Curious if there’s any science to show if Reiki works? Well, there is! It’s still not perfect science, and there’s still more to do, but these preliminary results are promising. One of the primary benefits is its ability to reduce stress and promote relaxation. A meta-analysis is when you take the data from a group of projects and combine them to look at the biggest picture. One meta-analysis found that Reiki significantly alleviates anxiety, suggesting its effectiveness in reducing stress levels and enhancing emotional well-being (1). It’s believed that this relaxation response is linked to the lowering of the sympathetic nervous system (flight, fight or freeze) and activation of the parasympathetic (rest and digest) nervous system during Reiki sessions, which helps lower stress and promote a state of calm (2).
Reiki also has a big impact on pain management. A study published in the Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine reported that Reiki treatments reduced pain perception in cancer patients, improving their quality of life (3). Similarly, research in Integrative Cancer Therapies indicated that Reiki could reduce anxiety and depression in breast cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy (4). This is a big reason major hospitals like Johns Hopkins and The Mayo Clinic are now offering Reiki.
Sleep can be vastly improved with Reiki, particularly in individuals with chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia. The Journal of Holistic Nursing published a study demonstrating that regular Reiki sessions significantly enhanced sleep patterns in fibromyalgia patients, suggesting its potential to alleviate sleep disturbances associated with chronic pain (5).
So, while more is needed, especially to fully understand the mechanisms behind what makes Reiki work, current research supports its benefits in stress reduction, pain management, sleep improvement, and emotional well-being. An extraordinary start! Healing for People offers treatments and classes in Reiki, we hope you come check it out for yourself.
(1) Guo, X., Long, Y., Qin, Z. et al. Therapeutic effects of Reiki on interventions for anxiety: a meta-analysis. BMC Palliat Care 23, 147 (2024).
(3) J Evid Based Complementary Altern Med. 2017 Oct; 22(4): 1051–1057.
(4) Olson, K, Hanson, J, Michaud, M. A Phase II trial of R eiki for the management of pain in advanced cancer trials
(5) Reiki for the Treatment of Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Altern Complement Med. 2008 Nov; 14(9); 1115-1122
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