What is Reiki, and What Can It Do for Me?

Reiki is becoming increasingly popular as more people learn about its benefits. From soothing raw emotions and reducing stress to speeding the healing of the body after surgery or injury, Reiki can work wonders for human health at all levels. Here is a basic introduction to Reiki and what it can do for you.

What is Reiki?

Reiki (pronounced ray-key) is a holistic healing technique that likely originated thousands of years ago and was rediscovered in Japan in the 1920s. It is a form of energy therapy, or healing with subtle energies that exist all around us.

The word Reiki is actually a combination of two Japanese words, ‘rei’ (Source energy or universal energy) and ‘ki’ (life force or individual chi).

During a Reiki session, this universal energy from Source is channeled by the practitioner into the recipient’s individual energy system, inducing a healing response.

Reiki is not affiliated with any religion and does not require any belief system or "faith" to work. Reiki works by the principles of quantum physics, entrainment and intention on the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels.

Reiki is powerful yet gentle and is directed by both its own intelligence and the intelligence of the recipient’s body and energy system.

Most importantly, Reiki can do no harm.
What Happens During Reiki?

During a Reiki session, the recipient relaxes, fully clothed, on a massage table or in a chair.

The practitioner then allows Reiki energy to flow through their hands and into the recipient, sometimes using light touch.

From a scientific standpoint, the Reiki practitioner's hands emit pulsing magnetic fields in a range of frequencies that induce healing in human tissues.

It is important to note that the Reiki practitioner does not "heal" the recipient. Rather, they channel Reiki energy into the recipient and the Reiki then moves where it is needed most.

Though each of us is unique, there are some common experiences reported during Reiki sessions. Some people see colors or pictures or hear names or words. Others feel physical sensations such as tingling and warmth. The recipient may even have a memory of a person or event from the distant past or feel tearful for no particular reason. Some people begin to feel sleepy, and it is perfectly fine to take a nap!

A Reiki session typically lasts about an hour, but since the recipient’s body directs the Reiki and the duration of the session, it may be a few minutes shorter or longer according to their needs.
What Can Reiki do for Me?

Reiki has numerous benefits that science is only now beginning to “prove”. Reiki can:

• Improve sleep quality
• Relieve stress and anxiety
• Accelerate healing in the body
• Induce deep relaxation
• Relieve both chronic and acute pain
• Ease grief and emotional pain
• Reduce high blood pressure
• Improve memory and enhance creativity
• Clear and quiet the mind
• Help balance the endocrine system
• Assist detoxification processes
• Support the immune system
• Increase vitality and slow the aging process
• Increase self confidence and intuition
• Ease depression and fear-based illnesses
• Raise your vibrational frequency
• Assist with spiritual and emotional growth
• Bring a sense of peace and calm

Each individual has a unique life experience, and Reiki effects different people in different ways. With one session, you may notice mostly physical benefits, while another session may seem to work primarily on your emotional health. Reiki always goes where it is needed most at the time.
Is Reiki Scientifically Proven?

In a word, yes! Reiki has magnetic and electrical qualities that can be measured. Though for many decades science revealed the quantifiable aspects of Reiki energy and its healing effects, it is only now that energy therapies like Reiki are being accepted into the mainstream. In fact, many hospitals now use Reiki to help their patients heal faster and experience less stress.

In the early 1980’s, Dr. John Zimmerman began a series of important studies on therapeutic touch. Using a SQUID magnetometer at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver, Dr. Zimmerman measured the pulsing magnetic field frequencies generated by Reiki practitioners while they worked on clients.

He found that they all emitted ELF's (Extremely Low Frequencies) from their hands in the range of 0.3 to 30 Hz, the same range of frequencies that are optimal for stimulating tissue repair. The frequency occurring most often in the hands of Reiki practitioners was 7 Hz, the same frequency as the PEMF (Pulsing Electromagnetic Field) therapy device, which is approved by the FDA for stimulating bone growth.

As more people begin to use and study Reiki, I believe even more compelling scientific evidence will emerge, further “proving” the efficacy of Reiki as a healing technique. For more information on the science of Reiki, read The Science Behind Reiki article on my website at http://www.carisaholmes.com/The-Bookshelf.html

Through powerful yet gentle Reiki, you can find the peace and healing that you desire that other methods may not deliver.