What Is Reiki?

Reiki is a technique for stress reduction that also promotes healing. During a session, the patient remains clothed and the practitioner’s hands are placed near or lightly touching various parts of the body, including areas around the head, shoulders, stomach, legs, and feet. Most patients report feelings of relaxation, and patients often fall asleep during a session. Sessions can last from ten minutes to more than an hour, depending upon available time.

The Reiki technique was developed in Japan in 1917. It came to the US in 1938 and has gradually gained in popularity. A recent study indicates that in 2002, more than one million US adults received one or more Reiki sessions.¹ Reiki is easy to learn and simple to administer. A student can learn to give Reiki sessions during a weekend class, although advanced skills require additional training.

The Reiki programs offered in hospitals are often administered by hospital staff who have taken Reiki training and are sometimes complemented by lay practitioners who have taken a hospital orientation class. The popularity of Reiki in hospitals has been largely driven by requests from patients and by nurses and doctors who have experienced its value. They report that Reiki reduces stress, decreases the amount of pain medication required, improves sleep and appetite, and accelerates the healing process. It has also been reported to reduce many of the unwanted side effects of radiation and drugs, including chemotherapy.

¹ Tindle HA et al, “Trends in use of complementary and alternative medicine by US adults: 1997-2002,” Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine 11.1 (2005):42-9.