Reiki energy healing has been a controversial subject among western medicine, yet practiced for thousands of years in the Eastern world. Some swear by it's ability to shift a persons results in their healing, while others may simply chalk it up to a bunch of hokey pokey. Reiki is a soft and subtle energy healing modality that originated in Japan over 100 years ago and introduced by Dr. Usui. Reiki is essentially, a transference of universal life force energy. It can be administered by the laying on of hands or can accomplished remotely. It simply works with a person's energy fields of the body, considering the whole person, encompassing the mind, body and spirit. It has been known to reduce stress, promote relaxation, induce healing, along with many other benefits.
Dr. Natalie Trent, PhD of Harvard, is a neuroscientist and energy healer. She is working to integrate the scientific and the spiritual aspects of healing on a mind, body, spirit, level. In this interview she shares how Harvard Medical School has one of the largest Energy medicine Programs. Here is her interview. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfOQDJOm1-4&t=2s
Although the scientific research is in relatively new stages of development, Reiki is becoming more widely accepted as a modality for healing in many US facilities and hospitals. In a 2008 USA Today article reported that in 2007 15% of U.S. hospitals (which is over 800) offered Reiki as a regular part of patient services. http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-09-14-alternative-therapies_N.htm
Dr. Oz a widely known heart surgeon is a huge advocate for Reiki energy healing as he often has a Reiki Practitioner join him in his operating room while performing heart surgery. Here's a clip of him advocating the use of Reiki as an alternative medicine technique. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RjWl8H6wdg
At the Hartford Hospital in Connecticut, they conducted a scientific research study to see the if the benefits of Reiki could be experienced by their patients. It was concluded that patients who had been experiencing pain had reduced pain by 76% after treatment. Those who suffered from insomnia had an increased sleep by 86% after a Reiki treatment. Those patients experiencing severe nausea had it reduced by 80%, and finally in pregnant women who were suffering from anxiety, a Reiki treatment reduced their anxiety by whooping 94% Here's a link to the study. https://hartfordhospital.org/services/integrative-medicine/patient-support/outcomes
Dr. David Guillion, an oncologist at Marin General, has stated "I feel we need to do whatever is in our power to help the patient. We provide state of the art medicine in our office, but healing is a multidimensional process… I endorse the idea that there is a potential healing that can take place utilizing energy."
Below are just a couple of facilities that incorporate Reiki energy healing as part of their programs. Yes, times are changing. Real Science or Hokey Pokey? You decide.
The Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/complementary-alternative-medicine/in-depth/alternative-medicine/art-20045267
The Integrative Healing Enhancement Volunteering Program: https://www.mayoclinic.org/about-mayo-clinic/volunteers/minnesota/service-areas/integrative-healing-enhancement
The Hartford Hospital in Connecticut: https://hartfordhospital.org/services/integrative-medicine/departments-services/reiki-therapy
The University of Pennsylvania. https://www.pennmedicine.org/cancer/navigating-cancer-care/treatment-types/integrative-oncology/reiki-therapy