Benefits of Reiki
"Nothing can compare to or replace the healing touch of another human being"
~ Kehrey Anne Dean, LMT, CPMT
~ Kehrey Anne Dean, LMT, CPMT
One of the greatest Reiki healing health benefits is stress reduction and relaxation, which triggers the body's natural healing abilities (immune system), aids in better sleep and improves and maintains health. Reiki also balances the mind and emotions.
Life force is a subtle energy that surrounds and flows through pathways viz. chakras, meridians, and nadis in all living beings. The life force nourishes all the cells in the body and supports their functioning.When your life force is low, you are likely to feel weak. You will be susceptible to illness. Strengthening your life force will help your body heal and remain healthy.
Thoughts and feelings can affect the life force. If you have negative thoughts or negative feelings about yourself, the flow of your life force becomes disrupted causing diminished functioning of your body organs. Your overall body balance (physical, mental and emotional), medically termed homoeostasis, is disturbed. You then become ill.
How does Reiki work?
Reiki treatment increases your supply of life force energy and helps you heal quickly. It promotes relaxation, makes you feel at peace, and reduces your stress. You start moving toward your unique physical, mental, and spiritual balance, and your body’s own healing mechanisms begin to function more effectively.
Reiki is administered by the hands, placed lightly on or near the body of the patient. The healing energy from the body and hands of the Reiki practitioner flows to the patient. The patient then experiences feelings of relaxation, mental clarity, pain relief, decreased anxiety, and a sense of well-being. Research has shown that this occurs because the activity of parasympathetic autonomic nervous system in the patient increases significantly.
That said, is Reiki really effective? What is it effective for? Here are the health benefits of Reiki that have scientific evidence.
1. Helps in stress reduction and promotes relaxation
Stress reduction and relaxation are the best proved health benefits of Reiki. Actually, this Japanese energy healing therapy is designed to trigger your body’s relaxation response and reduce stress. Most ailments today are somehow linked to the stress factor, be it environmental stress, work stress, or emotional stress. In fact, most of the therapy’s health benefits are based on these factors.
Reiki can prove to be an effective tool in restoring your body’s balance on all the levels like mental, emotional, and physical, so that all the body parts may function in complete harmony. When a body operates harmoniously, it augments its natural healing abilities which improve the overall health and wellness. In this regard, Reiki for babies can be extremely advantageous. It can contribute to baby’s sound growth and development. Reiki can directly target the cause of the problem and rectify it instead of simply relieving the symptoms.
3. Dissolves Energy Blocks
Reiki therapy activates an awareness where one may become more conscious about the problems that seem to be robbing all the peace and joy. It can help eliminate the energy blocks in the form of negative thoughts or self-deprecating feelings to bring peace. One gets trained to listen to their body and mind and take appropriate, mindful decisions for its health. Being aware of your own needs can assist you in accessing inner wisdom and knowledge which can help you deal with everyday stress in a better manner.
4. Strengthens Immunity
Regular Reiki sessions can aid your body to get rid of all the harmful toxins thus building the immune system. Most people remain in a constant stress-responsive fight mode that it upsets their body’s natural balance and immunity thereby leaving them more susceptible to diseases. Their bodies factually forget how to reinstate the balance. Reiki can play an important role in reminding the body to shift to rest/digest self-healing state which may help it to intensify its natural defence systems.
5. Reduces depression and anxiety by changing your mood
Changes in mood are very much associated with anxiety and depression. A number of studies have demonstrated overall mood benefits with Reiki. The benefits are specific to those with negative mood. The studies showed that once your mood improves, the improvements are accompanied by reduced anxiety. Not only does your anxiety reduce, you can also see significant decrease in depression, anger, and confusion. Your positive energy increases and the loss of vigor that comes with depression also improves.
6. Increases mobility in case of shoulder pain, wrist pain, lower back pain
An interesting study published in the journal Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine which compared the effectiveness of improving range of motion through physical therapy and Reiki, found that both showed the same effect in improving the range of motion (ROM) of the affected part. These results suggest that the beneficial effects of Reiki and on ROM may arise from alterations in local joint or muscle structures rather than the pain system.
7. Improves infections and inflammations
‘A friend of mine went into the hospital for some reconstructive surgery due to breast cancer. After a couple of weeks, I saw her husband and inquired about her health. He was devastated and told me that she had developed a severe infection and had been running a fever of 104 degrees for several days and the doctors did not know where it was coming from. He said they believed her organs could begin to shutdown. I began to send Reiki to her immediately. Upon my arrival the next morning, she looked wonderful! I asked her how she was and she said it was amazing. She woke up that morning and her temperature was completely normal. She felt great! The doctors had no explanation for her healing.’
– As told by Kathleen
This may sound like a miracle, but one intriguing finding reported in the journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine showed a similar result with Reiki. An obese hypertensive patient was treated for Hepatitis C. The side effect of the treatment was anaemia and neutropenia (severe deficiency of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, leading to susceptibility to infection). Reiki therapy was administered to him to relieve anxiety and to enhance his sense of well-being. Incidentally, the doctors noted that his neutrophil count and hematocrit improved significantly, which in turn improved bone marrow function. So much so, that the patient was infection-free even after one year of treatment.
8. Improves indices of metabolic syndrome
Metabolic syndrome, a cluster of symptoms associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic conditions, affects a substantial and increasing percentage of the world population. Physical activity is perhaps the best way you can improve the outcomes of metabolic syndrome, but Reiki too has shown to be equally effective.
‘Many individuals, such as those who are overweight and sedentary and at highest risk for the metabolic syndrome, may be unable or unwilling to participate in conventional types of physical activity such as strength training and gym-based exercises. Mind-body modalities are simple, economical, noninvasive therapies, easy to learn, and can be practiced easily by individuals who may experience potential limitations in mobility,’ according to Joel Anderson and Ann Gill Taylor at Center for the Study of Complementary and Alternative Therapies, University of Virginia School of Nursing, Charlottesville, USA.
Although the researchers did not specifically mention Reiki, they supported the potential clinical effectiveness of mind-body therapies as supportive care modalities for management of metabolic syndrome, especially insulin resistance and high blood pressure.
9. Treats symptoms associated with cancers
Reiki, or for that matter, any mind-body therapy cannot cure cancer. But they can effectively treat associated symptoms of cancer such as depression, pain, and fatigue. For example, in a study published in the journal Integrative Cancer Therapy, researchers reported that treatment with Reiki for 5 consecutive days, followed by 1-week no treatment, then 2 additional Reiki sessions, in various cancer patients could significantly decrease tiredness, pain, and anxiety, and improve quality of life.
In the same vein, Reiki relieves pain from migraine, sciatica, and arthritis. It also helps reduce symptoms of asthma, menopause, and insomnia.
10. Enables emotional clarity and spiritual growth
Reiki not only heals you physically, it also heals you emotionally. One of the most endearing effects of Reiki is that it can enhance your capability to love, to empathize as it enables you to deeply connect with people. It can strengthen your relationships. It can heal your personal relationships. Reiki brings about inner peace and harmony, the essential qualities of spiritual growth. It ‘cleans’ and clears your emotions.
Reiki is thus fast becoming an accepted presence in hospitals and clinics maybe because the healing approach is non-traumatic and easily integrated with conventional therapies.
11. Helps one sleep better
By stimulating the body to achieve its natural balance and inner healing, Reiki allows a person to sleep better. When your mind is at peace and free of fears and worries, you are bound to sleep well. The more a person is in a relaxed space, the more she can be productive and active without being exhausted stressed, or burnt out.
12. Refines / improves personal relationships
Reiki can help heal and advance personal relationships by rebuilding you emotionally. It can boost your capability to relate and connect to people on a more profound level thus enhancing your relationships. It can cleanse you of damaging feelings allowing you to realise inner peace which may, in turn, better your capability to freely love and open up to other people thereby enabling relationships to flourish. You may begin to respond to life events and people in a more supportive, trusting way rather than negatively.
References:
Life force is a subtle energy that surrounds and flows through pathways viz. chakras, meridians, and nadis in all living beings. The life force nourishes all the cells in the body and supports their functioning.When your life force is low, you are likely to feel weak. You will be susceptible to illness. Strengthening your life force will help your body heal and remain healthy.
Thoughts and feelings can affect the life force. If you have negative thoughts or negative feelings about yourself, the flow of your life force becomes disrupted causing diminished functioning of your body organs. Your overall body balance (physical, mental and emotional), medically termed homoeostasis, is disturbed. You then become ill.
How does Reiki work?
Reiki treatment increases your supply of life force energy and helps you heal quickly. It promotes relaxation, makes you feel at peace, and reduces your stress. You start moving toward your unique physical, mental, and spiritual balance, and your body’s own healing mechanisms begin to function more effectively.
Reiki is administered by the hands, placed lightly on or near the body of the patient. The healing energy from the body and hands of the Reiki practitioner flows to the patient. The patient then experiences feelings of relaxation, mental clarity, pain relief, decreased anxiety, and a sense of well-being. Research has shown that this occurs because the activity of parasympathetic autonomic nervous system in the patient increases significantly.
That said, is Reiki really effective? What is it effective for? Here are the health benefits of Reiki that have scientific evidence.
1. Helps in stress reduction and promotes relaxation
Stress reduction and relaxation are the best proved health benefits of Reiki. Actually, this Japanese energy healing therapy is designed to trigger your body’s relaxation response and reduce stress. Most ailments today are somehow linked to the stress factor, be it environmental stress, work stress, or emotional stress. In fact, most of the therapy’s health benefits are based on these factors.
- Stress can lead to irregular heart rhythms that could result in angina or stroke.
- Stress triggers gastrointestinal problems because common hormones such as leptin and ghrelin regulate the brain and stomach.
- Eating disorders are a common consequence of stress, since you tend to overeat when you are stressed out, or you have an aversion to food.
- Mood disorders and many psychological problems arise because of stress.
- Stress can lead to sexual problems in men.
Reiki can prove to be an effective tool in restoring your body’s balance on all the levels like mental, emotional, and physical, so that all the body parts may function in complete harmony. When a body operates harmoniously, it augments its natural healing abilities which improve the overall health and wellness. In this regard, Reiki for babies can be extremely advantageous. It can contribute to baby’s sound growth and development. Reiki can directly target the cause of the problem and rectify it instead of simply relieving the symptoms.
3. Dissolves Energy Blocks
Reiki therapy activates an awareness where one may become more conscious about the problems that seem to be robbing all the peace and joy. It can help eliminate the energy blocks in the form of negative thoughts or self-deprecating feelings to bring peace. One gets trained to listen to their body and mind and take appropriate, mindful decisions for its health. Being aware of your own needs can assist you in accessing inner wisdom and knowledge which can help you deal with everyday stress in a better manner.
4. Strengthens Immunity
Regular Reiki sessions can aid your body to get rid of all the harmful toxins thus building the immune system. Most people remain in a constant stress-responsive fight mode that it upsets their body’s natural balance and immunity thereby leaving them more susceptible to diseases. Their bodies factually forget how to reinstate the balance. Reiki can play an important role in reminding the body to shift to rest/digest self-healing state which may help it to intensify its natural defence systems.
5. Reduces depression and anxiety by changing your mood
Changes in mood are very much associated with anxiety and depression. A number of studies have demonstrated overall mood benefits with Reiki. The benefits are specific to those with negative mood. The studies showed that once your mood improves, the improvements are accompanied by reduced anxiety. Not only does your anxiety reduce, you can also see significant decrease in depression, anger, and confusion. Your positive energy increases and the loss of vigor that comes with depression also improves.
6. Increases mobility in case of shoulder pain, wrist pain, lower back pain
An interesting study published in the journal Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine which compared the effectiveness of improving range of motion through physical therapy and Reiki, found that both showed the same effect in improving the range of motion (ROM) of the affected part. These results suggest that the beneficial effects of Reiki and on ROM may arise from alterations in local joint or muscle structures rather than the pain system.
7. Improves infections and inflammations
‘A friend of mine went into the hospital for some reconstructive surgery due to breast cancer. After a couple of weeks, I saw her husband and inquired about her health. He was devastated and told me that she had developed a severe infection and had been running a fever of 104 degrees for several days and the doctors did not know where it was coming from. He said they believed her organs could begin to shutdown. I began to send Reiki to her immediately. Upon my arrival the next morning, she looked wonderful! I asked her how she was and she said it was amazing. She woke up that morning and her temperature was completely normal. She felt great! The doctors had no explanation for her healing.’
– As told by Kathleen
This may sound like a miracle, but one intriguing finding reported in the journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine showed a similar result with Reiki. An obese hypertensive patient was treated for Hepatitis C. The side effect of the treatment was anaemia and neutropenia (severe deficiency of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, leading to susceptibility to infection). Reiki therapy was administered to him to relieve anxiety and to enhance his sense of well-being. Incidentally, the doctors noted that his neutrophil count and hematocrit improved significantly, which in turn improved bone marrow function. So much so, that the patient was infection-free even after one year of treatment.
8. Improves indices of metabolic syndrome
Metabolic syndrome, a cluster of symptoms associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic conditions, affects a substantial and increasing percentage of the world population. Physical activity is perhaps the best way you can improve the outcomes of metabolic syndrome, but Reiki too has shown to be equally effective.
‘Many individuals, such as those who are overweight and sedentary and at highest risk for the metabolic syndrome, may be unable or unwilling to participate in conventional types of physical activity such as strength training and gym-based exercises. Mind-body modalities are simple, economical, noninvasive therapies, easy to learn, and can be practiced easily by individuals who may experience potential limitations in mobility,’ according to Joel Anderson and Ann Gill Taylor at Center for the Study of Complementary and Alternative Therapies, University of Virginia School of Nursing, Charlottesville, USA.
Although the researchers did not specifically mention Reiki, they supported the potential clinical effectiveness of mind-body therapies as supportive care modalities for management of metabolic syndrome, especially insulin resistance and high blood pressure.
9. Treats symptoms associated with cancers
Reiki, or for that matter, any mind-body therapy cannot cure cancer. But they can effectively treat associated symptoms of cancer such as depression, pain, and fatigue. For example, in a study published in the journal Integrative Cancer Therapy, researchers reported that treatment with Reiki for 5 consecutive days, followed by 1-week no treatment, then 2 additional Reiki sessions, in various cancer patients could significantly decrease tiredness, pain, and anxiety, and improve quality of life.
In the same vein, Reiki relieves pain from migraine, sciatica, and arthritis. It also helps reduce symptoms of asthma, menopause, and insomnia.
10. Enables emotional clarity and spiritual growth
Reiki not only heals you physically, it also heals you emotionally. One of the most endearing effects of Reiki is that it can enhance your capability to love, to empathize as it enables you to deeply connect with people. It can strengthen your relationships. It can heal your personal relationships. Reiki brings about inner peace and harmony, the essential qualities of spiritual growth. It ‘cleans’ and clears your emotions.
Reiki is thus fast becoming an accepted presence in hospitals and clinics maybe because the healing approach is non-traumatic and easily integrated with conventional therapies.
11. Helps one sleep better
By stimulating the body to achieve its natural balance and inner healing, Reiki allows a person to sleep better. When your mind is at peace and free of fears and worries, you are bound to sleep well. The more a person is in a relaxed space, the more she can be productive and active without being exhausted stressed, or burnt out.
12. Refines / improves personal relationships
Reiki can help heal and advance personal relationships by rebuilding you emotionally. It can boost your capability to relate and connect to people on a more profound level thus enhancing your relationships. It can cleanse you of damaging feelings allowing you to realise inner peace which may, in turn, better your capability to freely love and open up to other people thereby enabling relationships to flourish. You may begin to respond to life events and people in a more supportive, trusting way rather than negatively.
References:
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3847956/
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3092553/
- http://www.reiki.org/ReikiStories/ReikiStories.html#ReikiHelps
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3239316/#!po=3.33333
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3136147/#!po=96.8750
- https://parenting.firstcry.com/articles/benefits-of-reiki-for-your-mental-physical-emotional-and-spiritual-health/