The science behind Reiki
It’s never easy to believe in something that we cannot see. We live in a world that likes to have something tangible to hold on to and our somewhat limited human minds mean that we often immediately disregard anything that we don’t fully understand.
Reiki, unfortunately, has been included in this bucket. For years Reiki, and other holistic or alternative medicines, have been looked down upon by medical associations, practitioners and mainstream scientists. Many assume that it’s all just a a bit too ‘woo woo’ and that ‘life energy’ fields such as those accepted in China as Chi or Qi, in Japan as Ki and in India as Prana are ‘unseen’ and ‘immeasurable’ by traditional research and, therefore, aren’t reputable.
Thankfully things are changing! Reiki is starting to gain a new respect within the medical community. Highly reputable medical facilities throughout the US and other parts of the world are offering patients alternative healing programs such as Reiki. Plus, many research papers have been conducted into the science behind Reiki and they are showing amazing results.
Scientific research
Bear with me here, there are a few examples however I think that they’re important to note!
In both 2006 and 2008 stressed-out lab rats received Reiki treatments and they all showed significantly reduced stress, anxiety and depression responses. “Sham” Reiki treatments were given to the placebo group and they showed no reduction in stress, anxiety or depression. Yes, I know it’s rats here and not humans but lots of medical studies are conducted on animals so why not take this one seriously too!
Testing in humans performed between 1993 and 2006 showed ratings from Satisfactory to Excellent, all suggesting that the benefit of Reiki treatments were positive in controlling pain levels in humans. The placebo Reiki treatments in this experiment were by contrast ineffective in controlling pain.
New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Campus conducted one of the first studies ever performed to determine the effectiveness of Reiki treatments on the autonomic nervous system. This “blind, random study” included a Reiki treatment group, a “sham” treatment group and a “control” group. The results within the Reiki treatment group showed a lowering of heart rate, respiration and blood pressure. These positive results led the team to recommend further, larger studies to look at the biological effects of Reiki treatment.
A study at Southern General Hospital in Glasgow titled “An Investigation into the Effect of Reiki on the Autonomic Nervous System.” During the study the Reiki group received rest and Reiki treatment, the placebo group received rest and placebo treatment, and the control group only rest. For those who received Reiki treatment, there was a significant reduction in heart rate and diastolic blood pressure that did not appear in either the placebo or the control group. Blood pressure levels also showed a significant reduction in the Reiki group.
There’s still a long way to go before Reiki is going to be fully accepted into the mainstream and ultimately into general medical practice. However, we’re making great steps to get it there.
My top tip - if you don’t buy it, try it!