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Reiki is a method of stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. The technique was developed in Japan and is administered by the laying on of hands. It is based on the idea that all living things have a special energy flowing through them called life energy. The Reiki can treat the person’s body, emotions, mind, and spirit which can help them to feel relaxed and at peace. Reiki is a method of spiritual healing and self-improvement. Alongside this article guide, we offer some extra support for your Reiki Get your free energy healing bracelet to use and calm your mind for optimized Reiki practice! ReiKey was designed to detect such keyboard taps, alerting you anytime a new tap is installed. In other words its goal is generically detect (the most common type of) macOS keyloggers.

Reiki is one of several nonsensical methods commonly referred to as “energy healing.” These methods are based on the idea that the body is surrounded or permeated by an energy field that is not measurable by ordinary scientific instrumentation. The alleged force, said to support life, is known as ki in Japan, as chi or qi in China, and as prana in India. Reiki practitioners claim to facilitate healing by strengthening or “balancing” it [1].

In a traditional reiki session, the client lies down or sits fully clothed. The practitioner’s hands are placed lightly on or just above the client’s body, palms down, using a series of 12-15 positions. Each position is held for about 2 to 5 minutes, or until the practitioner feels that the flow of energy—said to be experienced as sensations such as heat or tingling in the hands—has slowed or stopped. Typically, the practitioner delivers at least four sessions of 30 to 90 minutes each. The techniques include “centering,” “clearing,” “beaming,” “extracting harmful energies,” “infusing,” and “smoothing and raking the aura,” all of which are claimed to influence the imaginary “energy” that Reiki advocates postulate.

Reiki can also be self-administered or administered to others at distant locations. Some practitioners say that “spirit guides” help them produce the proper flow of energy.

Background History

The word “reiki” is derived from two Japanese words: rei (universal) and ki (life energy). Current reiki practice can be traced to the spiritual teachings of Mikao Usui in Japan during the early 20th century. Usui’s teachings included meditative techniques and healing practices. One of his students, Chujiro Hayashi, further developed the healing practices, placing less emphasis on the meditative techniques. An American named Hawayo Takata learned reiki from Hayashi in Japan and introduced it to Western cultures in the late 1930s [1]. During a recent national survey, about 0.5% of participants said that they had used an “energy healing” therapy during the previous year [2].

In 2009, the Web site of the International Centre for Reiki Training (Kent, England) stated:

Reiki is both powerful and gentle. In its long history of use it has aided in healing virtually every known illness and injury including serious problems like: multiple sclerosis, heart disease, and cancer as well as skin problems, cuts, bruises, broken bones, headache, colds, flu, sore throat, sunburn, fatigue, insomnia, impotence, poor memory, lack of confidence, etc. It is always beneficial and works to improve the effectiveness of all other types of therapy. A treatment feels like a wonderful glowing radiance and has many benefits for both client and practitioner, including altered states of consciousness and spiritual experiences. . . . Reiki will improve the results of all medical treatment, acting to reduce negative side effects, shorten healing time, reduce or eliminate pain, reduce stress, and help create optimism [3].

Training

No special background or credentials are needed to receive reiki training. To become a practitioner, one must receive an “initiation” or “attunement” from a Reiki Master. This ceremony makes one “attuned” to the “universal life energy” and enables one to serve as a conduit for it. There are said to be three different levels of attunement (some teach that there are four). At the higher levels, one can allegedly channel reiki energy and effect healings at a distance, without physical contact. Training for the lower levels typically takes 1 or 2 days and begins with an attunement. Training to become a Master is said to take years. The techniques taught can vary greatly among reiki schools and teachers. Many practitioners are massage therapists. However, no licensing or professional standards exist for the practice of reiki itself. Whether reiki can be considered the unlicensed practice of medicine varies from state to state.

Research

The most comprehensive review of reiki research was done by Edzard Ernst, M.D., Ph.D. and his colleagues at the University of Exeter. After surveying studies published through January 2008, they concluded that most were poorly designed and “the evidence is insufficient to suggest that reiki is an effective treatment for any condition.” [4]

In 2009, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops concluded that “reiki therapy finds no support either in the findings of natural science or in Christian belief” and urged Catholic health-care facilities and clergy not to promote or support it. It further stated:

Reiki lacks scientific credibility. It has not been accepted by the scientific and medical communities as an effective therapy. Reputable scientific studies attesting to the efficacy of Reiki are lacking, as is a plausible scientific explanation as to how it could possibly be efficacious. The explanation of the efficacy of Reiki depends entirely on a particular view of the world as permeated by this “universal life energy” (Reiki) that is subject to manipulation by human thought and will. Reiki practitioners claim that their training allows one to channel the “universal life energy” that is present in all things. This “universal life energy,” however, is unknown to natural science. As the presence of such energy has not been observed by means of natural science, the justification for these therapies necessarily must come from something other than science [5].

In the mid-1990s, at ages 9 and 10, Emily Rosa demonstrated that 21 therapeutic touch (TT) practitioners could not detect her alleged “energy field.” During the tests, the practitioners rested their arms on a flat surface, about a foot apart. Emily then hovered her hand, palm down, a few inches above one of the subject’s palms. A cardboard screen prevented the subjects from seeing which of their hands was selected. The practitioners correctly located Emily’s hand only 122 (44%) out of 280 trials, which is no better than would be expected by guessing [6]. After the Journal of the American Medical Association published the results, TT leaders called the study a “parlor game,” but they refused to suggest an alternative experimental design or to undergo similar tests themselves [7]. It might be interesting to investigate whether reiki practitioners can actually sense or transmit “energy,” whether reiki “attunements” actually enhance anything, and whether feelings of warmth are accompanied by any measurable change of skin temperature. Researchers at Scripps Institute (San Diego) recently used a Magnes 2500 WH SQUID device to measure the electromagnetic fields from the hands and heart of three reiki masters when they were (a) not practicing reiki, (b) purportedly transmitting reiki to a distant person, and (c) purportedly transmitting to a person in the room. Similar measurements were made on four reiki-naive volunteers before and after they received a reiki training/attunement enabling them to self-administer reiki. No high-intensity radiation attributable to reiki was found [9].

British Regulatory Action

The British Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has objected to reiki claims at least five times:

• In 2001, the ASA concluded that the International Reiki and Healing Centre had made unsubstantiated claims about “healing” serious diseases and that a “Doctor of Philosophy in Alternative Medicine” certificate from an Indian school did not entitle the proprietor (Allan Sweeney) to refer to himself as “Dr. Sweeney.” [10]
• In 2011, the ASA objected to unsubstantiated claims on Sweeney’s Web site that reiki was an effective therapy for cancer, ADHD, back pain, migraine, depression, anger, low energy, sleeplessness, ADD, sadness, bereavement, tinnitus and sciatica [11].
• In 2011, the ASA objected to unsubstantiated claims by “reiki master” Christina Moore of East Sussex, England, that reiki could treat grief, insomnia, tinnitus, lack of confidence, back pain, constipation, Candida, skin disorders, anxiety, stress, tension, worry and phobias [12].
• In 2012, the ASA objected to claims by Jackie Howchin that rieki could treat a “wide range of problems, including stress, depression, bereavement, back pain, fibromyalgia, Myasthenia Gravis, sports injuries, broken bones, sciatica and nerve damage.” [13]
• In 2012, the ASA objected to claims by A Better Being that reiki could treat irritable bowel syndrome, hay fever, indigestion, repetitive strain injury, headaches, asthma, eczema, poor circulation, rheumatism and sinusitis [14].

Accredited Reiki Certification

The Bottom Line

Reiki has no substantiated health value and lacks a scientifically plausible rationale. Science-based healthcare settings should not tolerate its use, and scarce government research dollars should not be used to study it further [8].

References

1. Miles P, True G. Reiki: Review of a biofield therapy history, theory, practice, and research. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. 9:62-72, 2003.
2. Barnes PM and others. Complementary and alternative medicine use among adults and children: United States, 2007. National Health Statistic Reports, No. 12, Dec 1-0, 2008.
3. Experiencing reiki. International Center for Reiki Training Web site, accessed April 18, 2009.
4. Lee MS and others. Effects of reiki in clinical practice: A systematic review of randomized clinical trials. International Journal of Clinical Practice 62:947-954, 2008.
5. Committee on Doctrine. Guidelines for evaluating reiki as an alternative therapy. U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, March 25, 2009.
6. Rosa L and others. A Close Look at Therapeutic Touch. JAMA 279:1005-1010, 1998.
7. Sarner L. Therapeutic touch: Responses to objections to the JAMA paper. Quackwatch, April 11,1999.
8. Barrett S. Why NCCAM should stop funding reiki research. NCCAM Watch, June 23, 2009.
9. Baldwin AL and others. Practicing reiki does not appear to routinely produce high-intensity electromagnetic fields from the heart or hands of reiki practitioners. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 19:518-526, 2013.
10. ASA adjudication on the International Reiki and Healing Centre, 15 Aug 2001.
11. ASA adjudication on the International Reiki and Healing Centre, 20 July 2011.
12. ASA adjudication on Christina Moore, 29 June 2011.
13. ASA ruling on Jackie Howchin, 4 Jan 2012.
14. ASA ruling on A Better Being, 3 Oct 2012.

This article was revised on August 22, 2015.

Reiki Healing

Overview

What is Reiki and Reiki Therapy?

Reiki is the Japanese name for “Universal Life Force Energy,” which is the life-giving energy present in everyone. The best way to understand Reiki is to view it as our “experienced sense of being alive.” Reiki therapy is a gentle touch therapy that involves the placing of the therapist’s or patient’s hands on various locations on the patient’s body to promote relaxation and a sense of calm.

Reiki has its roots in ancient Chinese and Japanese medicine. Since the early 1990s, Reiki therapy has been used with greater regularity in healthcare settings. Over 900 U.S. hospitals and healthcare systems use Reiki as a complementary therapy. Reiki is not harmful to patients in any way, and it is safe to use Reiki in conjunction with chemotherapy, radiation, and medications used in the medical treatment of cancer.

Reiki is used in healthcare as a complement to—never as a substitute for—patients’ regular medical treatment and medications. Reiki supports the body’s natural healing abilities. This is an important point to remember.

Why has Reiki self-treatment been recommended for me?

This document is being provided to you as a follow-up to a recent Reiki treatment you received at Taussig Cancer Institute. Reiki is a complementary therapy available to Taussig’s patients. Treatments provided by trained Reiki Master Therapists and patient- administered self-treatments have been found to be beneficial in supporting cancer patients’ healing journeys by:

• Promoting relaxation
• Reducing stress and anxiety
• Increasing energy levels and reducing fatigue
• Promoting an increased sense of positive well-being

Reiki therapy is provided to patients in Taussig’s treatment and exam rooms by Certified Reiki Master Therapists. There is no charge to patients for treatments performed at Taussig. Reiki therapists believe self-treatments can help patients to continue receiving the benefits of Reiki on a daily basis. This document details information about Reiki self- treatments, which you can perform on yourself at home, at your own discretion. These can be adapted to meet your own needs.

How do I prepare for a Reiki self-treatment session?

The following suggestions can help you prepare for your Reiki self-treatment. Read this information carefully.

• Before beginning, remind yourself that Reiki is the universal life force energy that already exists within everyone. Reiki energy strengthens the body’s natural healing abilities.
• Patients are encouraged to perform their Reiki self-treatment whether they feel well or not. View your Reiki self-treatments as special times you can set aside during the day to be peaceful and calm.
• Set aside a regular time each day to perform your Reiki self-treatments. It is suggested that you start with a 20-minute self-treatment first thing in the morning and then another 20-minute self-treatment at the end of the day. These treatments can be performed for longer stretches of time if you would like (30 to 60 minutes). The time of day can also be adjusted to best fit your schedule.
• Find a safe and comfortable space in your home to perform your self-treatments. Try to use this same space regularly. You can perform these self-treatments sitting in a chair or lying on your back on a sofa, bed, or the floor.
• Unless you need someone present in the room for your care and safety, consider performing your self-treatments alone in the room.
• Create a quiet environment without distracting noise. Many patients find it helpful to play some relaxing instrumental music during their self-treatments. Later in this document, a few examples of Reiki session music is provided.
• When you are ready to start your Reiki self-treatment, go to your designated space, turn on your relaxing background music, and remove your shoes. If you are reclining, place a pillow under your head and place a rolled-up second pillow under your knees. For comfort, place a blanket over your body to stay warm. Close your eyes. Relax your body and mind. Notice and make mental note of any special places in your body or mind that need special attention in your session. Remind yourself that your Reiki self-treatment is being performed for the highest and greatest good. Breathe in easy and relaxing breaths during your self-treatment. Often it helps to focus your attention on your breath and body as you perform the various hand positions.

Procedure Details

How do I perform a Reiki self-treatment?

Try to follow the hand position instructions in the order in which they are described below. However, feel free to make any adjustments you believe will be beneficial to you. For a 20-minute self-treatment, it is suggested that you perform each hand position for 2 minutes, but don’t worry about the exact amount of time. You may feel the need to do some of the hand positions for a longer time than others. With practice, you will memorize the hand positions. Please don’t worry about doing the hand positions in a perfect way. Simply relax and do the best you can. That will be good enough. Finally, feel free to place your hands other places on your body that you feel need relaxation and healing.

Hand Positions

Hand Position 1: Begin your Reiki self-treatment by gently placing your hands together in a prayer position in the middle of your chest, just below your chin. See figure 1. Keep your hands in this position for a moment or two while focusing your attention on your in- breaths and out-breaths. Once again, breathe slowly and deeply to promote relaxation of your body and mind.

Figure 1: Starting Reiki Session Hand Position (1-2 Minutes)

Hand Position 2: Gently place both hands on top of the head. See figure 2. Breathe in deep and relaxed breaths. Focus your attention on your hands on the top of your head. Allow this hand position to relax the muscles and skin on your head.

Figure 2: Hand Position 2 (2 Minutes)

Hand Position 3: Gently place both hands over your eyes. See figure 3. Again, breathe in deep and relaxed breaths. Focus your attention on your hands over your eyes. For your breathing comfort, try not to place your hands over your nose. Allow this hand position to relax the muscles and skin in your forehead, face, and eyes.

Reiki.org

Figure 3: Hand Position 3: (2 Minutes)

Hand Position 4: Gently place your right hand over your throat and the left hand over your heart. See figure 4. Continue to breathe in deep and relaxed breaths. Focus your attention on your throat and heart. For your comfort, try not to place your hand with too much pressure over your throat. Allow this hand position to relax the muscles in your neck, throat, and upper chest area.

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Figure 4: Hand Position 4 (2 Minutes)

Hand Position 5: Gently place your hands just below the breast line. The middle fingers should be touching each other. See figure 5. Continue to breathe in slow and deep breaths. Focus your attention on the area under your breasts. Allow this hand position to relax the muscles in the center of your chest and rib areas.

Figure 5: Hand Position 5 (2 Minutes)

Hand Position 6: Move your hands one hand-width down from your breast line, gently placing them over the upper stomach and in the solar plexus area. See figure 6. Continue to breathe in slow and deep breaths. Focus your attention on this area of the body. Allow this hand position to relax the muscles in this area.

Figure 6: Hand Position 6 (2 Minutes)

Hand Position 7: Gently place your hands over the stomach and navel area. See figure 7. Continue to breathe in slow and deep breaths. Focus your attention on this area of the body. Allow this hand position to relax the muscles in this area.

Figure 7: Hand Position 7 (2 Minutes)

Hand Position 8: Gently place both hands on the shoulder muscles. See figure 8. Continue to breathe in slow and deep breaths. Focus your attention on this area of the body, and allow this hand position to relax the muscles in this area.

Figure 8: Hand Position 8 (2 Minutes)

Hand Position 9: Gently place your hands above the waist line, on the kidney area. See figure 9. Continue to breathe in slow and deep breaths. Focus your attention on this area of the body, and allow this hand position to relax the muscles in this area.

Figure 9: Hand Position 9 (2 Minutes)

Hand Position 10: Gently place your hands on either the tops of your feet or the soles of your feet. See figure 10. To make this position easier, cross your left leg over your right knee to reach your left foot. Cross your right leg over your left knee to reach your right foot. Don’t strain yourself. Just do the best you can.

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Figure 10: Hand Position 10 (2 Minutes)

What music should I play during my self-treatment?

You may want to play some relaxing instrumental music as you perform your self- treatments. Here are links to two free Reiki music videos on YouTube.

Reiki Massage

• Reiki music sample #1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyyRylrcfF0
• Reiki music sample #2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmlmJAmgUic&t=1664s