What is Reiki?

Reiki is a Japanese healing technique which is also known as ‘palm healing’ or ‘hands-on healing’ in the West. It is based on the ability to move and manipulate the subtle energy surrounding the body in order to help ease pain and aid healing in the body.

Recent scientific studies support Reiki’s use in modern medicine though many argue that there is no way to validate this technique as this subtle energy cannot be measured.

What Does a Reiki Treatment Involve?

Reiki treatment is very relaxing and spiritual in nature. It is usually given in a peaceful, private setting. You will either sit comfortably on a chair or lie flat on a massage table, fully clothed, and try to relax. Before they begin, they will quickly rub their hands together in order to create warmth and energy.

The practitioner will either, very lightly lay his hands on you or leave their hands hovering just above your body. The energy surrounding your body is gently manipulated by the practitioner as they move their hands from the top of your head to the bottom of your feet. They will pause over painful areas and spend time to “work” the energy in those areas.

As the practitioner holds their hands lightly on or over your body, an energy transfer takes place. During this time, the practitioner may feel that their hands are warm or are tingling. They will hold each hand position until they sense that the energy flow has stopped. When the practitioner feels that the heat, or energy, in their hands has gone, they will remove their hands and place them over a different body area. A Reiki session can take thirty to sixty minutes.

History of Reiki

Reiki is a Japanese spiritual and healing practice which was discovered by Sensei Mikao Usui in the 1920s. After fasting and climbing to the top of a high mountain, he was enlightened with the energy of Reiki. He tried this newfound energy on himself and his family and found that it had great healing powers.

Hawayo Takata, a later Reiki Master, brought Reiki to the West in 1937. In the 1980s and 1990s other masters taught by Hawayo Takata began to teach the practice and train other practitioners in the United States. Today, most reiki training in the West comes from the teachings and writings of Mrs. Takata.

Uses of Reiki

Reiki subtly manipulates the Qi energy which permeates your body. This helps with relaxation, assists the body’s natural healing processes, and develops emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being.

Almost any illness or injury can benefit in part from reiki therapy. Even in cases of severe trauma, patients have benefited from both conventional treatment and reiki while in A & E. Some hospitals train their nurses in reiki so that they can integrate this therapy along with traditional medicine.

Reiki treatment is most commonly used for:

• Stress and anxiety
• Arthritis and joint pain¹
• Insomnia and sleep disturbances
• Strengthening the immune system
• Mild depression^2,3,4
• Pain relief^5,6
• Trauma and injuries
• Cancer⁷

As with many types of alternative medicine, critics will claim that there is no evidence to support it. However, more and more scientific studies are emerging which validate reiki and other alternative treatments. The problem is that most people use alternative therapies as a last resort. By this point, it is usually too late to see an improvement. Instead, Alternative therapies, such as Reiki, should be used side by side with other traditional treatment methods from the beginning.