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Ancient roots -

Reiki may sound 'new age,' but this healing modality has been around for a while, and actually has its roots in ancient cultures.

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Life force -

The term "Reiki" comes from the Japanese words rei, meaning universal, and ki, which means vital life force energy that flows through all living things.

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Energy healing -

Indeed, Reiki uses what's known as universal life force energy. As mentioned, this energy is referred to as ki, or qi, and Reiki is said to harness it to improve people’s lives and ailments.

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Complementary approach -

Reiki is a complementary health approach. During a Reiki session, practitioners place their hands on or just above different areas of the body.

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Eastern medicine -

Reiki is based on an Eastern medicine belief that living beings have energy fields, and that these energy fields help to support their health and vitality.

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Energy blocks -

Practitioners feel for these blocks using their senses, helping to move the energy for the greatest good.

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Energy blocks -

According to some beliefs, blocks in energy impede the innate flow of energy in the body's energy field. These blocks contribute to everything from health problems to negative life circumstances, such as financial or relationship issues.

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Different branches -

There are at least 30 different branches of Reiki. Usui Reiki is the most commonly practiced form of Reiki.

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Mikao Usui -

In the early 1900s, Mikao Usui developed a method of Reiki that began to be practiced and taught in Japan. He is now frequently credited as the founder of modern Reiki.

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Usui Reiki -

A Japanese-American woman, Hawayo Takata, is credited with bringing Reiki to the West via Hawaii in the 1930s.

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Healing -

Takata had traveled back to Japan to seek healing for her physical and mental ailments, including asthma and a nervous breakdown.

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Healing -

One of Mikao Usui's students taught Takata his Reiki practice. She experienced profound healing, and returned to the West to become the first person to teach Usui's Reiki.

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World War II sentiments -

But there was a lot of anti-Japanese and anti-Asian sentiments in the US around World War II, so Takata didn't use the name Reiki.

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Kauai healing studio -

Instead, she described her workspace in Kauai, Hawaii, as a "healing studio" instead of a business.

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Reiki training -

After modifying some of the teachings for an English-speaking group, she trained 22 students. Today, thousands of people are trained in Usui's method of Reiki.

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What happens? -

Reiki can be done in most settings. Usually, a Reiki session takes place in a relaxing treatment room that's similar to a massage therapy room.

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What happens? -

The client lies face up on the treatment bed to receive Reiki. Sometimes before the session starts the client and practitioner discuss what's causing them difficulty in their life or something the client would like to heal. However, this isn't required if someone prefers more privacy.

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What happens? -

During a session that might last from 30 minutes to an hour, the practitioner uses hand movements to hover over or lightly touch parts of the client's body.

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Tingling sensation -

Many people report a tingling sensation during Reiki, and feelings of heat or cold in the body. One person might feel energy pulsing, another won't feel anything at all. It's a subjective experience.

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Highest good -

The practitioner may set an intention, that the client receives whatever is best for their highest good during the session. They could also visualize the person as healed as they channel Reiki energy.

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Living beings -

Reiki can be used on any living being. Some practitioners will use Reiki on animals or plants as well as people, to help their energy flow.

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Mind-body-spirit -

Because universal life force energy is said to work on the entire self (mind, body and emotions), Reiki may be helpful for many types of physical, emotional, mental and spiritual healing.

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Relaxation -

The most well-documented benefits of Reiki revolve around the relaxation response, as practitioners say universal life force energy invokes the body’s natural healing process.

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Boost mood and sleep -

Research suggests Reiki helps with depression and insomnia. A 2012 study in the Indian Journal of Positive Psychology looked at 40 women who suffered from depression and anxiety, and presented some interesting results.

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Boost mood and sleep -

The women who received Reiki saw significant improvements in both their depression symptoms and sleep quality, in comparison to the control group.

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Ease physical pain -

A range of studies address Reiki’s role in pain alleviation after knee surgery, the restoration of range of motion in injured shoulders, post-cesarean section recovery, and hypertension management.

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Improved quality of life -

Reiki has also been shown in studies to improve the of quality of life for patients with rheumatoid arthritis or patients undergoing various cancer treatments.

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Side effects -

Reiki is a non-invasive treatment, and there have been no adverse effects reported in studies. Some people feel relaxed afterwards, others feel energized. Sometimes people report having intense feelings or feeling more emotional in the days and weeks following Reiki treatment.

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Code of ethics -

There are no licensing boards for Reiki practitioners. Those who train should abide by the professional code of ethics.

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Reiki master -

The highest level of training is as a Reiki master. However, expertise can vary widely among practitioners. It's best to find someone who you've researched or who comes recommended, and who you feel you can trust.

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Keep in mind... -

Reiki has been studied for a number of benefits, but a lot of the research has not been high quality or consistent. Reiki isn't a cure, neither should it be treated as such. It's meant to act as a complement to any medical intervention you require.

Sources: (Forbes) (The Atlantic) (Cleveland Clinic) (National Institutes of Health)

See also: Stars who use alternative medicine

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