| The practice of Reiki healing began in Japan during | | | | therapy may be beneficial, they will not provide |
| the 1920s. Reiki therapy was brought to Hawaii, in | | | | funding for additional research. |
| the United States, by Hawayo Takata, in 1937. | | | | In other words, Reiki healing may be considered |
| The practice is sometimes met with criticism. | | | | "quackery" by some, but at one time chiropractic |
| It is considered a belief based system, sometimes | | | | care, massage therapy, aroma therapy, |
| categorized with faith healing or "laying on of | | | | acupuncture and many other forms of treatment |
| hands". With our current technology, we cannot | | | | were criticized. Now, many of these are |
| explain why or how it works, but researchers are | | | | commonly suggested as complementary |
| currently studying the health benefits of Reiki | | | | therapies. |
| therapy and looking for a possible explanation. | | | | Many hospitals use aroma therapy to help reduce |
| In the United States, the National Center for | | | | recovery time after surgery. Massage and other |
| Complementary and Alternative Medicine | | | | forms of physical therapy are considered |
| (NCCAM) provides funding for the scientific | | | | absolutely necessary for patients recovering from |
| research and evaluation of health care systems | | | | injuries or surgical procedures. Acupuncture and |
| and practices that fall outside of the realm of | | | | chiropractic treatments have been shown to |
| "conventional" medicine. They are currently | | | | relieve pain that cannot be successfully treated |
| sponsoring research concerning Reiki healing. | | | | with conventional medicine. |
| Researchers would like to explain how Reiki | | | | The value of human touch cannot be overstated. |
| (pronounced "ray-kee") might work. | | | | Premature babies grow and thrive more quickly |
| NCCAM sponsored researchers are evaluating | | | | when they are touched, stroked and held often. |
| Reiki therapy for the treatment of fibromyalgia. | | | | The ancient practice of "laying on of hands" is |
| They are evaluating the impact of Reiki therapy | | | | now called "Therapeutic Touch" and is used in a |
| on the well-being and quality of life in people with | | | | conventional medical setting. Doctors at the Simon |
| advanced AIDS. In people with prostrate cancer, | | | | Fraser University in Canada have been using |
| they are evaluating the effects of Reiki therapy | | | | Therapeutic Touch for twenty years and conclude |
| on the progression of the disease and the | | | | that it is a "safe and beneficial intervention for |
| patient's anxiety level. In people with diabetes, | | | | cancer patients". |
| they are hoping Reiki therapy can help control | | | | Reiki healing combines the power of touch with |
| blood sugar levels, improve heart function and/or | | | | energy medicine, another health field that is a part |
| relieve the pain of damaged nerves. | | | | of complementary and alternative medicine. The |
| NCCAM is an agency of the Federal Government. | | | | Japanese words "rei" and "ki" (which are combined |
| They are not a "faith based" organization. Their | | | | to form the word Reiki) are translated as |
| members are scientists who have been trained to | | | | "universal life energy". Energy medicine sometimes |
| research and study complementary and | | | | focuses on forces that can be measured with |
| alternative therapies. There goal is to provide the | | | | scientific instruments, such as electromagnetic |
| public and health care professionals with | | | | fields, and sometimes on forces that cannot yet |
| information concerning therapies that are safe and | | | | be measured conclusively by scientific means. |
| effective. Without evidence supporting that a | | | | |