Have you heard about Reiki but don’t really understand what it is and how it can help you? You’ve come to the right place. Here is an overview of Reiki
Pronounced
Reiki is pronounced “RAY-kee”.
Word
The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words – Rei which means “God’s Wisdom or the Higher Power” and Ki which is “life force energy”. So, Reiki is actually “spiritually guided life force energy.”
What is Reiki?
“Reiki has been around for thousands of years. Its current form was first developed in 1922 by a Japanese Buddhist called Mikao Usui, who reportedly taught 2,000 people the Reiki method during his lifetime. The practice spread to the U.S. through Hawaii in the 1940s, and then to Europe in the 1980s,” reports Medical News Today.
MedicineNet explains that Reiki is “a Japanese form of energy healing believed to have originated in the late 19th century. Reiki centers on the manipulation of ki, the Japanese version of chi. Rei translates to God’s Wisdom or the Higher Power” and Ki to “life force energy”. Reiki is the “spiritually guided life force energy.” Reiki is based on the belief that when spiritual energy is channeled through a reiki practitioner, the patient’s spirit is healed, which in turn heals the physical body”.
Patricia Salas, a trained Reiki Practitioner, states that “Reiki is a form of energy healing use today in many different cultures for physical and emotional ailments. It consists on the use of the practitioner’s hand to channel energy brought into the Universe by Source/God, and through the body to the hands and to the body of the patient. Reiki helps with pain, improves the healing process from an ailment, brings relaxation to the person receiving it, and brings balance to the person’s chakras. Reiki is a type of healing that would never affect the person negatively, no matter what the person’s state or circumstances is. It can be used as only treatment, or together with medical treatment, as it doesn’t interfere with the medications or medical procedures that the patient might be already using”.
Energy healing
Medical News Today reports that “energy healing targets the energy fields around the body. According to practitioners, energy can stagnate in the body where there has been physical injury or possibly emotional pain. In time, these energy blocks can cause illness. Energy medicine aims to help the flow of energy and remove blocks in a similar way to acupuncture or acupressure. Improving the flow of energy around the body, say practitioners, can enable relaxation, reduce pain, speed healing, and reduce other symptoms of illness”.
Process
Reiki does not directly cure illnesses or diseases, but it is a way to manage symptoms and improve general well-being. During your reiki session, you will be on a massage table to mat with a blanket on you and you wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing. The practitioner places their hands either just above you or directly on you to bring about healing. The belief is that the practitioner is able to stimulate your body’s natural healing abilities.
Benefits
It has been reported that these are some of the health benefits of Reiki per Healthline.com.
1. Relieves pain, anxiety, and fatigue
According to a review of randomized trials, reiki may help to reduce pain and anxiety, though more research is needed. It may also help to reduce fatigue.
A 2015 study found that people being treated for cancer who received distant reiki in addition to regular medical care had lower levels of pain, anxiety, and fatigue. These levels were significantly lower than the control group, who only received medical care. Participants had 30-minute sessions of distant reiki for five days.
In another 2015 study, researchers looked at the effects of reiki on women following cesarean delivery. They found that reiki significantly reduced pain, anxiety, and the breathing rate in women 1-2 days after having a cesarean delivery. The need for and number of analgesic pain killers was also reduced. Reiki didn’t have an effect on blood pressure or pulse rate.
A 2018 study compared the use of reiki to physiotherapy for relieving lower back pain in people with herniated disks. Both treatments were found to be equally effective at relieving pain, but reiki was more cost-effective and, in some cases, resulted in faster treatment.
2. Treats depression
Reiki treatments may be used as part of a treatment plan to help relieve depression. In a small 2010 study, researchers looked at the effects of reiki on older adults experiencing pain, depression, or anxiety. The participants reported an improvement of their physical symptoms, mood, and well-being. They also reported more feelings of relaxation, increased curiosity, and enhanced levels of self-care.
3. Enhances quality of life
The positive benefits of reiki can enhance your overall well-being. Researchers in a small 2016 study found that reiki was helpful in improving the quality of life for women with cancer. Women who had reiki showed improvements to their sleep patterns, self-confidence, and depression levels. They noted a sense of calm, inner peace, and relaxation.
Larger studies are needed to expand on these findings.
4. Boosts mood
Reiki may help to improve your mood by relieving anxiety and depression. According to results from a 2011 study, people who had reiki felt greater mood benefits compared to people who didn’t have reiki. The study participants who had six 30-minute sessions over a period of two to eight weeks showed improvements in their mood.
5. May improve some symptoms and conditions
Reiki may also be used to treat:
- headache
- tension
- insomnia
- nausea
The relaxation response that happens with Reiki may benefit these symptoms. However, specific research is needed to determine the efficacy of reiki for the treatment of these symptoms and conditions. Source: Healthline.com
I Got Your Back Massage Therapy is conveniently located at 1684 Alternate 19 in Palm Harbor. Our massage therapists are skilled in a number of techniques to help you improve your physical and mental health, including relaxation massage, deep tissue massage, hot stone massage, reiki, and aromatherapy. Contact the professionals at I Got Your Back Massage Therapy and set up an appointment.
