Reiki therapy is based on the Eastern belief that vital energy flows through the body. The idea is for a Reiki practitioner to use a gentle touch, or place their hands just above the body, to help guide this energy in a way that promotes balance and healing. During a Reiki session, the practitioner places their hands directly on you or just above you to achieve healing. The belief is that the practitioner is able to stimulate their body's natural healing abilities.
Like any intervention, Reiki practitioners warn that it is not a panacea and that it should not be seen as such. There are some reputable Reiki training organizations that offer certifications and licenses, such as the International Centre for Reiki Training (ICRT), the United Kingdom Reiki Federation, the Canadian Reiki Association, the Association of Australian Reiki Professionals and the International Association of Reiki Professionals, according to Baldwin. While there is a code of professional ethics that governs Reiki practitioners, there are no licensing boards like there are for doctors, nurses or even stylists. They also indicated that the attunement process itself was a powerful healing experience, releasing restrictions related to their healing work that they had unknowingly acquired as healers in past lives.
Because the practitioner is not healing, it is also much easier for the ego to stay out of the way and allow God's presence to shine clearly. Women who received Reiki saw significant improvements both in their symptoms of depression and in their quality of sleep. As with many complementary and alternative methods, the scientific community often delays in considering Reiki as a legitimate treatment, but the limited research available is nevertheless promising. However, some limited studies have established links between Reiki and the reduction of feelings of pain and anxiety.
According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, no study has shown that Reiki has any health-related benefit. He also serves on the board of directors of Tryall Fund, a non-profit organization that promotes health and education in Jamaica. She returned to her native Japan to seek healing from her own physical and mental ailments, including a lung condition, asthma and a nervous breakdown following the death of her husband. In addition, because the practitioner does not direct healing and does not decide what to work on or what to heal, the practitioner is not in danger of assuming the client's karma.
Reiki practitioners should have worked in person with a qualified Reiki teacher in order to effectively administer treatment, Miles says. However, people living with certain health conditions may be interested in trying Reiki along with their usual treatment. Reiki is linked to a number of physical and emotional health benefits, including better sleep, improved mood and pain relief in published studies. The term “reiki” comes from the Japanese words “rei”, which means universal, and “ki”, which means vital energy of the life force that flows through all living beings.
