Reiki therapy, also called palm healing, is a type of therapy in which the practitioner places their hands over your body to channel the energies necessary for self-healing. At the base of this therapy is the concept of “rei” and “ki,” two types of energy that can be channeled to support healing.
According to the philosophy behind Reiki, disease can occur when the flow of vital energy is out of balance. This practice is based on the teachings of Mikao Usui, a Japanese monk from the late 19th century who founded Reiki based on ancient Asian teachings.
Although many experts still don’t know how Reiki impacts the body, electromagnetic fields are suspected to be the cause of the positive effects of Reiki therapy. This implies that the electromagnetic field of the practitioner interacts with the electromagnetic field of the patient.
To help you get a better understanding of what Reiki is and what its benefits are, we asked our specialists at Weston Medical Health & Wellness about the benefits of this mysterious practice with roots in Eastern medicine.
Dr. Andrea Bretal and her team share these 3 benefits of Reiki:
1. Reiki reduces anxiety and lessens pain
While the mechanism behind Reiki isn’t understood, a very small pilot study that looked at two groups of women who underwent hysterectomy found that Reiki reduced anxiety and lessened pain.
The group of women that received traditional nursing care alone needed more analgesics and reported higher anxiety levels compared to the group that also received 30-minute sessions of Reiki.
2. Reiki relieves emotional stress
Reiki is also used by people undergoing cancer treatments who are looking for a way to cope with their diagnosis.
This therapy doesn’t cure or treat cancer, but many physicians accept reiki as a complementary therapy, because some cancer patients report lower levels of stress after the treatment.
3. Reiki provides a drug-free approach to healing
There’s no denying that many medications come with side effects, especially when used for prolonged periods of time. Some over-the-counter medications that are used for years turn out to be downright dangerous. A good example of this is the recent recall of acid reflux medications that were withdrawn by the FDA due to their cancer risk.
Reiki, on the other hand, doesn’t come with any side effects or complications.
Some studies suggest that Reiki therapy is not only safe but may also improve your subjective overall well-being.
If you’re interested in finding out more about how Reiki therapy is used and what concerns it addresses, contact us to schedule an appointment.