Does Reiki really work?
Everyone is familiar with massage therapy and its healing abilities for both the body and the mind. However, most people probably don’t know that most of massage therapists use many Reiki techniques in their work. What is Reiki? Reiki is a form of alternative therapy commonly referred to as energy healing, it has been used for centuries in various forms. Advocates say it works with the energy fields around the body. Some controversy surrounds Reiki, because it is hard to prove its effectiveness through scientific means. However, many people who receive Reiki say it works, and its popularity is increasing
As a Master of Prananadi and Practitioner of Reiki I am often asked this question. I’m glad you asked.
Reiki is thought to be a natural application of health in which massage practitioners place their hands lightly on or just above a person to help facilitate the person’s own healing response from within his or her own body. Sounds pretty amazing, doesn’t it? So how does Reiki work, just what is Reiki exactly and how does it actually benefit the body? Let’s find out.
Reiki gives the body the opportunity to go into a deep state of relaxation. It is shared by a Reiki practitioner who has been attuned and trained by a Reiki Master Teacher. Research tell us that Reiki promotes a more balanced state of wellbeing, where stress is reduced and the immune system benefits.
The benefits of Reiki are well recognized in hospitals in the US. Over 800 use Reiki. According to the Centre for Reiki Research, over 76 US hospital use Reiki as part of standard care. Often included in recovery programs, research shows that Reiki improves a deep state of relaxation beneficial in recovery and health. ~research
Reiki is one of the leading safe Energy Medicine approaches. The study summaries provided by the Center for Reiki Research are the best source for information on Reiki Research
C. Norman Shealy, M.D. Ph.D.
Founder, American Holistic Medical Association
Reiki Research Study - A Large Scale Survey of Reiki Sessions
The CRR team is currently involved in a study of Reiki sessions. Currently 1200 sessions have been completed with a goal of 2000. The Reiki sessions are being conducted by members of the Reiki Membership Association. To read about this survey and see a preliminary analysis of the data, click here
Reiki is a method of stress reduction that also promotes healing. It is administered by laying-on hands. Lay practitioners have used it for more than 90 years, and its popularity is growing. A study done in 2007 by the National Health Interview Survey indicates that 1.2 million adults and 161,000 children received one or more sessions of energy healing therapy such as Reiki in the previous year. According to the American Hospital Association, in 2007, 15% or over 800 American hospitals offered Reiki as part of hospital services. Read more about Reiki
The purpose of this web site is to promote the scientific awareness of Reiki by providing a current list of evidence based research published in peer reviewed journals along with summaries of each of these studies. We also offer guidance and direction for those wanting to produce future studies. Also included on this web site is a list of hospitals, medical clinics, and hospice programs where Reiki sessions are offered.
Reiki Research
An important aspect of this web site is The Touchstone Process. This process is a method of analyzing all studies within a specific field of scientific research. It was developed as part of a project to determine the current state of Reiki research. In this project, every Reiki research study, ever published in the U.S. in a peer reviewed journal, was put through a rigorous critique. Initially, the studies were evaluated to determine whether they meet the criteria necessary to be included in the project. If the criteria was met, the study then entered The Touchstone Project’s peer review process where two independent critiques of the study was conducted; each critique being done by a different doctorally prepared researcher. A standardized form, developed and piloted by our research team, was used for the evaluation process. If there were discrepancies found between the two critiques, whether it be in the scoring or verbiage, a third critique was required and conducted by a third doctorally qualified researcher. Once the evaluation was complete and without discrepancies it went to the summarization team. The summarization team used the two peer reviewed critiques and a standardized summarization form, developed and piloted by our research team, to create a summary of the evaluation. The completed summary was then sent to the Editor-In-Chief, for final editing, prior to publication on the web site. While the process incorporates existing best practices for scientific review and no one step is unique to Touchstone, the scope of included practices is unprecedented in the field of complementary and alternative medicine. See Research Studies | Research Conclusion | Consultation Service
Reiki In Hospitals
This web site also includes a list of 76 hospitals, medical clinic and hospice programs where Reiki is offered as a standard part of care. The information in the hospital list has been provided by individuals who are part of the Reiki program listed. A detailed description of the program including organization, number of practitioners and contact person(s) is provided. The basic facts of each program have been verified and approved by the hospital before they are listed. In addition, the initial program listing date and date of last update are also indicated. See Hospital List Sample of a research summary and hospital listings
Reiki History began with the energy being rediscovered by Dr Mikao Usui 1865-1926 in 1865 who founder of Usui Reiki,. As a child he studied in a Tendai Buddhist monastery school entering at an early age.