Is Reiki effective in reducing heart rhythm, cortisol and anxiety and improving biochemical parameters in individuals with cardiac disesase? Randomized placebo-controlled trial.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of Reiki in patients with cardiac disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study was a single-blind, pre-post-test, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Patients from the cardiology outpatient clinic of a training and research hospital were randomized into three groups: Reiki (n = 22), sham (placebo) (n = 21), and control (no treatment) (n = 22). Data were collected using a personal information form, biochemical parameters, cortisol levels, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and electrocardiography analysis. The Reiki group received Reiki to nine main points for 30 min, while the sham Reiki group received the same points during the same period without starting energy flow. On day two, performed Distance Reiki for 30 minutes. After one week, the researchers administered the Beck Anxiety Inventory, assessed the biochemical parameters and cortisol levels, and analyzed the electrocardiography again. Of the patients, 52.3% were male and 47.7% were female, and the mean age (years) is 60.45 ± 9.67 years. The control group had a significantly higher posttest cortisol level than the other groups (p = 0.002). According to the post-hoc analysis, there was a significant difference between the Reiki versus control groups and sham versus control groups (p = 0.002). The control group had a significantly higher post-test cortisol level than the pre-test cortisol level (p = 0.008). Reiki group had a significantly lower mean posttest Beck Anxiety Inventory score than the other groups (p < 0.001). There was no difference between the electrocardiography results of the groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Reiki reduces blood cortisol levels and anxiety levels in patient with cardiac diseases.

The Effect of Distant Reiki on the Stress and Fatigue Levels of Nurses Working in COVID-19 Clinics: A Randomized-Controlled, Single-Blind Study.

The study was conducted using a pre/posttest, randomized-controlled, single-blind trial method. After the pretest, a survey was administered and, distant Reiki was applied to nurses in the intervention group (n = 30) for 20 minutes a day for 4 consecutive days at a usual time. No intervention was made in the control group (n = 32). On the second day after the fourth Reiki session, a posttest survey was administered to nurses in the intervention group. The control group, on the other hand, was administered the posttest survey together with the last intervention group. As a result, in the intervention group, there was a decrease in the mean scores of the Helpless Approach subdimension on the Coping Style Scale and an increase in the mean scores of the Optimistic Approach and Social Support subdimensions (P < .05). In the Visual Analog Scale for Fatigue, the mean Fatigue score in the intervention group decreased and there was an increase in the Energy subdimension mean score (P < .05).

Effect of Reiki on the stress level of caregivers of patients with cancer: Qualitative and single-blind randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Reiki on stress levels of individuals caring for patients with cancer. METHODS: The study was conducted a pretest-posttest, single-blind randomized controlled trial and qualitative study using a semi-structured in-depth interview. In this study, women who were primary caregivers of patients with cancer treated in a university hospital were randomized to Reiki and sham Reiki groups. The Reiki group received Reiki to nine main points for 45 min, once a week for 6 weeks, while the sham Reiki group received the same points during the same period without starting energy flow. CSI scores and salivary cortisol levels were evaluated at baseline and at the end of the study, whereas systolic and diastolic blood pressure and pulse rate were evaluated before and after application every week. After the study, the opinions of the Reiki group on Reiki experience were collected by using a questionnaire consisting of semi-structured questions. RESULTS: The study was completed with a total of 42 caregivers. The sample size was calculated based on the difference in Caregiver Strain Index (CSI) scores before and after the intervention. According to the power analysis, with α = 0.05 and ß = 0.20, the effect size was 1.71 and the power 99 %. Post-intervention CSI scores declined in the Reiki group compared with that in the sham Reiki group (p < 0.05). No significant difference was found between the groups in terms of saliva cortisol levels (p > 0.05). According to the results of the general linear model repeated measure and Friedman tests, which were conducted to evaluate the change in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and pulse rate over a 6-week period, the values of these parameters decreased before and after each application compared with the caregivers in the sham Reiki group (p < 0.05). All caregivers stated that they found the caring process less stressful after the Reiki sessions and felt relieved compared with the pre-therapy period, and some of their physical complaints decreased. CONCLUSION: Reiki reduces the stress levels of caregivers, is effective in regulating blood pressure and pulse rate, does not cause a significant change on saliva cortisol level, and provides relief to caregivers.