Reiki benefits and side effects

According to the International Center for Reiki Training, in Michigan, US, Reiki comes from two separate Japanese words: rei, meaning “God’s power”, and ki, meaning “life force energy”. Combined together, Reiki means “spiritually guided life force energy". The predominant type of Reiki practised in the world today is the one created by Dr Mikao Usui in the early twentieth century. Dr Usui reportedly learnt this technique from an ancient Buddhist text called Tantra of the Lightning Flash. 

Despite its origins in Buddhism, Reiki is not associated with any particular religious system or belief. Instead, its focus is on building harmony and natural healing. Reiki promotes ethical and responsible living, and asks that its practitioners accept their responsibilities and take an active part in their own healing instead of just depending on a doctor or healer.

The following are the benefits you can reap from practising Reiki yourself or by attending Reiki sessions.

Reiki is a non-invasive form of therapy as it does not involve touching the patient before, during or after a session. Hence, it is generally considered to be safe. 

Reiki can have a relaxing effect on patients. Patients may also experience bouts of crying, increased urination or bowel movements, tingling sensations and feeling hot or cold after an intensive session. More research is needed to evaluate if Reiki has any side effects.

Reiki is a support system for patients and is not supposed to be a replacement for doctor-approved therapies or treatments for diagnosed illnesses. If a patient opts only for Reiki to treat diseases, the side effects might be much more extensive.

It’s important to go to a licensed Reiki practitioner for your sessions. A Reiki session usually lasts 20 - 90 minutes. At the beginning of the first appointment, the practitioner should talk to you about your expectations from the therapy, existing health issues and your motives behind opting for Reiki as a therapy. Remember to be open up to your Reiki therapist about these issues. 

Once the therapy begins, you will be asked to lie down on a treatment table or mat with a blanket or sheet to cover you. Soft, uplifting music is usually played in the background during sessions. The practitioner will then move their hands around your body while maintaining some distance from your skin. He or she might also lightly touch you at some point.

Some people report experiencing tingling sensations, heat, coldness, etc., during a Reiki session. It’s best not to attach any meaning to these sensations and let them pass over you instead of ruminating over why you are experiencing them.

Like most complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) and therapies, the efficacy and competency of Reiki have been questioned by both modern medicine and religions. While Reiki practitioners insist that this form of therapy is not attached to any religion and should not be a replacement for doctor-approved treatments, this system of therapy is brought under the scanner time and again.

According to a study published in The Linacre Quarterly in 2014, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops prohibited Reiki being offered at any healthcare facility, retreat centre or by persons representing the Catholic Church in 2009. This stemmed from Reiki practitioners using healing crystals or by patients getting “psychic abilities” and “visions” after some sessions, which conflict with the tenets of Catholicism.

The study suggests that patients should be fully informed about Reiki and its spiritual aspects so that they can make an informed choice about whether or not they want to opt for Reiki as a healing therapy.