Reiki Treatment Classified As Complementary or Energy Medicine

Reiki treatment is considered a type of				Reiki, the treatment could still be effective. And
complementary medicine. The National Center for				also, a Reiki therapist can feel the flow of energy
Complementary and Alternative Medicine				in their hands. Keeping practitioners "blinded"
(NCCAM) is currently sponsoring Reiki research in				seems somewhat impossible to me.
the areas of fibromyalgia, advanced AIDS,				But, despite the problems, NCCAM sponsored
anxiety, prostate cancer and diabetes.				Reiki research is going forward. Researchers are
Conducting Reiki research can be difficult. Normally				investigating how Reiki treatment might work.
when scientists are conducting clinical research,				This may be difficult, because it might require
they use two groups; one to receive active				proving that the life force energy exists and our
treatment and one to receive an inactive				current technology does not allow us to "see" it
treatment or placebo. They use methods to				or "detect" it in other ways.
insure that neither the patient nor the practitioner				Other Reiki research may be easier to conduct.
knows which group is receiving the active				Blood sugar levels, heart function and disease
substance and which is receiving the placebo.				progression can be easily measured, so the
The reasoning behind this is simple. The power of				research concerning diabetes and prostate cancer
suggestion is strong in people. About 35% of				should be reasonably conclusive. But, there will still
patients will respond to any form of treatment,				be the placebo effect to consider.
whether active or inactive. This is known as the				Reiki research regarding AIDS, fibromyalgia and
placebo effect.				anxiety will require more patient input and the
In order to scientifically study Reiki treatment, all				results may not be considered scientifically
of the practitioners would need to believe that				conclusive. Reiki treatment should be very
they were using Reiki. Some practitioners would				effective for anxiety, because one of the most
somehow need to be taught to use Reiki				commonly reported effects is a sense of
incorrectly.				relaxation. In addition, if patients with anxiety and
Some of us believe that simply teaching someone				those who are dealing with advanced AIDS are
about the existence of Reiki, which is the universal				taught the Reiki "way", they should experience a
life force or energy that lies within us all, allows				greater sense of well-being, a deep feeling of
them to use the energy positively in their own				comfort and relaxation.
lives and the lives of others. In other words, no				In fact, anyone can benefit from Reiki treatment
matter how the practitioners were taught to use				or learning the Reiki way.