The facts
Reiki is an energy-based technique with origins in 20th-century Japan.
The term Reiki breaks into 2 words: rei, which means "universal," and ki, which means "life energy." Practitioners of Reiki use their hands to channel and transfer this universal life energy to themselves and to others. Energy that has become blocked is thought to lead to illness or pain.
During a Reiki session, one remains fully clothed and either sits or lies down. Over the course of the 30- to 90-minute session, the Reiki practitioner’s hands lightly touch or hover just above the client’s body. Each of the 12 to 15 different hand positions are usually held for 2 to 5 minutes. After Reiki, people tend to feel deeply relaxed or refreshed.
Scientific evidence of Reiki’s benefits remains scant – it’s unclear if it is effective for conditions such as pain, anxiety and depression. Some people with pain, nausea or fatigue can find relief following Reiki therapy.
A word of caution
Since Reiki tends to be a gentle and non-invasive technique, no side effects or complications have been reported. Still, it has not been studied well enough for its benefits or potential risks to be understood. Reiki should be considered a complementary therapy and not as the sole approach to treatment of disease.
Currently, there are no credentials or regulations for those who practice Reiki. And yet, it is a set of skills that must be taught by an experienced master. Three levels of training include initiations, at which point a person is said to be given access to Reiki energy.
Be sure to tell your health care providers about any Reiki treatments you have undergone.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2025. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Reiki