Reiki Research

When I began working with Reiki, I was astounded by its ability to help others in emotional or physical pain, and quickly became passionate about offering it to others. Through getting attuned to Reiki and practicing daily, I’ve gained an understanding and deep respect for the modality. Now I’m taking time to thoughtfully look at the research and share what I’m learning. I hope you find this helpful on your journey to wellness!

What is Reiki? 

Reiki is a healing modality that originated in Japan in the 1920’s. It’s used for working holistically on the mind, body and spirit, but is not just for the spiritually inclined In fact it’s become popular in the medical field and is regarded as a bioelectromagnetic based therapy (say that three times fast!) by the NCCIH, a branch of the NIH that researches integrative treatments. Today more hospitals, nursing homes and rehabilitation centers are including it in their services. 

That’s cool! But how does it work?

Anecdotal evidence suggests that the therapy works on the human biofield, mainly through laying hands on or above the body and transferring subtle energy from the practitioner to the patient. It is a non-invasive healing modality that can facilitate the natural healing processes of the body and promote overall well-being. If this sounds far-fetched, it may be because most of the focus in mainstream health and medicine is broken down primarily into the chemical/mechanical processes of the body. However, there are several theories within physics that describe energy systems that impact our body and health (e.g. biophotonics, cymatics, and bioelectricity) beyond what is normally discussed in Western medicine. (While this is a whole other topic in itself, there is still a lot about the human body that researchers are catching up to which eastern medicine has already described in different words.) While new medical technology can record certain aspects of the biofield, it’s considered too dynamic and complex to be completely measured at this point in time.

Image 1: Human Biofield. Source: healandthrive.com

Energy therapies have been shown to stimulate emotional and physical healing through the release of stagnant or trapped energy held throughout the body (Think of when you’re stressed out and your shoulders hunch up. Over time this consistent behavior creates pain,  neck tension, and a generally unpleasant attitude.) 

And guess what...

Reiki has even been shown to work better than placebo in several applications, and can induce physiological responses. This is why Reiki is considered a complementary therapy to a variety of health conditions. 

Now for the good stuff!

Below is a list of research I have collected so far. I hope to add to this list as I continue my studies:

Image 2: Receiving a Reiki Session. Photo by Tom Schaefer

• Reiki may decrease anxiety and depression, and improve mood
  In a review of clinical studies on Reiki, reductions of anxiety and depression were found in various groups, including those in pre and postoperative care, cancer patients, chronically ill patients, and elderly patients in nursing homes. In one study on patients with ACS, Reiki was found to be noticeably more effective than meditative music at improving positive emotional states, while also reducing emotions like anger and frustration. Not only that, but in several of these studies patients exhibited other positive results, including improved quality of life, higher self-esteem, and a shift towards an internal locus of control. The relationships with their environment and other people also improved, along with acceptance of their physical condition.

• Reiki activates the parasympathetic nervous system
  The parasympathetic nervous system handles the “rest and digest” actions of the nervous system. In this state, the body relaxes enough to stimulate both digestion and healing/detoxification processes. This induces relaxation, which has been found to be initiated in both humans and rats when receiving Reiki.In a pilot study done on Reiki’s effects on healthcare professionals with burnout syndrome, a single 30 minute Reiki session increased both heart rate variability and body temperature, indicating a shift towards parasympathetic dominance. This review found that Reiki is more effective than placebo at activating the parasympathetic nervous system! 

• Reiki improves heart rate variability
  As seen in the review above, Reiki can improve Heart Rate Variability.  For those who don’t know, HRV is the variation in time between consecutive heartbeats. According to this article, a heart does not beat like a metronome, but has a constant variation. High HRV is associated with reduced mortality, as well as improved psychological wellbeing and quality of life. This study on the effects of Reiki on patients recovering from Acute Coronary Syndrome found a significant increase in heart rate variability on patients receiving Reiki, with better results when compared with the control group and a group using only meditative music. More research is needed to determine whether the improvement of heart rate variability has a lasting or transient benefit, or whether multiple sessions will have a cumulative effect over time.

Image 3: Heart Rate Variability. Source: diygenius.com

• Reiki may stabilize the vital signs (blood pressure, temperature, pulse, respiration, and pain)
  This review found multiple small-scale studies on the effect of Reiki and pain in preoperative and postoperative patients, community-dwelling adults, and cancer patients. Reiki was found to be more effective than placebo (sham Reiki) in the majority of these trials. This review also included a trial done on hypertensive patients, where their blood pressure was significantly reduced after receiving Reiki. The pilot study on Professionals with Burnout Syndrome also showed an increase in body temperature. Because of the exceptional results of Reiki helping with pain, the following symptoms may be reduced or diminished: 

  • Headaches

  • Migraines

  • Joint pain

  • Nausea

  • Tension

• Reiki can boost your immune system
  A study done at the Helfgott Research Institute found improvements in the immune system after receiving Reiki. Blood was drawn before the treatment, right after treatment, and 4 hours after treatment. Patients receiving Reiki had an increase in their white blood cell count, whereas the control groups experienced little to no change.In another study done by Otelia Bengssten, M.D., patients with various illnesses who received Reiki had an increase in hemoglobin, and these patients were showing signs of recovery.

That’s all folks! As more research comes in, I’ll be sure to add it to the list. I hope this has piqued your interest, as it has for me. 

If you’d like to learn more about the research regarding Reiki, please check out The Center for Reiki Research. They have a list of studies published in peer-reviewed journals.

The International Center for Reiki Training also has great information on Healing Research.