What is Reiki? You may have heard or read about this emerging practice, which has been around for decades in Asia.
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) lists Reiki in its database of complementary health practices. Here are some information provided by NCCAM for the purpose of guiding the general public.
What is Reiki?
Reiki is a complementary health approach in which practitioners place their hands lightly on or just above a person, with the goal of facilitating the person's own healing response.
- Reiki is based on an Eastern belief in an energy that supports the body's innate or natural healing abilities. However, there isn't any scientific evidence that such an energy exists.
- Reiki has been studied for a variety of conditions, including pain, anxiety, fatigue, and depression.
What the Science Says About the Effectiveness of Reiki
Several groups of experts have evaluated the evidence on Reiki, and all of them have concluded that it's uncertain whether Reiki is helpful.
Only a small number of studies of Reiki have been completed, and most of them included only a few people. Different studies looked at different health conditions making it hard to compare their results. Many of the studies didn't compare Reiki with both sham (simulated) Reiki and with no treatment. Studies that include both of these comparisons are usually the most informative.
What the Science Says About the Safety of Reiki
Reiki appears to be generally safe. In studies of Reiki, side effects were no more common among participants who received Reiki than among those who didn't receive it.
More to Consider
- Reiki should not be used to replace conventional care or to postpone seeing a health care provider about a health problem. If you have severe or long-lasting symptoms, see your health care provider. You may have a health problem that needs prompt treatment.
- Tell all your health care providers about any complementary health approaches you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.
Source: NCCAM
