Reiki is based on Eastern beliefs about energy supporting the body’s innate healing and natural ability to heal.
“Simply put, Reiki is energy, and the body recognises this energy and uses it for therapeutic effects,” says Lu Wong, a licensed acupuncturist.
During a Reiki session, the treatment room is furnished with dim lighting, soft music and bed linen on the table to create a calming atmosphere. “I explain to the patient what Reiki is, the different hand positions and how long to hold each hand position on the body. [usually three to five minutes]and what they might be experiencing,” says Lu Wong. “The session might consist of just a light touch, or for those who prefer a ‘no-touch’ technique, using our hands to work with the energy field around the body. We also ask if there are any particular areas to avoid or to focus on. If there’s discomfort in a particular area, we can focus on that.”
Therapy sessions last anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes and can be done while seated, in a hospital bed, wheelchair, or in a waiting room.
“Typically, I ask the patient to close their eyes,” Lu Wong says, “and then I cycle through five or six different hand positions, working from the top of the head to the feet.”
So who can benefit from Reiki? Anyone experiencing high levels of stress, from those undergoing routine surgery to cancer patients dealing with the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Reiki is also used for self-practice, health maintenance, and promoting health and wellbeing.
A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology in 2010 evaluated the effects of Reiki on patients recovering from a heart attack. Titled “Effects of Reiki on Early Autonomic Nervous Activity After Acute Coronary Syndrome,” the study assessed heart rate variability (the time interval between heart beats), which is used to assess stress and emotional state. A sample of 49 patients were randomly assigned to receive either Reiki or one of two other interventions (rest or classical music) within 72 hours of an acute coronary syndrome, such as a heart attack.
The researchers found that Reiki had a significant effect on patients’ overall emotional state, with significant increases in heart rate variability and reduced stress within three days.
Lu Wong has also studied the specific effects of Reiki, most notably in a pilot program he ran at NewYork-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital in 2015 to examine whether relaxation techniques could provide immediate and long-term relief from anxiety, stress, and pain in radiation oncology patients.
Twenty-four patients from NewYork-Presbyterian Church, aged 40-79 years, undergoing radiation therapy during cancer treatment participated in the study. After radiation therapy, the patients underwent a 30-minute relaxation program consisting of Reiki, therapeutic touch, sound therapy, music therapy, and aromatherapy. Blood pressure, heart rate, and pain levels were recorded before and immediately after the intervention.
“The data show a consistent pattern of reduced blood pressure, heart rate, anxiety and pain scores in radiation oncology patients,” Lu Wong said, “providing clear evidence of the benefits of complementary and alternative medicine.”
Reiki advocates claim it has other uses, and Lu Wong says it can be beneficial for people of all ages. People use Reiki for a variety of reasons, including self-practice, chronic pain, stress, anxiety, or simply to promote overall health and well-being.
“My patients who receive Reiki for anxiety and stress say it helps them balance their emotions and report an overall sense of relaxation. Some have even been inspired to learn Reiki for their own self-care,” says Lu Wong.
Lu Wong practices Reiki to care for herself and her two children, ages 6 and 12.
“I practice self-care every day for myself and my family,” she says.
