Got Questions about Reiki? Three Answers to Common Questions

We have been students and practitioners of Reiki (ray – key) for over 20 years. Although we were not looking for a healing practice – a chance encounter and a referral – brought us this complementary therapy.  Reiki has not only enhanced our physical wellbeing but enhanced our emotional and spiritual way of life. It has changed our lives for the better!

“The difficulty is describing Reiki. It’s like describing a sunset.”

Karl usually says the preceding line when someone asks him to describe reiki. Reiki is a practice with ancient roots.  There are many different forms of reiki. This form of reiki was developed in Japan over a hundred years ago by a physician. The lineage of reiki we practice is call Jin Kei Do which includes the practices of: Qigong (movement meditation), mindfulness meditation, and reiki self-treatment. The reiki self-treatment is developing the skill of harnessing universal lifeforce energy, bringing the energy into our bodies to help promote self-healing, calmness, and inner peace.

When we injure ourselves with an abrasion on our skin, our skin eventually, over time, heals itself. Self-healing is innate – all of us have the capacity to self-heal. The practice of reiki simply provides a protocols and practices to enhance and increase our ability to help ourselves. As we move through life with mental, emotional, and physical stress, our natural energy can become depleted. Reiki is one of many energy practices to allow us to increase our personal energy and empower our bodies to heal.

How can Reiki help me?

Much like how living with Parkinson’s is different for each person – the experience of reiki is different for everyone. Reiki can be effective for balancing one’s personal energy, reducing fatigue, lowering anxiety, improve sleep, reducing pain, and can improve a variety of other physical, mental, or emotional challenges.

Reiki has improved all aspects of our lives. Karl has seen reiki help curb the intensity of his dyskinesias, lower his stress, give him peace and calming, improved his confidence, and provided him with a greater understanding of who he is and what he can achieve. With reiki, Angela has seen reductions in anxiety, stress, anger, and headaches. She has experienced increases in her calmness, focus, and clarity of thought.

Has Reiki been scientifically studied?

Although there have been some research studies of reiki, many have been conducted without the research standard of double-blinding and without a strict protocol to enable reproduction of the study. What few studies have been completed are usually dependent on anecdotal evidence or self-reporting, which has provided inconclusive results. Despite these challenges, reiki has become a therapy that has been incorporated into integrative medicine clinics that many universities and hospitals that have been established in recent years. Locally, George Washington Center for Integrative Medicine and Johns Hopkins have reiki incorporated into their hospital’s programs. Even some Veteran’s Affairs medical centers offer reiki treatments to veterans.