hospices.

Between $25 and $100 can be paid for a private Reiki lesson. Reiki treatment may not be covered by a person’s insurance.

Anyone looking for a qualified, professional Reiki practitioner should be careful because this area has few rules. Asking a practitioner about their schooling and experience can be helpful.

Reiki is not a different way to treat medical problems. Instead, it is a complementary therapy that may help some people heal and feel better overall.

Before you try any alternative treatments, it’s best to talk to a doctor about them.

Summary

Reiki is an alternative type of energy healing. People who believe in it think that there is an energy field around the body and that if it gets messed up, it can cause illness. Reiki treatment tries to fix these problems and the conditions that come from them.

Practitioners of Reiki will put their hands on different parts of a person’s body and send healing energy to those areas.

During a lesson, practitioners may focus their energy on the causes of certain conditions. A single treatment session will usually last between 45 and 90 minutes.

Research hasn’t shown that Reiki can heal in any direct way. But some clients say that when they used Reiki as an extra treatment, it helped them feel less stressed and anxious.

Before taking part in complementary treatments, a person should always talk to their doctor.

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