Reiki: Not Just Another "New Age" Fad

My very first introduction to Reiki was in 1994. I had never heard of it until a good friend of mine told me about it. It was during one of our long phone conversations about there being something lacking in our careers as health care workers. She was a health educator for the Board of Education of New York and I was working as an HIV prevention educator for the New York City Department of Health, although I was also working per diem as an HIV Care Nurse for a private nursing agency.nnWe reminisced about the days when nurses had the time and motivation to provide patient care that included spending quality time with our patients at their bedside; listening, talking and sometimes providing soothing and nurturing physical contact. In fact, during my early days in nursing we gave back rubs and foot rubs. At other times we sat quietly in a bedside chair providing comfort or would read a few pages of a patient’s favorite book or newspaper. All of this changed as nursing shortages increased along with concerns about crossing boundaries of what ‘appropriate’ or legal nursing responsibilities should be.nnTherapeutic Touch, a healing technique developed over a couple of decades ago by a nurse, helped to re-open the door in allowing nurses to provide patient care beyond the usual day to day responsibilities dictated by our traditional job descriptions. The name Therapeutic Touch appears to indicate that touch is involved, but it doesn’t actually require touch. Reiki, however, emphasizes gentle touch as an integral part of healing, although a patient has permission to choose not to be touched as part of the treatment.nnWhat Is Reiki?nnReiki (pronounced ‘ray-key’), is an ancient hands-on healing technique that originated in Japan. It means universal life force energy, which is the energy that gives life to all things. It was re-discovered in the mid-19th century by a Tibetan physician, Dr. Mikao Usui. Although it is not a religion, Reiki is highly spiritual. It can be learned by anyone and works whether you believe in it or not. It is a technique that can be used on oneself, and can be shared with others. Its intent is to enhance an individual’s own healing ability, by providing an opportunity for balancing one’s energy or ‘ki’ (also known as ‘chi’). Reiki heals at all levels-body, mind and spirit-and serves as a complement to any other healing or treatment modality, including western medicine. Many people also use Reiki as a very effective and non-invasive stress management tool.nnnHow Reiki WorksnnOur natural energy level is affected by our general state of health or by disease. I’m sure you can recall feelings of low energy that occurs when you are trying to heal, whether from physical or emotional distress or trauma. A Reiki treatment is a means by which we can increase our energy in order to further our healing process. Reiki energy is channeled through the practitioner and does not deplete his or her own energy resources, therefore, the energy available is limitless. A well trained and skillful practitioner will know when the energy flow is no longer necessary during a session.nnA treatment involves the placement of the practitioner’s hands on various parts of the body, including various areas of the head, torso and limbs. Typically, the recipient lies down or sits in a chair and is fully clothed. A typical session lasts about an hour, although a practitioner’s focus should not be on the clock, but on assessing the client’s comfort and the sensations that may be experienced that direct the practitioner’s hand placements. These sensations may manifest in the hands as heat, cold, tingling or other subtle expressions of the energy’s flow.nnMy Personal and Professional ExperiencesnnI’ve been practicing Reiki on myself, primarily as a part of my stress management program. Before I get out of bed in the morning, I use Reiki to get me going. I complement it with deep breathing and mild stretching. This allows my body and mind to ‘wake up’ and helps me feel ready to face my day and whatever may come.nnAt night, I use Reiki to help me fall asleep. Most of the time, I fall asleep before I get to finish my session. Reiki has also helped me to feel more grounded and focused at work and in all other personal endeavors. I feel uplifted and at the same time, at peace. I’ve trained a number of our staff, volunteers and clients, in order to share in the experience of being able to better manage their health and wellbeing.nnAt work, I’ve been providing Reiki sessions to our clients, most of whom are substance users living with HIV/AIDS and homeless. The impact has been extremely positive for most. Some have attributed Reiki to helping them better manage their day. For others, they find that some of the side effects caused by their HIV medications are either reduced or better tolerated. Please note that this is not based on scientific research, but on clients’ own experiences as reported verbally, sometimes, just after one session! nnOne of the most significant aspects of my use of Reiki on our clients is that they often experience an emotional release. Some clients express these emotions by crying, laughing, or talking about the trauma and the emotions associated with the event. It is because of this, that I frequently refer clients to mental health professional on our staff. When possible and as needed, we schedule appointments for Reiki and mental health counseling back-to-back.nnReiki can be learned by anyone. I highly recommend it to health care workers in particular. Whether you decide to use it with patients, your family, friends or community, I recommend that you begin by using it on yourself. I learned the hard way that I cannot take care of others until I take care of and heal myself. As nurses, we often leave ourselves open to an incredible amount of stress and its consequences. Some of us turn to substances that may create temporary (and sometimes a false sense of) relief, but may also carry heavy consequences for ourselves, and others. nnStill others do nothing at all to help us cope with the stresses of work, family, relationships or even illness. Reiki is very simply a beautiful and subtle expression of the love that our universe has to offer…and it’s all in right in the palm of your hands.nnIn honor of Dr. Mikao Usui, Sensei, and my Reiki Teachers Paula Terrero and Laurie GrantnnRaquel Algarin, LPNnReiki MasternAcupuncture Detox SpecialistnRainDrop Technique PractitionernLvReiki@aol.comnn