What are the benefits of Reiki? And how could it possibly help you with your problem or condition? To be honest, it would be simpler to list what Reiki doesn’t help with … but then this page would be completely blank! So instead I have listed below just some of the many conditions that Reiki has either been reported or even proven to help with. You don’t need to take my word for it – I have provided links to documented evidence and multiple scientific studies that back the beneficial use of Reiki. But nothing is more convincing than experiencing it for yourself! So if you’re still on the fence about it, or are unsure if Reiki is right for you, I invite you to give it a try with my “Introduction to Reiki” session.
Reiki practitioners don’t diagnose medical problems or attempt to cure specific illnesses or injuries. Reiki provides a complementary approach to overall good health and well-being by alleviating tension and facilitating the flow of energy throughout the body to help assist in this process. Energy flows through all of us and gives us the ability to function physically throughout the day. This energy flow can be affected when we are sick or experiencing a disturbance in sleep.
Reiki has been shown to improve the results of all medical treatment, acting to reduce negative side effects, shorten healing time, reduce or eliminate pain, reduce stress, and help create optimism.
While your individual results may vary, it has been reported (and some backed by evidential studies) that Reiki has helped people with the following issues or conditions (not an exhaustive list):
- ADD/ADHD
- Alzheimer’s [18]
- Anxiety [1] [3] [4] [5] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [13] [15] [17]
- Autism/developmental delays
- Behavioral issues [18]
- Bruises, burns, cuts, and broken bones
- Burnout
- Effects from cancer and its treatments [2] [7] [8] [9] [12] [14]
- Confidence issues [2]
- Crohn’s Disease
- Depression [1] [2] [3] [5] [15] [17]
- Emotional problems
- Issues with end-of-life care
- Fatigue [7] [12] [15] [17]
- Grief and bereavement
- Headaches & migraines
- Heart disease [16]
- HIV/AIDS [5]
- Infertility
- Insomnia
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Memory problems [18]
- Mental illness
- Muscle tension or aches
- Nausea [15] [17]
- Neurodegenerative disorders
- Pain [1] [2] [4] [6] [7] [8] [9] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [17]
- Parkinson’s
- Psychological distress
- PTSD
- Sexual dysfunction
- Sexuality and sexual orientation issues
- Shortness of breath [17]
- Skin problems
- Stress [5] [10] [12]
- Surgical preparation and recovery
- Trauma
- Traumatic brain injury
It is important to remember that Reiki is not necessarily curative, but rather Reiki is helpful in managing the symptoms of the illness or disease (or side effects from the treatment). Reiki works along side traditional medical treatment to improve the results. Reiki is NOT a replacement for medical treatment.
But you do NOT have to be “sick” or have any kind of illness or be suffering from any kind of condition in order to benefit from Reiki sessions. In normal practice, Reiki is used to help keep the body, mind, and spirit in balance and working at its most optimal and healthiest states. In other words, Reiki does not need to be a reactive measure, but a proactive measure as part of overall wellness. Many people use Reiki as part of their regular self care routine. It is highly effective in this way!
Some additional benefits of Reiki include:
- Supports a strong immune system
- Facilitates deep relaxation to alleviate chronic pain
- Improves blood flow
- Reduces blood pressure
- Helps boost mood which can influence recovery rates from illness
- Assists in improving sleep
- Improves energy levels
- Alleviates feelings of fatigue from physical illness
While your individual results may vary, here are just some of the things that people have reported experiencing following their Reiki sessions:
- Lower anxiety [1] [3] [4] [5] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [13] [15] [17]
- Better attitude [9]
- Better appetite [9] [17]
- Improved behavior [18]
- Lower blood pressure [10]
- Clearing of the mind [2]
- Cognitive improvements [2] [18]
- Improved digestion
- Release of emotional strain [2]
- Enhanced and stronger immune system
- Inner peace [2]
- Heightened intuition
- Desire to learn [1]
- Better memory [18]
- Mental clarity
- Improved mood [1] [2] [3] [5] [9] [17]
- Pain reduction or complete relief [2] [4] [6] [8] [9] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [17]
- Faster post-surgical recovery with better outcomes
- Improved general quality of life [7]
- Relaxation [2] [8] [9]
- Enhanced self care [1]
- Improved self confidence [2]
- Enhanced self-esteem
- Improved sleep quality [2] [8] [9]
- Spiritual connectedness
- Stress relief or reduction [5] [10] [12]
- Feelings of general wellbeing [1] [8] [15] [17]
- Accelerated wound healing
You do not need to be suffering from any kind of ailment to benefit from Reiki. In fact, Reiki works best as a preventative method to keep your systems balanced and to help protect you from illness.
I invite you to contact me or schedule a session to see how Reiki can benefit you.
- This 2010 study published by the Journal of Gerontological Nursing found that “significant differences were observed between the experimental and treatment groups on measures of pain, depression, and anxiety; no changes in heart rate and blood pressure were noted. Content analysis of treatment notes and interviews revealed five broad categories of responses: Relaxation; Improved Physical Symptoms, Mood, and Well-Being; Curiosity and a Desire to Learn More; Enhanced Self-Care; and Sensory and Cognitive Responses to Reiki.”
- This 2016 study published by the International Journal of Palliative Nursing found that women with cancer who received Reiki experienced “a release of emotional strain during Reiki — feelings of a release of energy, a clearing of the mind from cancer, inner peace/relaxation, hope, a sense of being cared for; experience of physical sensations during Reiki, such as pain relief and tingling; physical, emotional and cognitive improvements after Reiki, such as improved sleep, a sense of calm and peace, reduced depression and improved self-confidence.” The study authors concluded “that Reiki could be a beneficial tool in the self-management of quality of life issues for women who have cancer.”
- This 2011 study published by Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine reinforced the conclusions found in a prior study which showed significant improvement of anxiety and depression symptoms in the college students who had Reiki performed on them, vs. a control group who merely participated in guided meditation exercises.
- This 2014 study published by Pain Management Nursing reviewed 49 other studies on Reiki and concluded “there is evidence to suggest that Reiki therapy may be effective for pain and anxiety.”
- This 2016 study published by the Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care found that HIV patients who received Reiki therapy along with music therapy showed significant reductions of stress, anxiety, and depression, compared to those who received music therapy alone.
- This 2018 meta-analysis “revealed that Reiki was an effective approach in relieving the pain.”
- This 2007 study published by Integrative Cancer Therapies showed that Reiki helped cancer-related fatigue significantly more than just rest alone. “In addition, participants in the Reiki condition experienced significant improvements in quality of life compared to those in the resting condition. On daily assessments in the Reiki condition, presession versus postsession scores indicated significant decreases in tiredness, pain, and anxiety, which were not seen in the resting condition.”
- In 2012 the American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care published this 3 year study conducted at a hospital’s oncology and infusion unit. It reported that the cancer patients who received Reiki reported that the sessions were “helpful in improving well-being, relaxation, pain relief, sleep quality and reducing anxiety.” The authors assert that “offering Reiki therapy in hospitals could respond to patients’ physical and emotional needs.”
- In 2013 the American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care published this 6 month study which monitored self-reported improvements of hospital patients who received Reiki sessions. The study looked at cancer patients who received Reiki at the hospital’s cancer center patients from other units in the hospital who had also received Reiki. The authors reported the following findings: “Reiki was rated as a positive experience by 94% at the cancer center and 93% of others, with 92% at the cancer center and 86% of others interested in receiving additional Reiki sessions. Symptomatic improvement was similar for people at the cancer center and others, respectively, with much to great improvement for 89% and 86% for relaxation, 75% and 75% for anxiety/worry, 81% and 78% for improved mood, 43% and 35% for improved sleep, 45% and 49% for reduced pain, 38% and 43% for reduced isolation/loneliness, 75% and 63% for improved attitude, and 30% and 30% for improved appetite.” The authors concluded “Reiki results in a broad range of symptomatic benefits, including improvements in common cancer-related symptoms.”
- This 2010 study published by Gastroenterology Nursing compared colonoscopy patients who received Reiki prior to their procedure with patients who received normal care. It found that Reiki helped to reduce the physical symptoms of stress and anxiety. “The Reiki intervention reduced mean heart rate (-9 beats/minute), systolic blood pressure (-10 mmHg), diastolic blood pressure (-4 mmHg), and respirations (-3 breaths/minute). Although the experimental group patients had more symptoms, they did not require additional pain medication during the procedure, suggesting that (1) anxious people may benefit from an adjunctive therapy; (2) anxiety and pain are decreased by Reiki therapy for patients undergoing colonoscopy, and (3) additional intraprocedure pain medication may not be needed for colonoscopy patients receiving Reiki therapy.”
- This 2015 study by the American Society for Pain Management Nursing showed significant differences in patients who received Reiki compared to those who did not, following a C-section birth. “Results showed that Reiki application reduced the intensity of pain, the value of anxiety, and the breathing rate, as well as the need for and number of analgesics” [pain medication]. The nursing group felt so strongly about Reiki, it made this declaration: “Reiki application as a nursing intervention is recommended as a pain and anxiety-relieving method in women after cesarean delivery.”
- This 2015 study published by the Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention looked at distant Reiki performed for cancer patients. It reported “the control group demonstrated greater levels of pain, stress and fatigue. The Reiki group pain score, stress score and fatigue score were also significantly lower. The results of this study indicate that Reiki may decrease pain, anxiety and fatigue in oncology patients.”
- This 2021 study published in the Journal of Holistic Nursing concluded that “positive and lingering effects of Reiki in women hospitalized for obstetrical and gynecological conditions. Pain scores after Reiki significantly decreased from 3.24 to 1.52. Mean anxiety scores after Reiki significantly decreased from 3.56 to 1.28. Women were asked if the effects lingered for any length of time post-Reiki treatment, and 91 of 101 responded affirmatively that decreased pain and/or anxiety continued.”
- In 2019 the Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing published a study that concluded “this study demonstrates the feasibility of using Reiki therapy in pediatric cancer patients undergoing HSCT [stem cell transplant]. Furthermore, these findings evidence that trained pediatric oncology nurses can insert Reiki into their clinical practice as a valid instrument for diminishing suffering from cancer in childhood.”
- This 5 year study published in 2018 in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine concluded that Reiki provided for clinical “improvements in pain, nausea, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and overall well-being.”
- Yale study
- This 2019 Reiki effectiveness study stated “statistically significant improvements were observed for all outcome measures, including positive affect, negative affect, pain, drowsiness, tiredness, nausea, appetite, shortness of breath, anxiety, depression, and overall well-being.” The authors concluded that the results “suggest that a single session of Reiki improves multiple variables related to physical and psychological health.”
- This 2006 study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine looked at the effects of Reiki on Alzheimer’s patients and “results indicated statistically significant increases in mental functioning and memory and behavior problems after Reiki treatment.” It concluded that “the results indicate that Reiki treatments show promise for improving certain behavior and memory problems in patients with mild cognitive impairment or mild Alzheimer’s disease. Caregivers can administer Reiki at little or no cost, resulting in significant societal value by potentially reducing the needs for medication and hospitalization.”