What Is Reiki?

 

Reiki, pronounced Ray (universal) - Key (life force energy), is a Japanese energy healing modality using the practitioner’s palms to transfer energy to the client.  Reiki is considered an alternative therapy and is not usually covered by health insurance at this time though there is hope that it will be in the future.  Reiki is administered with either light touch or no touch in accordance with the client’s preference while the client lies on a massage table fully clothed or sits in a chair. 

 

The 60-90 minute whole body Reiki treatment is applied on both the front and the back of the body to areas of the head, neck, chest, torso, and abdomen that correspond to the location of the seven major chakras (spinning vortexes of subtle energy).  Additional areas such as knees, ankles, feet, shoulders, elbows, hands and other troubled areas may also be given Reiki.  The client will experience a relaxed state and those who don’t doze off may feel subtle tingling, vibrations or twitching as the energy moves around the body.  Additionally, very sensitive clients may feel wonderful waves of energy washing over them.  After a full body Reiki energy balancing treatment most clients describe feeling relaxed and that their muscles are substantially looser than before treatment as if they had done a whole body yoga stretching session rather than just lay relaxed on a table.

 

Reiki is deeply rooted in the Eastern philosophy of Chi in China or Ki in Japan being the spark that permeates all living things.  If Reiki energy is accepted by the client, it can have a profound affect on their subtle energy systems (chakras, meridians and layers of the auric field) normalizing energy imbalances caused by stress reactions on the body’s energy systems.  Because a relaxed body, mind, and spirit is a fertile field for healing, Reiki’s deeply relaxing affects promote a healing environment for many issues whether they be physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual. 

 

It is not known exactly how Reiki is able to affect the recipient’s body.  However, Reiki Practitioners believe that it’s the body’s innate healing mechanism that uses the energy channeled to it for self healing and that the practitioner is only a conduit for the healing energy to flow through to their client.

 

Reiki can be used along side traditional Western medical methods without any interference.  Reiki practitioners will not advise a client to discontinue any medications or treatment prescribed for them by their doctor and Reiki should never be used instead of traditional medical treatment for life threatening issues.  In some cases the dosage of prescribed medications may be reduced by a Reiki client’s doctor as symptoms lessen in severity. However, it is strongly advised that a doctor’s advice be consulted before a Reiki client takes it upon themselves to reduce their own medicine dosages.    

 

In spite of the difficulty of modern science to measure the affects of any subtle energy healing modality on its clients, there has been and continues to be scientific research studies conducted on the affects of Reiki (see our Research Articles page).  There exists research data showing either a positive result on clients from the use of Reiki or little to no results, but none with a negative result.  This corroborates the widely held Reiki Practitioner’s claim that Reiki will never harm as it either helps the situation or has such a subtle effect that it apparently does nothing.  Although, the research results have been mixed there are volumes of Reiki client testimonials documenting personal experiences where Reiki’s affects have ranged from the subtle to the miraculous and anywhere in between (see our Testimonials page).

 

Reiki Practitioners possess certifications of attunement (similar to a martial arts initiation) to the Reiki energy and training in the method at each of the three levels of Reiki (Level I, Level II and Master/Teacher). However, Reiki practitioners are usually not state licensed healthcare professionals and therefore are restricted from promising healing affects from receiving Reiki.  Although particular results can not be promised, Reiki clients have reported that after receiving Reiki the following helpful affects have been enjoyed:

 

• Areas of pain have been reduced or subsided entirely.
• Discolorations of bruising and redness of burns have visibly lightened in color.
• The size of swellings has been visibly reduced.
• Spasmodic muscles have been relaxed and released.
• Broken bones have healed at a faster rate than is the norm.
• The duration of colds and other viruses have been shortened.
• Cuts and incisions in the skin have healed more rapidly than is the norm.
• Sensation has been restored to areas of neuropathy and numbness.
• Tumors have been reduced in size.
• Warts have dried up.
• Congested sinuses have cleared.
• High blood pressure has been reduced.
• Anxiety, depression, and anger issues have been reduced.
• Harmful addictions have been reduced.
• Insomnia has been helped.

 
These benefits have been observed by Reiki clients, their practitioners and occasional other eye witnesses. On a few occasions, a before and after Reiki treatment photo or x-ray has been secured. Critics of Reiki have attempted to explain away these beneficial affects as the result of the placebo effect. This is not a valid statement regarding Reiki as it has positive affects on horses, dogs, cats, birds, seedlings, plants, and trees as well as unborn human fetuses who have no conscious knowledge of Reiki or a belief that it will heal them.

 

The popularity of Reiki treatment is spreading worldwide and practitioners can be found offering treatment in their personal homes, client’s homes, massage centers, chiropractic offices, physical therapy centers, pain clinics, health clubs, resorts, spas, and cruise ships. Reiki is also being used in hospitals by hospital volunteers for reducing anxiety, inflammation, and pain of hospital in-patients.  In a few hospitals Reiki Practitioners are paid staff with benefits and the hope is that all hospitals will eventually have paid Reiki Practitioners on their staff.