Scientific Studies

There are scientific studies that show the efficacy of reiki treatment. Reviews Nest quotes the following:

Reiki has been proven effective in reducing pain and improving quality of life in advanced cancer patients^4,5, changing blood hemoglobin and hematocrit levels⁶, reducing levels of free radicals⁷, reducing anxiety and lowering blood pressure⁸, etc. etc. - the list goes on. Reiki even proved effective in improved growth of heat-shocked bacterial cultures⁹. There's a vast body of recent research, mostly pointing to the effectiveness of the method.

Adding to that, our hands-on experience with several courses also proved that if you use a good course, Reiki is valid.

So - how does Reiki work? Is it by "channeling universal life energy" as the believers say, or by relaxation and placebo effect as some say¹⁰? In all truth - we don't know. All we know is that it DOES work. . . .

⁴ "Using Reiki to manage pain: a preliminary report.", K . Olson and J. Hanson, Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, Alta., PMID: 9765732.
⁵ "A phase II trial of reiki for the management of pain in advanced cancer patients", K . Olson, Journal of Pain and Symptom Management , Volume 26 Issue 5 Pages 990 - 997.
⁶ "Reiki Healing: A Physiologic Perspective", Wendy S. Wetzel M.S.N., R.N., Journal of Holistic Nursing, Vol. 7, No. 1, 47-54 (1989), DOI: 10.1177/089801018900700109.
⁷ "The Effect of Reiki on the Level of Free Radicals", Nancy L. Garrison, PhD Dissertation, August 2005.
⁸ "Biological correlates of Reiki Touch healing", Diane Wind Wardell PhD RNC and Joan Engebretson DrPH RNC, Journal of Advanced Nursing, Volume 33 Issue 4 Pages 439 - 445.
⁹ "In Vitro Effect of Reiki Treatment on Bacterial Cultures: Role of Experimental Context and Practitioner Well-Being", Beverly Rubik PhD., Audrey J. Brooks PhD. and Gary E. Schwartz PhD., Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, January 1, 2006, 12(1): 7-13. doi:10.1089/acm.2006.12.7.
¹⁰ "A Study to Test the Effectiveness of Placebo Reiki Standardization Procedures Developed for a Planned Reiki Efficacy Study", Ahlam A. Mansour PhD., Marion Beuche, Gail Laing PhD., Anne Leis PhD., and Judy Nurse, Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, April 1, 1999, 5(2): 153-164. doi:10.1089/acm.1999.5.153