The effect of reiki on fatigue and sleep quality in individuals with multiple sclerosis: a randomised controlled study.

The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of the application of Reiki on fatigue and sleep quality in people with MS. The study is a randomised controlled study. A total of 60 people (control group = 30, intervention group = 30) participated in this study. Personal Information Form, Piper Fatigue Scale (PFS) and Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used to collect data. It was found that the PFS and PSQI total and subcomponent scores of the intervention group decreased after Reiki compared to the control group and this was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The study showed that Reiki was significantly effective in improving fatigue and sleep quality in people with MS. As Reiki is a simple, inexpensive and accessible method, it was suggested that its use in the management of MS should be encouraged and maintained in nursing practice.

Therapeutic effects of Reiki on interventions for anxiety: a meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the therapeutic efficacy of Reiki therapy in alleviating anxiety. METHODS: In adherence to academic standards, a thorough search was conducted across esteemed databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, and the Cochrane Library. The primary objective of this search was to pinpoint peer-reviewed articles published in English that satisfied specific criteria: (1) employing an experimental or quasi-experimental study design, (2) incorporating Reiki therapy as the independent variable, (3) encompassing diverse patient populations along with healthy individuals, and (4) assessing anxiety as the measured outcome. RESULTS: The study involved 824 participants, all of whom were aged 18 years or older. Reiki therapy was found to have a significant effect on anxiety intervention(SMD=-0.82, 95CI -1.29∼-0.36, P = 0.001). Subgroup analysis indicated that the types of subjects (chronically ill individuals and the general adult population) and the dosage/frequency of the intervention (≤ 3 sessions and 6-8 sessions) were significant factors influencing the variability in anxiety reduction. CONCLUSION: Short-term Reiki therapy interventions of ≤ 3 sessions and 6-8 sessions have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing health and procedural anxiety in patients with chronic conditions such as gastrointestinal endoscopy inflammation, fibromyalgia, and depression, as well as in the general population. It is important to note that the efficacy of Reiki therapy in decreasing preoperative anxiety and death-related anxiety in preoperative patients and cancer patients is somewhat less consistent. These discrepancies may be attributed to individual pathophysiological states, psychological conditions, and treatment expectations.

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.

Effect of reiki application on menopausal symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was conducted in order to determine the effects of Reiki on the menopausal symptoms of women. METHODS: This study having a randomized controlled experimental design was carried out involving 48 individuals (24 in Reiki, 24 in control). Study data were collected between November 2018 and February 2019 by using a personal information form, The Menopause Rating Scale. RESULTS: The mean menopausal symptoms score of women decreased after Reiki intervention and the difference was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05). Reiki reduced the menopausal symptoms levels of women having menopause. CONCLUSION: It has been found that distant Reiki application is effective in reducing somatic, psychological and urogenital complaints in women during menopause.

Perception of Subtle Energy "Prana", and Its Effects During Biofield Practices: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis.

Background: The idea of "life force" or "subtle pranic energy," sometimes referred to as prana, ki, qi, vital force, and scientifically accepted as biofield, is prevalent across many cultures. Objectives: This review's objective is to synthesize data from studies that looked at a range of physical, psychological, and biofield sensations while experiencing prana and receiving biofield therapies. Method: We looked for qualitative, exploratory, and mixed-method studies on subtle pranic energy perceptions, as well as the physical and emotional experiences connected to biofield therapeutic procedures, through searches in 3 electronic databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, ninteen studies were appropriate for this review. The results were synthesized using the 6 steps of the thematic analysis approach. Results: The first concept, "energy experiences," comprises 4 themes that describe participants' sensations of prana (awareness of temperature variation; presence of energy; physical sensation of energy; and magnetic sensation). The second concept, "positive experiences," consists of 3 themes that describe the benefits of undergoing biofield therapy on the physical and emotional conditions of the participants (positive affective experiences; positive physical sensations; and positive valued experiences). The third concept, "experience of awareness," describes how participants become aware of their mental activities (awareness of mental activities). Conclusion: Our knowledge of perceptions and experiences related to biofield therapy is enhanced by this meta-synthesis. It gave a comprehensive picture of the enormous sensations and advantages that were felt when engaging in biofield practices.

Evaluation of a Distance Reiki Program for Frontline Healthcare Workers' Health-Related Quality of Life During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: Reiki is a biofield therapy which is based on the explanatory model that the fields of energy and information of living systems can be influenced to promote relaxation and stimulate a healing response. Objective: To conduct a pragmatic within-subject pilot trial of a remote Reiki program for frontline healthcare workers' health-related symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Healthcare professionals in the UK (eg, physicians, nurses, and paramedics) were eligible to sign up for a distance Reiki program and were also invited to participate in the research study. Eight Reiki practitioners simultaneously gave each participant Reiki remotely for 20 minutes on 4 consecutive days. Feasibility of the research was assessed, including recruitment, data completeness, acceptability and intervention fidelity, and preliminary evaluation of changes in outcome measures. Participants' stress, anxiety, pain, wellbeing, and sleep quality were evaluated with 7-point numerical rating scales. Measures were completed when signing up to receive Reiki (pre) and following the final Reiki session (post). Pre and post data were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed ranks tests. Results: Seventy-nine healthcare professionals signed up to receive Reiki and took the baseline measures. Of those, 40 completed post-measures after the 4-day intervention and were therefore included in the pre-post analysis. Most participants were female (97.5%), and the mean age was 43.9 years old (standard deviations = 11.2). The study was feasible to conduct, with satisfactory recruitment, data completeness, acceptability, and fidelity. Wilcoxon signed ranks tests revealed statistically significant decreases in stress (M = -2.33; P < .001), anxiety (M = -2.79; P < .001) and pain (M = -.79; P < .001), and significant increases in wellbeing (M = -1.79; P < .001) and sleep quality (M = -1.33; P = .019). Conclusions: The Reiki program was feasible and was associated with decreased stress, anxiety and pain, and increased wellbeing and sleep quality in frontline healthcare workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Client experiences of virtual energy healing.

CONTEXT: During the COVID-19 pandemic medical and holistic health practitioners turned to utilizing virtual healthcare. As energy healing practitioners and educators who shifted to an online format, it seemed important to document descriptions of client experiences of virtual energy healing. OBJECTIVE: To describe client experiences of virtual energy healing sessions. DESIGN: Descriptive pre-post intervention design. SETTING AND INTERVENTIONS: Two experienced and eclectic energy healing practitioners developed a protocol and conducted energy healing sessions via Zoom. PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet (CSJ) Consociates, people of diverse life-styles and spiritual traditions who are committed to living the mission of the CSJs in the St. Paul Province. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pre-post 10-point Likert scale rating of relaxation, well-being, and pain. Pre-post primarily qualitative questionnaires. RESULTS: Results indicated significant pre-post differences: pre-session relaxation (M=5.036, SD = 2.9) and post-session relaxation (M=7.86, SD = 6.4): t(13)=2.16, p=.0017*; pre-session well-being (M=5.86, SD = 4.29); post-session well-being (M=8, SD = 2.31), t(13), p=.0001*; pre-session pain (M=4.0, SD = 6.15) and post-session pain (M=2.25, SD = 3.41), t(13)=2.16, p=.004*. Thematic analysis revealed six themes related to client experiences of virtual energy healing: 1) embodied sensations, 2) relaxation, 3) release - a letting go of tasks/anxieties/worries, 4) sense of peace/joy/calm, 5) connection to themselves, others, and something larger, and 6) surprise that virtual energy healing works. LIMITATIONS: This was a descriptive study using a convenience sample, therefore, there was not a control group, a large sample size, and the sample might be more prone to report better results than the general population because of their spiritual perspectives. Results were not generalizable. IMPLICATIONS: Clients reported positive descriptions of virtual energy healing and say they would do it again. However more research is needed to understand the variables that influenced the results and the underlying mechanisms of action.

Programa "Naru": Efeito de um Programa de Promoção do Bem-estar Socioemocional nos Estudantes de Licenciatura em Enfermagem / "Naru" Program: Effect of a Program to Promote Socio-emotional Well-being in Undergraduate Nursing Students

Introdução e objetivos: A transição para o ensino superior é uma das fases de vida mais impactantes que um jovem pode viver, não só pelas tarefas desenvolvimentais próprias da mesma, como pelos múltiplos desafios que lhes são colocados, deixando-o exposto a vários riscos com consequente repercussão no seu bem-estar socioemocional. Neste sentido, propôs-se avaliar o efeito de um programa de promoção do bem-estar socioemocional dirigidos aos estudantes do primeiro ano do Curso de Licenciatura em Enfermagem baseado nos princípios e técnicas meditativas do Reiki (Programa ?Naru?). Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo quantitativo, com um desenho quasi-experimental, com pré-teste e pós-teste, em grupo único. Utilizaram-se para constituição da amostra os instrumentos: ansiedade - Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (Sousa et al., 2015); depressão - Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (Monteiro et al., 2019). Para avaliação do programa: bem-estar - Escala de Medida de Manifestação de Bem-Estar Psicológico (Monteiro et al., 2012); Sofrimento psicológico - Escalas de Ansiedade, Depressão e Stresse (Pais-Ribeiro et al., 2004). Resultados: Foi estudada uma amostra de 12 estudantes. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram relativamente ao sofrimento psicológico que sofrimento global (p=0,003), o stresse (p=0,002), a ansiedade (p=0,008) e a depressão (p=0,003) diminuíram após a participação do programa. Relativamente ao bem-estar, após a intervenção constatou-se um aumento do bem-estar psicológico (p=0,004), nas suas dimensões do equilíbrio (p=0,003), da sociabilidade (p=0,012) e da felicidade (p=0,002). Não houve influência na subescala de controlo de si e dos acontecimentos. Não se procedeu à análise duas subdimensões (envolvimento social e na autoestima) por se terem obtidos valores negativos na consistência interna. Isto pode ser explicado por múltiplos fatores, entre os quais a ausência de variabilidade de resposta em alguns itens e pelo tamanho da dimensão amostral. Conclusão: Demonstrou-se que o Programa ?Naru? ajudou a promover o bem-estar socioemocional dos estudantes de enfermagem. Há necessidade de realizar mais estudos que permitam a validação do Programa ?Naru?.

The effect of Reiki on fatigue and comfort in hemodialysis patients.

OBJECTIVE: This prospective, single-blind, randomized parallel controlled study was conducted to determine the effects of distant Reiki on the fatigue and comfort levels of patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) treatment. METHODS: The study was conducted in a private dialysis center located in one of the metropolises of Turkey between October 2020 and September 2021. Sixty-two patients receiving HD treatment were randomly allocated to intervention (n = 31) and control (n = 31) groups. Distant Reiki was administered to the patients in the intervention group three times a week for four weeks. Distant Reiki sessions were held the night before the patient's hemodialysis day and lasted approximately 36-40 min. The patients in the control group were administered routine treatment under the institutional policy without any further intervention. Data were collected using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and General Comfort Questionnaire (GCQ). Measurements were performed before Reiki was applied, after Reiki was applied (the first day after the 12th session), and four weeks after the last measurement in order to assess whether Reiki has a long-term effect. The data obtained were assessed using Shapiro Wilk, Repeated Measures, Student's t, Pearson chi-square, Likelihood Ratio chi-square, and Fisher Exact chi-square tests. RESULTS: The patients in the intervention and control groups were statistically similar in terms of their descriptive characteristics (p>0.05). The intervention group's fatigue score decreased from 5.42 (SD=1.20) to 3.44 (SD=1.00) immediately after the intervention and 3.21 (SD=0.86) four weeks after the intervention. In the control group, these values were 4.50 (SD=1.29), 4.70 (SD=1.22), and 4.65 (SD=1.02), respectively (p<0.05). The general comfort total score of the intervention group increased from 2.86 (SD=0.30) to 3.03 (SD=0.20) immediately after the intervention and 2.98 (SD=0.22) four weeks after the intervention. In the control group, these values were 2.71 (SD=0.33), 2.63 (SD=0.23), and 2.59 (SD=0.30), respectively (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This research has shown that distant Reiki, as one of the non-pharmacological methods, positively affects the fatigue severity and comfort level of patients receiving HD treatment.

The effects of Reiki and hand massage on pain and fatigue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was conducted in order to determine the effects of Reiki and hand massage on the pain and fatigue of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: This study having a randomized controlled experimental design was carried out involving 105 individuals (35 in Reiki, 37 in hand massage, and 33 in control). Study data were collected between July 2020 and December 2021 by using a personal information form, Visual Analog Scale, and Piper Fatigue Scale. RESULTS: The mean pain score and the fatigue severity of patients decreased after Reiki and hand massage interventions and the difference was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05). Reiki and hand massage reduced the pain and fatigue levels of patients having rheumatoid arthritis. CONCLUSION: It is recommended to use Reiki and hand massage in managing the symptoms and providing patients with care.

The effect of acupressure or reiki interventions on the levels of pain and fatigue of cancer patients receiving palliative care: A randomized controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: Taking pain under control is important to calm the individual and reduce complications. This research was conducted with the aim of determining the effect of Acupressure or Reiki interventions on the levels of pain and fatigue of stage III and IV cancer patients receiving palliative care. METHOD: The research was a single-blind, repeated measures, randomized controlled study. Research data were collected between February and November 2022. The research sample consisted of Acupressure and Reiki intervention groups and a control group with 52 patients in each group for a total of 156 patients. Acupressure or Reiki was applied to their intervention groups for a total of eight sessions of 20 min each over four weeks, once a day on two days a week. Data were collected by means of a patient description form, an analgesic follow-up form, the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, and the Brief Fatigue Inventory. RESULTS: In comparison with the control group, a significant reduction was seen over time in the levels of pain (p < 0.001), analgesic use (p < 0.001), and fatigue (p < 0.001) in the Acupressure or Reiki intervention groups. CONCLUSION: Acupressure or Reiki interventions were found to effective in reducing levels of pain, analgesic use, and fatigue. It was seen that in addition to their use in routine nursing care, both treatments can be accepted as effective nursing interventions that reduce pain and fatigue in stage III and IV cancer patients receiving palliative care.

The effect of reiki on anxiety, fear, pain, and oxygen saturation in abdominal surgery patients: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Reiki on anxiety, fear, pain levels, and oxygen saturation in open abdominal surgery patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A three-arm, parallel, randomized, and controlled trial design was used in this study. 93 participants were enrolled and randomly divided into three groups (n = 31): reiki, sham reiki, and control groups. All patients in the experimental group, before and after Reiki or Sham Reiki treatments, and all patients in the control groups without any intervention were evaluated with the State Anxiety Inventory STAI-I, with the Surgical Fear Questionnaire for fear of surgery and pain. VAS Scale. Descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis H, and Wilcoxon were used in the analysis of the research data. RESULTS: Surgical fear, anxiety, and pain levels decreased, and oxygen saturation levels increased in the Reiki group. The differences between the groups were statistically significant (p<0.005). DISCUSSION: Since Reiki is inexpensive, safe, effective, and easy to apply, it should be administered by nurses to patients who are scheduled for open abdominal surgery.

The Effect of Reiki on Anxiety, Stress, and Comfort Levels Before Gastrointestinal Endoscopy: A Randomized Sham-Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE: This study's aim is to determine the effect of Reiki when applied before upper gastrointestinal endoscopy on levels of anxiety, stress, and comfort. DESIGN: This single-blind, a pretest and post-test design, randomized, sham-controlled study was held between February and July 2021. METHODS: Patients who met the inclusion criteria were separated by randomization into three groups: Reiki, sham Reiki, and control. A total of 159 patients participated in the study. In the intervention groups (Reiki and sham Reiki), Reiki and sham Reiki were applied once for approximately 20 to 25 minutes before gastrointestinal endoscopy. FINDINGS: When the Reiki group was compared to the sham Reiki and control groups following the intervention, the decrease in the levels of patient stress (P < .001) and anxiety (P < .001) and the increase in patient comfort (P < .001) were found to be statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Reiki applied to patients before upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was effective in reducing stress and anxiety and in increasing comfort.

Bioenergy therapies as a complementary treatment: a systematic review to evaluate the efficacy of bioenergy therapies in relieving treatment toxicities in patients with cancer.

PURPOSE: Bioenergy therapies are among the popular alternative treatment options for many diseases, including cancer. Many studies deal with the advantages and disadvantages of bioenergy therapies as an addition to established treatments such as chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation in the treatment of cancer. However, a systematic overview of this evidence is thus far lacking. For this reason, the available evidence should be reviewed and critically examined to determine what benefits the treatments have for patients. METHODS: In June 2022, a systematic search was conducted searching five electronic databases (Embase, Cochrane, PsychInfo, CINAHL and Medline) to find studies concerning the use, effectiveness and potential harm of bioenergy therapies including Reiki, Therapeutic Touch, Healing Touch and Polarity Therapy on cancer patients. RESULTS: From all 2477 search results, 21 publications with 1375 patients were included in this systematic review. The patients treated with bioenergy therapies were mainly diagnosed with breast cancer. The main outcomes measured were anxiety, depression, mood, fatigue, quality of life (QoL), comfort, well-being, neurotoxicity, pain, and nausea. The studies were predominantly of moderate quality and for the most part found no effect. In terms of QoL, pain and nausea, there were improved short-term effects of the interventions, but no long-term differences were detectable. The risk of side effects from bioenergy therapies appears to be relatively small. CONCLUSION: Considering the methodical limitations of the included studies, studies with high study quality could not find any difference between bioenergy therapies and active (placebo, massage, RRT, yoga, meditation, relaxation training, companionship, friendly visit) and passive control groups (usual care, resting, education). Only studies with a low study quality were able to show significant effects.

Does Reiki Benefit Mental Health Symptoms Above Placebo?

Background: Reiki is an energy healing technique or biofield therapy in which an attuned therapist places their hands on or near the client's body and sends energy to the client to activate the body's ability to heal itself and restore balance. It was developed in Japan at the end of the 19th century by Mikao Usui of Kyoto. Given the enormous international socioeconomic burden of mental health, inexpensive, safe, and evidenced-based treatments would be welcomed. Reiki is safe, inexpensive, and preliminary research suggests it may assist in treating a wide variety of illnesses. Given that Reiki is a biofield therapy, growing in use, and not yet accepted by the dominant biomedical paradigm, it is important to establish its effectiveness over placebo. This study aimed to examine Reiki's effectiveness over placebo in treating symptoms of mental health and to explore parameters for its effectiveness. Method: A systematic review of randomized placebo-controlled trials (RPCTs) examining Reiki's effectiveness in treating symptoms of mental health in adults was conducted through a systematic search of PubMed, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and ProQuest. Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria, and risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane's Revised ROB 2 assessment tool. This was followed by a grading of recommendations, assessment, development and evaluations (GRADE) assessment. Results: The evidence to date suggests that Reiki consistently demonstrates a greater therapeutic effect over placebo for some symptoms of mental health. The GRADE level of evidence is high for clinically relevant levels of stress and depression, moderate to high for clinically relevant levels of anxiety, low to moderate for normal levels of stress, and low to moderate for burnout, and low for normal levels of depression and anxiety. Conclusion: The results suggest that, Reiki may be more effective in treating some areas of mental health, than placebo, particularly if symptoms are clinically relevant. To date, there are a small number of studies in each area, therefore findings are inconclusive and, more RCTs controlling for placebo in Reiki research are needed. Most included studies were also assessed as having a risk of bias of some concern. Incorporating Reiki as a complementary treatment to mainstream psychotherapy for depression, stress, and anxiety may be appropriate. Systematic Review Registration: [https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/], identifier [CRD42020194311].

Reiki Therapy for Very Young Hospitalized Children Receiving Palliative Care.

Background: Approximately half of children receiving palliative care are under age five; however, there are a few studies exploring palliative care interventions for this population. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of Reiki on pain, stress, heart, and respiratory rates, oxygenation, and quality of life (QoL) in hospitalized young children receiving palliative care services. Methods: In this single-group pilot study, hospitalized children receiving palliative care who were aged 1-5 years received two Reiki sessions per week for 3 weeks. Physiologic measures were assessed pre/post each session, and parent report measures of pain and QOL were collected at baseline, 3 weeks, and 6 weeks. The parent rating of Reiki's perceived efficacy and their own symptoms were also measured. Results: Sixteen families consented. Children had a mean age of 26 months and included nine boys and seven girls. Results were not significant but there were medium-to-large clinical effect sizes for children's QoL, stress, oxygenation, heart, and respiratory rates. Parents' physical and mental health scores decreased over time. Children exhibited signs of relaxation such as quiet sleep post-Reiki versus active awake pre-Reiki session. Conclusion: Reiki is a noninvasive relaxing therapy that is useful for hospitalized young children receiving palliative care. The children reacted positively in both action and outcome measures. Multisite studies with larger sample sizes are needed to be able to generate enough scientific evidence to fully recommend Reiki as an adjunct for pain management.

An Evaluation of the Subjective Experience of Receiving Reiki: Qualitative Results from a Pragmatic Effectiveness Study.

Objectives: The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the subjective experience of Reiki in a large sample. Design: The study design was a single-arm pragmatic effectiveness trial with qualitative questions completed post-Reiki session. Setting: The study took place at private Reiki practices across the United States. Subjects: A total of 99 Reiki practitioners met the inclusion criteria and participated in the study. Reiki practitioners invited each of their Reiki clients to complete a survey before and after the Reiki session. Of the N = 1575 Reiki sessions recorded, N = 1284 qualitative responses were completed (82% of total) and included in the analysis. Interventions: Trained and experienced Reiki masters conducted Reiki sessions in person, with each session lasting between 45 and 90 min. Outcome measures: Participants were asked to describe their experience during the Reiki session. Results: Qualitative analysis revealed eight major themes: (1) deep relaxation and calm (68%), (2) body sensations/somatic experiences (53%), (3) emotions (29%), (4) spiritual or symbolic significance (18%), (5) changes in symptoms (17%), (6) changes in perception (11%), (7) sleep and drowsiness (10%), and (8) changes to breathing (4%). Significantly more males reported feeling relaxed and experiencing time perception changes, whereas more females reported body sensations, emotions, visual perceptions, and spiritual significance. Conclusions: The findings from this study suggest that Reiki can elicit the relaxation response and alter emotions and perception in such a way as to facilitate a transformative subjective healing experience. Future work will analyze these themes as they relate to changes in symptoms and compare the experience of Reiki with other biofield therapies.

A study of Reiki therapy on unpleasant symptoms in children with cerebral palsy.

Children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) commonly experience unpleasant symptoms such as pain, anger, and sadness. The purpose of this quasi-experimental study, guided by the Theory of Unpleasant Symptoms (TOUS), was to examine the practicality and impact of delivering Reiki Therapy (RT) in homes over an 8-week intervention phase to children with CP. Thirteen pediatric participants were recruited, ranging in age from 5 to 16 years. Reiki Therapy was administered by a Level 3 Reiki Therapist in the home for 8 consecutive weeks. Parents completed on-line questionnaires addressing their children's unpleasant symptoms. Hair cortisol was measured as an indicator of stress. Nearly all study procedures were completed by the participants, indicating that the methods are feasible for a larger study. Reiki Therapy significantly decreased pain while lying down (3.09 vs. 2.00; p = .002) but not while sitting (2.55 vs. 2.09; p = .40). Anger symptoms showed a trend towards improvement in the participants. These preliminary findings demonstrate that Reiki is a therapeutic modality worthy of further investigation in the CP pediatric population.

Reiki practitioners' perceptions of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the experience, practice and future of Reiki.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the experience, practice and future of Reiki in the UK, including the personal impact of the pandemic on practitioners and their work, practitioner perceptions of the future of the profession and Reiki delivery, and practitioner experiences and views of distant Reiki in comparison to hands on or near the body treatments. METHOD: A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was carried out with 10 Reiki practitioners. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Three themes were identified: adapting and growing with the challenges of COVID-19, Reiki for individual and community resilience, and moving from the mainstream hands on to lesser known distant Reiki. CONCLUSION: While the COVID-19 pandemic personally impacted Reiki practitioners, they focused on turning adversity into opportunity, to overcome a sense of disconnectedness and social isolation, by providing social support and promoting individual and community resilience. Practitioners focused on self-care, personal development and reaching out to the community. Personal Protective Equipment was perceived as necessary for infection control but a potential barrier to the client's experience of Reiki. They saw value in adapting their practice as part of the future of the profession by utilising new technology and distant Reiki healing, but were clear this could not replace in person contact.

The effects of Reiki and back massage on women's pain and vital signs post-abdominal hysterectomy: A randomized controlled trial: The Effects of Reiki and Back Massage on Women's Pain and Vital Signs.

BACKGROUND: Using Reiki and back massage to support pharmacological treatments is increasingly common in nursing. This study aimed to determine the effects of Reiki and back massage on pain, analgesic use, and vital signs among women who had undergone an open abdominal hysterectomy. METHODS: This experimental study involved a single, blinded, pretest-posttest design. The study population comprised women who had undergone an abdominal hysterectomy at the obstetrics clinics of Gazi Yasargil Training and Research Hospital and Dicle University Hospital between July 2017 and February 2018. Patients were divided into three groups: a Reiki group, a back massage group, and a control group. Each group comprised 34 patients. Reiki or back massage was applied to patients in the respective non-control groups for 20 min once a day. Data were collected using a patient information form, the "Numeric Pain Rating Scale," and the "Vital Signs and Postoperative Analgesic Follow-up Form." RESULTS: Statistically significant differences in pain intensity and analgesic use were observed between the women in the Reiki group and the women in the back massage and control groups (p < 0.001). Significant differences in vital signs were observed between the groups before and after their respective procedures; in the Reiki group, they tended to decrease, while in the back massage and control groups, they tended to increase. CONCLUSION: This study's findings confirmed that pain, analgesic use, and vital signs decreased after Reiki among women who had undergone an abdominal hysterectomy.