What is Reiki Energy Therapy?
Reiki is a Japanese form of energy therapy developed by Mikao Usui in the early 20th century. The word Reiki is commonly translated from the Japanese words rei, meaning universal or spiritual, and ki, meaning vital or life-force energy.
Within the traditional Reiki framework, this energy is understood to flow through and around the body, and Reiki practice is intended to support balance and the free flow of that energy. During a session, the practitioner uses gentle touch or holds their hands slightly above the body while the recipient rests comfortably.
Reiki takes a whole-person approach to well-being and is generally used to support relaxation, stress reduction, and a sense of balance. It may be experienced as a stand-alone therapy or incorporated into other care at Journey to Wellness.
What can I expect with Reiki Energy Therapy?
Reiki is a gentle, non-invasive therapy performed while you are fully clothed. You will typically rest comfortably on a treatment table while your practitioner places their hands lightly on or just above different areas of the body.
Reiki may be provided as a stand-alone session or incorporated into Therapeutic Massage or Acupuncture when appropriate. Because Reiki does not require manipulation of the muscles or joints, the experience is generally quiet and restful.
People experience Reiki differently. Some report sensations of warmth, tingling, heaviness, lightness, or a deep sense of relaxation, while others may simply feel calm or notice very little sensation at all. There is no particular sensation you need to experience for a Reiki session to be meaningful.
Traditional Reiki practice may include working with areas of the body associated with energetic centers or chakras, although a session does not need to follow a rigid sequence. Your practitioner may adapt the session according to your comfort and goals.
Should I Receive Reiki Energy Therapy?
Reiki may appeal to people looking for a gentle, quiet form of complementary care that emphasizes relaxation and overall well-being. It may also be an option for someone who prefers little or no physical pressure or who would like to incorporate energy work into another form of care.
Reiki is considered a complementary therapy and is not intended to diagnose or treat disease or replace appropriate medical care. Because the practice involves little or no physical manipulation, it can generally be adapted to a person's comfort, positioning needs, and preferences.
What Does the Research Say?
Research on Reiki presents a more complicated picture than research on many conventional health interventions. Some studies have reported improvements in outcomes such as relaxation, pain, anxiety, stress, or quality of life, while reviews have also identified limitations in study quality, methodology, sample size, and the ability to distinguish specific Reiki effects from placebo, attention, touch, or the therapeutic setting.
As a practitioner with a science-based healthcare background, I believe it is important to be transparent about those limitations. Reiki is a therapy I offer because some patients find the experience deeply relaxing or personally beneficial—not because the current research establishes Reiki as a treatment for specific medical conditions.
I continue to follow emerging research with interest as our understanding of Reiki and other complementary therapies evolves.
Research and Evidence on Reiki Energy Therapy:
Dyer, NL, Balwin AL, Rand WL. A Large-Scale Effectiveness Trial of Reiki for Physical and Psychological Health The Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine, October, 2019; 25(12):1156-62.
Maxime Billot, Maeva Daycard Chantal Wood, Achille Tchalla. Reiki Therapy for Pain, Anxiety and Quality of Life. BMJ Support Palliat Care. 2019 Dec;9(4):434-438.
Melike Demir Doğan. The Effect of Reiki on Pain: A Meta-Analysis. Complement Ther Clin Pract 2018 May;31:384-387.
Maxwell T Vergo, Briane M Pinkson, Kathleen Broglio, Zhongze Li, Tor D Tosteson. Immediate Symptom Relief After a First Session of Massage Therapy or Reiki in Hospitalized Patients: A 5-year Clinical Experience from a Rural Academic Medical Center Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2018 Aug; (24) 8: 801-808.
Farnaz Jahantiqh, Abdolghani Abdollahimohammad, Mohammadreza Firouzkouhi, Vahid Ebrahiminejad Authors.Effects of Reiki Versus Physiotherapy on Relieving Lower Back Pain and Improving Activities Daily Living of Patients With Intervertebral Disc Hernia. Journal of Evidence Based Integrative Medicine, 2018; 23:1-5.
McManus DE. Reiki Is Better Than Placebo and Has Broad Potential as a Complementary Health Therapy. J Evid Based Complementary Altern Med. 2017 Oct;22(4):1051-1057.
Ann Linda Baldwin, Anne Vitale, Elise Brownell, Elizabeth Kryak, William Rand. Effects of Reiki on Pain, Anxiety, and Blood Pressure in Patients Undergoing Knee Replacement: A Pilot Study. Holistic Nursing Practice, Apr/May, 2017; 31(2): 80-89.
Barbara Byrne Notte, Carol Fazzini, Ruth A Mooney Reiki's effect on patients with total knee arthroplasty: A pilot study. Nursing, February, 2016; 46(2): 17-23.
Kurebayashi LF, Turrini RN, Souza TP, Takiguchi RS, Kuba G, Nagumo MT. Massage and Reiki used to reduce stress and anxiety: Randomized Clinical Trial. Rev Lat Am Enfermagem. 2016 Nov 28;24
Rosada RM, Rubik B, Mainguy B, Plummer J, Mehl-Madrona L Reiki Reduces Burnout Among Community Mental Health Clinicians. J Altern Complement Med. 2015 Aug;21(8):489-95
Janine Joyce, G Peter Herbison. Reiki for Depression and Anxiety. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015 Apr 3;(4):CD006833.
Thrane S, Cohen SM. Effect of Reiki Therapy on Pain and Anxiety in Adults: An In-Depth Literature Review of Randomized Trials with Effect Size Calculations. Pain Management Nursing: Official Journal of the American Society of Pain Management Nurses, February 27, 2014; 15(4):897-908.
Ann Linda Baldwin, Kirstin Fullmer, Gary E Schwartz. Comparison of Physical Therapy with Energy Healing for Improving Range of Motion in Subjects with Restricted Shoulder Mobility. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013.