The world of holistic medicine is astoundingly diverse, with various treatments and philosophies developed to provide patients with overall wellness, rather than treating specific symptoms. While you may be familiar with treatments like acupuncture and chiropractic adjustments, there are a host of lesser known healing forms such as Reiki. In this article, I’ll be diving into the philosophy and effectiveness of Reiki healing and how it’s helped countless people around the world enjoy a higher quality of life.
The History of Reiki
Reiki, also known as palm healing, has been used for hundreds of years by Japanese healers. The actual translation in Japanese/Chinese Kanji means “spiritual vital energy” and was founded by a Japanese Monk named Mikao Usui. According to Usui, the basis of Reiki revolves around the principle of energy flowing through the body. When this balance of energy is disrupted, blocked or thrown off balance, diseases and other conditions can occur. After undergoing extensive training in Japan, a woman named Hawayo Takata began to spread the teachings of Reiki to the Western world in 1937.
How Does Reiki Work?
A typical Reiki session begins with the patient lying face down on a long massage table. Once they are comfortable and relaxed with their minds cleared (this is important), the Reiki practitioner will then place their hands on the patient’s body. The position of the hands is dependent on the health concerns and symptoms of the patient. However, a holistic and whole-body perspective is always adhered to during a Reiki session.
Essentially, the vital energy of the practitioner flows from the palms into the patient, rebalancing and reactivating their flow of energy and eliminating the condition. Unfortunately, because of a lack of scientific studies that have been conducted on Reiki, no one actually knows how this healing occurs. Many are convinced that the interactions between the healer and patient’s magnetic field is the cause of the healing. If anything, the act of lying down, clearing your mind and allowing yourself to build a closer connection with the energy in your body can only help your mental health.
What Can Reiki Help With?
As mysterious as it may seem, many patients around the world have spoken very highly of Reiki and the benefits it has brought to their lives. Some of the common conditions that Reiki may help with include:
- High blood pressure
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Chronic pain
- Infertility
- Fatigue
Reiki is often used in conjunction with a number of different holistic health treatments such as acupuncture, massage therapy and chiropractic adjustments. In addition to the physical benefits of Reiki, many have found it to be a form of therapeutic meditation and may help to relieve some symptoms of mental illness. While more research is needed to understand how Reiki has been able to help so many people, it’s clear that at the very least, it can do no harm.