What is Reiki?

While this healing modality has seemingly become more popular throughout western culture in recent years, Reiki is an ancient Japanese spiritual practice. The word itself is derived from two Japanese terms, Rei, meaning “Universal Life” and Ki, which means “Energy”. 

Ki is known as the invisible energy that lives within all life forms (humans, animals, plants, etc). 

The level of Ki in the body can vary among individuals. A high level of Ki can emanate confidence, strength, or an overall sense of happiness and wellness. On the other hand, a low level of Ki can manifest as illness or general weakness throughout the spirit. In order to maintain a high level of Ki, adequate nourishment through sleep, healthy eating habits, exposure to sunlight, breathing exercises, and meditation practice is recommended. 

Realistically, especially in today’s world, it can be difficult to always include these elements within your day to day schedule. With that being said, thoughts of stress, anxiety, and depression have become a common theme throughout our society. Unfortunately, these negative thought patterns can drastically impact our health, much more than we may ultimately realize. The flow of Ki responds to our thoughts and feelings. When the quality of our thoughts are negative, energy blockages can form throughout the body, and with these blockages, various ailments can occur. Though most practitioners will advise patients to receive multiple treatments, it is said that just one session can help to restore the levels of Ki in your body.

While Reiki is not recognized to be a cure to any specific diseases or illnesses, this method of treatment is said to promote balance and advance healing throughout the body.

One common misconception about this healing modality is that the one guiding the session is the healer. However, the Reiki practitioner is only a facilitator for healing. During a typical session, the client will lie down on the table fully clothed, with eyes closed, and the practitioner will either place hands above or on various areas of the body, depending on what the client prefers (hands on or hands off). The practitioner is said to channel energy from a higher power (not tied to any specific religion) which flows from the practitioner to the patient. During this process, any energy blockages throughout the body are said to be broken up and cleared for new energy to flow. 

An important aspect of receiving a Reiki treatment is that the patient must attempt to keep an open mind. The process of healing can only flourish within a positive frame of mind. Reiki can offer many benefits, however, when the patient is holding onto skeptical beliefs, it can energetically hinder the experience.

What can Reiki help with?

Fortunately, with the rise in popularity of Reiki, it has become a broader topic of research within the world of western medicine. While studies have been rather minuscule, real scientific evidence has shown that Reiki treatments can assist patients with stress, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and even mild cases of Alzheimers! 

While everyone experiences Reiki treatments uniquely, patients around the world have reported to have help with (but not limited to) the following conditions:

ADHD, Autism/developmental delays, behavioral issues, broken bones/open wounds, Cancer/chemotherapy treatments, Crohn’s disease, fatigue, headaches/migraines, IBS, insomnia, infertility, memory issues, muscle tension/aches, nausea, Parkinson’s disease, PTSD/trauma, sexual dysfunction, shortness of breath, surgical preparation/recovery, as well as various forms of mental illness. 

Additionally, many patients have said to experience the following after their first session(s): 

Better attitude/behavior, increased appetite/better digestion, mind clarity, a sense of inner peace, relaxation, improved memory retention, pain reduction, lower blood pressure, heightened intuition, faster wound recovery, improved confidence/self esteem, spiritual connectedness, greater sense of well being, and an overall enhanced quality of life.

Often times, Reiki is used alongside other medical treatments, personalized to each individual. While Reiki is said to help speed the process of healing, it is important to note that it should not be replaced with other forms of health care.