What is Reiki?

Here is an article I wrote a couple years ago on Reiki in hospitals which explains what this form of modality is while debating Reiki in hospitals:

Reiki is a Japanese healing method consisting of channeling energy through ones hands to another human by either a certified Reiki one, two, or three practitioner or a Reiki Master. Reiki benefits anyone in need of an emotional, physical, spiritual, or mental adjustment through hands on healing. Today most hospitals consist of burnt out nurses or doctors with sick patients that need to be healed in other ways besides just conventional medicine. Not intentionally realizing it, nurses and doctors neglect patients for many reasons making them fearful in a place that is not their own. Allowing Reiki into hospitals as a mandatory practice for nurses or doctors would be a positive start to turning around the way people feel and look at hospitals. All hospitals would benefit from their nurses and doctors becoming a Reiki one practitioner because the power of touch heals not only the patient but the nurse and doctor as well.
Some may argue that using Reiki as another way of healing patients is not as effective as the traditional ways of the hospital. Not many people today have heard of this healing modality that heals with energy that surrounds us each day. Patients might question nurses or doctors about Reiki or not be open to trying something new. One might argue the point of nurses or doctors becoming Reiki practitioners because there is not enough scientific research published today to prove that Reiki works. Hospitals could ask where they would find funding to pay a Reiki Master to attune each staff member as a Reiki one practitioner. In some areas of the world, people think they can just read a book on the subject and know how to practice Reiki developing the name “hoax” for Reiki practitioners. They do not understand the true honor, responsibility and the gift that arises from becoming a practitioner.
Reiki was developed by a Buddhist monk, Dr. Mikao Usui back in the late eighteen hundreds. He spent most of his life trying to understand how Buddha and Jesus Christ physically healed others. After years of studying he decided to go to Mount Kuriyama with twenty one stones and meditate with no food or water. On the twenty first day he encountered a bright light that he mistook for a star that struck him in the forehead and knocked him unconscious. Laying there for hours he received signs of symbols and how to use each and every one of them. This bright light communicated to him that this was his answer to all his prayers. When he awoke he called this life force energy he felt Reiki. Rei means “ray of light” and Ki means “energy”. From that day on, every time he would hurt himself, he placed his hands on the affected area and cured it. He discovered healing others sometime took days, weeks, or months depending on the sickness. Before Dr. Usui died he passed on Reiki to Chijiro Hayashi who later passed it on to Hawayo Takata. Mrs. Takata learned about Reiki before she was to have surgery on her tumor, appendicitis, ulcer, and gallstones. Feeling it wasn’t right she jumped off the table and went to a Reiki clinic where she was healed in six months. Mrs. Takata became a Reiki Master in 1938 and died in 1980 after years of practicing in clinics and hospitals and teaching people Usui Reiki in Hawaii (Morris, 1999, p.10). The Reiki Alliance, a professional organization of Reiki masters, grew from twenty to almost one thousand members from 1981 to 1999 (Snyder, 2006, p.252).
Dr. Hayashi and Takata brought Reiki into the hospital of Hawaii in the early 1900’s treating patients with different acute and chronic diseases and ailments. Today some states in New England and in the western states of the country practice Reiki in their hospitals (Rand, 2008, para. 6). But there are not nearly enough throughout the rest of the United States. A
summary of Reiki studies ranging from double blind to randomize to experimental studies concluded Reiki allows a compassionate connection through touch and presence between the giver and the receiver of Reiki. The studies suggest that Reiki brings the heart back into the work of the hospital (Vitale, 2007, p. 168). Today patients in hospitals relate fear and pain to a medical setting. Touch from doctors or nurses relates to uncomfortable medical procedures. Hospitals are so busy that patients feel the people treating them are so cold and detached (Brill, 2001, p.10). By delivering more contact with the patient and their families using Reiki, develops a more positive and caring environment. Patients would feel more comforted and at ease.
The oncology, pediatric, intensive care units, trauma units, and the emergency rooms are filled with patients exceeding the period of time in hospitals. If nurses and doctors could incorporate Reiki into their daily routines with patients, they could speed up the process of healing and move them out of the hospital quicker. Reiki is great for helping patients get through the recovery of surgery plus reduce stress, depression, aches and pains. A one hundred and seventy thousand dollar study done on one hundred and eleven AIDS patients at the Albert Einstein Healthcare Network showed the group who received Reiki had increased energy and most of the patients went off their pain medications all together. None of the control group had any change (Fallik, 2006, p.2). There are many health benefits with Reiki especially with cancer patients. Reiki reduces blood pressure, aids in better sleep, boosts the immune system, reduces the side effects of drugs and chemotherapy, and calms the Nervous system (Vitale, 2007, p.168). Reiki aids in reducing fever, decreases discomfort during labor, and alleviates shock and trauma. Another study conducted with Reiki on twenty volunteers with pain in fifty five areas including cancer resulted in high reduction in pain (Brill, 2001, p.9).
Since every unit in the hospital is always overfull, the nurses are getting worn out from having to always pick up extra shifts. Studies show that nurses are leaving their professions prior to retirement these days leaving the hospitals with a shortage of nurses from rapid turnover. Nurses are stressed out from long and varied shifts not being able to handle their work load anymore (Brill, 2001, p.9). They are physically and mentally exhausted. Nurses take care of many complex patients. Over time, this weakens their ability to really treat patients the right way. According to a study done on fifteen nurses who were given Reiki treatments for six consecutive weeks based on self care offerings, concluded dramatic results in their own work ethics. They were asked to keep journals on how the treatment made them feel (Raingruber, 2007, p. 1141). Participant eight wrote in her journal, “The outside noise of the IV alarms is less grating. I spend more time noticing my patients. I pick up on how people move and interact. That’s not something I did before. In general I feel more positive about my job”. Raingruber stated, “Nurses noticed an increased ability to focus on patient’s needs and Reiki enhanced their clinical problem solving skills” (p.1142). Nurses also experienced more energy and felt grounded in their daily routines. They were more relaxed and they were able to think more clearly. Reiki also lowered their stress levels making them calmer throughout their work day (Raingruber, 2007, p1142).
The Reiki one class is a non expensive technology ranging from one hundred fifty dollars to two hundred dollars depending on the Reiki Master who trains the nurse or doctor. Finding a certified Reiki Master to teach can be found from The International Center for Reiki Training or
through the International Association of Reiki Professionals. These listings are a secure way to know you are finding the right registered Reiki Master who knows what they are doing (Rand,
2008, para. 5). If the hospital is worried about their funds they could offer the class as continuing education units for nurses and doctors.
​Most Reiki practitioners only complete level one unless they want to move up in levels to increase their flow of energy or to become a Reiki Master who teaches. Reiki one is more than enough for nurses and doctors. But if it was offered as continuing education units they might want to pursue to other levels to increase their healing ability on patients. Reiki one gives you the light of healing yourself and others. In Reiki one you learn the correct hand positions and layout of the chakra system. You learn the complete history of Reiki, the Reiki ideals, and how to prepare for a session. Reiki one teaches you the emotional sources of disease and how to relate them to the area needed to be treated (Morris, 1999, p.43). Since studies show nurses benefit from receiving Reiki in their daily lives, being a Reiki one practitioner would allow them to self heal. Snyder claims, “Reiki energy, by moving through the practitioner’s crown and out through the hands, also has positive effects on the practitioner. Reiki practitioners report feeling energized, relaxed, and more centered after performing a treatment” (p.250). Not only are they healing their patients and themselves, but this gives them an opportunity to Reiki other nurses and doctors. Sometimes nurses and doctors have short breaks and need a boost to get them through the rest of their day. Since the staff is already trained in Reiki, channeling energy from a couple of different hands at once increases the power of healing. Plus it gives nurses and doctors a chance to practice on each other becoming more experienced in treating others with Reiki.
​Dr. Mikao Usui stated in the Reiki ideals, “The secret art of inviting happiness. The miraculous medicine of all diseases. Just for today, do not anger. Do not worry and be filled with gratitude. Devote yourself to your work and be kind to people” (Morris, 1999, p.31). These
strong words define Reiki to their wholeness in proving the importance of healing someone. Certifying nurses and doctors as Reiki one practitioners really lets them heal with not just their hands but with their hearts. Reiki allows them to go home each day and feel that they made a difference in someone’s life. Knowing and holding onto this emotion brings happiness and gratitude. With Reiki your whole attitude about people and your surroundings change for the better. Placing this great life force energy into hospitals will improve not only the staff’s work ethics, but improve the patient’s outlook of how they are treated and feel. Reiki only brings positive light energy into a hospital environment with no negative dark energy. Keep in mind; humans are made up of mostly energy. When ones energy is blocked, diseases set in. Therefore hospitals need to support Reiki as being effective and in need of nurses and doctors becoming Reiki one practitioners in all hospitals to keep this beautiful energy moving freely.


Works Cited

Brill, C. & Mary K. (2001) Each moment of touch. Nursing Administration
​Quarterly, 25, 8-14.
Fallik, D. (2006, July 3) Good energy for bad: Reiki, a Japanese practice of clearing away
​negative energy, is finding acceptance in U.S. medicine. Philadelphia Inquirer, 1-3.
Morris, J. (1999) Reiki hands that heal. Boston: Weiser Books.
Raingruber, B. & Robinson, C. (2007) The effectiveness of tai chi, yoga, meditation, and
reiki healing sessions in promoting health and enhancing problem solving abilities of
registered nurses. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 28, 1141-1155.
Rand, W. L. Reiki in hospitals. (2010) Retrieved February 13, 2010 from
http://www.centerforreikiresearch.org.
Snyder, M. & Lindquist R. (2006) Complementary/Alternative Therapies in Nursing (5th ed.).
New York: Springer.
Vitale, A. (2007) An integrative review of reiki touch therapy research.
Holistic Nursing Practice, 21, 167-179.