Reiki is a technique for alternative energy healing pioneered by Japanese healers that is said to promote relaxation and help reduce anxiety and stress. A Reiki healer is said to channel universal energy or qi to help problem areas of the body in order to promote the flow of energy and to achieve healing and recovery. For many people, Reiki has had very positive effects but many remain skeptical. If you are looking for alternative methods of healing, here are a few of the pros and cons of Reiki to consider.

PROS

Promotes Relaxation

Reiki practitioners use a method of healing called palm healing or hands-on healing to transfer energy from the practitioner to the patient. The goal is to promote not only physical healing but emotional healing and the experience is said to be very relaxing. The session is performed in a quiet setting often with quiet music to calm the patient and mask ambient noise. The patient lies down fully clothed while the practitioner uses gentle touch (or no touch at all if the patient prefers) to channel energy.

Safe

One major reason that people choose to try Reiki is that there are virtually no adverse health effects of practicing Reiki. Since the process involves only gentle touch or no touch at all, there is no way the process can cause harm and it will in no way affect any medical care the patient is already undergoing.

Reduces Stress

Regular patients of Reiki practitioners often feel a significant reduction in stress levels through the help of their reiki sessions because reiki is designed to improve the flow of energy throughout the body.

Reduces Fatigue

Similar to stress reduction, many people feel that regular Reiki sessions help reduce chronic fatigue and improve the flow of energy in the body.

CONS

Little Scientific Evidence

Since Reiki is a form of alternative medicine, it is often dismissed as folk healing and the results are attributed to placebo effects. For that reason, there have been few serious studies conducted to provide evidence that reiki is effective for physical and emotional healing. Most positive evidence is anecdotal. Those studies that have been conducted have looked at levels of pain and anxiety with little conclusive evidence to demonstrate its effectiveness.

No Insurance Coverage

Since Reiki is a form of alternative medicine, it isn't covered by conventional medical insurance and therefore must be paid for out of pocket.