Reiki Clinical Trials

Image by Creativity+ Timothy K Hamilton via Flickr

It is difficult under our current western medical models to really verify the efficacy of energy treatments such as Reiki. Luckily the NIH is committed to studying Complementary Therapies, and to this end the Cleveland Clinic is hosting two federally funded clinical trials, one looking at Reiki’s effects on the physical consequences of acute stress and the other to determine whether Reiki treatments can lessen anxiety, affect cancer progression, or affect post-surgical pain and urinary symptoms for men with prostate cancer.

According to Sara Altshul writing for Health.com, "The notion that a therapist can pass her hands over your clothed, supine body for an hour or so and successfully coax every iota of stress out of you has a too-good-to-be-true ring about it. But that’s been my experience with Reiki, a Japanese technique said to promote healing."

Altshul went for Reiki to help her with post-September 11, 2001 anxiety. The reiki helped her. "It was extremely pleasurable, and when the session ended, I remember feeling aglow with energy, as if I’d just recharged my body’s battery. I went back to her time after time, and after each treatment, I experienced the same wonderful feelings."

Basically, Reiki won't hurt you and can always help, so why not try it?

Tags: Reiki, Alternative medicine, Energy, clinical trials, cleveland clinic