| Friends, colleagues and clients often ask me about | | | | Mental clarity.o Sense of well-being and/or spirituality.o |
| Reiki (pronounced "ray-kee"), as it is gaining such | | | | Enhancing the sense of peace in people who are |
| popularity as an alternative medicine. According to | | | | dying. |
| NCCAM, (National Center for Complementary and | | | | There tends to be a relaxed sensation after a Reiki |
| Alternative Medicine), Reiki is an energy medicine | | | | session. That alone may be beneficial in combating |
| practice that originated in Japan. In Reiki, the | | | | certain health issues, such as pain, stress, and fatigue. |
| practitioner places his hands on or near the person | | | | Clients may also feel a warmth, tingling, sleepiness as |
| receiving treatment, with the intent to transmit ki, | | | | well. Reiki appears to be safe with no serious side |
| believed to be a life-force energy. Practitioners also | | | | effects being reported. |
| believe that they can treat themselves with Reiki and | | | | Occasionally a person can experience symptoms of |
| send ki across short or long distances. In the United | | | | weakness, tiredness, headache or stomach ache, |
| States, Reiki is part of complementary and | | | | after a session. Practitioners believe these are |
| alternative medicine (CAM). | | | | effects of the releasing of toxins from the body, and |
| This article is to highlight the important points in this | | | | advise rest and drink plenty of water as a way to |
| an from the National Center for Complementary and | | | | deal with these symptoms. |
| Alternative Medicine website, available at, | | | | Consider these points about using Reiki therapy:o Do |
| The word Reiki is made up of two Japanese words: | | | | not use Reiki as a replacement for conventional care |
| Rei, or universal spirit (sometimes thought of as a | | | | or to delay the time it takes you to see a doctor |
| supreme being), and ki. Thus, the word Reiki means | | | | about a medical problem.o Discuss any CAM therapies |
| "universal life energy." In CAM, Reiki belongs to a | | | | you are considering or using with your health care |
| domain (area of knowledge) called energy medicine. | | | | provider.o Ask the Reiki practitioner about his training |
| In this domain, therapies are based on the belief that | | | | and experience (see also the NCCAM publication |
| disturbances in energy cause illness. Energy medicine | | | | "Selecting a CAM Practitioner").o Reiki has not been |
| practitioners seek to improve the flow and balance | | | | well studied scientifically, but you can find and read |
| of energy in a beneficial way. | | | | research studies published on its use for various |
| As always, I encourage anyone who intends to utilize | | | | health conditions (see "for more information" below). |
| an alternative therapy, including Reiki, to talk to your | | | | One does not need a special background to receive |
| health care provider before starting. It is still not | | | | Reiki training, though many who seek training are |
| proven how Reiki improves health or how it improves | | | | health care professionals. Reiki can not be self-taught, |
| healing. The National Center for Complementary and | | | | and must be learned from an experienced teacher or |
| Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) is sponsoring studies to | | | | Master. There are several schools of Reiki and there |
| find out more about Reiki's effects, how it works, | | | | are usually three or four levels of expertise, |
| and diseases and conditions for which it may be most | | | | depending upon the school. Laws regulating the |
| helpful. | | | | practice of Reiki vary from state to state. In Florida, |
| Reiki practitioners perform the therapy with their | | | | for example, one must be a certified massage |
| hands, in the hopes to reduce negative energy and | | | | therapist in order to become a Reiki practitioner. |
| to increase the ki in the client. The client is usually | | | | Areas of controversy in Reiki:o Since little is known |
| fully clothed and sitting or lying comfortably. The | | | | scientifically about Reiki, accepting its teachings about |
| practitioner places his hands on the client's body using | | | | its healing properties and about ki is a matter of |
| several different hand positions. The positions are | | | | faith.o Some people believe that effects attributed to |
| held as long as the practitioner feels the energy is | | | | Reiki occur for psychological reasons (such as the |
| continuing, usually two to five minutes. | | | | placebo effect or suggestibility), or that there are no |
| Reiki is performed in offices, hospitals, clinics and | | | | true effects.o Some people feel Reiki is incompatible |
| private homes. The number of sessions is determined | | | | with their religious or spiritual beliefs.o Government |
| by both the practitioner and the client and generally | | | | licensing and regulation of Reiki practice is a |
| at least four sessions are scheduled, at 30 to 90 | | | | controversial area. |
| minutes each. | | | | Reiki can be a great tool to help people in pain or |
| Why people seek Reiki | | | | who prefer a more spiritual form of relaxation. Reiki is |
| People seek Reiki treatment for several | | | | just one of the many ways to accomplish this, and |
| health-related reasons. According to NCCAM, some of | | | | because many people may have heard about it, still |
| these reasons include:o Effects of stress.o Chronic | | | | many don't know what it is. This article should help fill |
| pain.o Recovery from surgery and anesthesia.o Side | | | | in any blanks you may have had. I would suggest |
| effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy for | | | | you find a practitioner in your area and give it a try if |
| cancer.o Lowering heart rate.o Improving immunity.o | | | | it sounds interesting to you. |