Reiki meditation is a form of guided self-treatment that you can practice in the comfort of your own home. It helps to cleanse and energize your body and spirit while re-centering your mindset toward a more spiritually focused life.
It can reduce stress, boost relaxation, and increase quality of life in patients with cancer. In a clinical trial, people who received distant reiki in addition to standard medical care had significantly lower levels of pain, anxiety, and fatigue than patients who only received treatment.
The therapy is thought to support the parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) nervous system, which helps us to maintain a state of balance. Research has found that reiki can increase heart rate variability, or the difference between each heartbeat, and help the nervous system move into a more relaxed state.
One study found that reiki improved the quality of life in 16 cancer patients. Participants had less tiredness, pain, and anxiety than those who only received rest, and these benefits lasted for at least 1 week after 5 sessions.
Another study found that reiki helped to relieve the symptoms of burnout in 21 healthcare professionals. The researchers found that after a single session of reiki, participants had higher levels of heart rate variability and lower levels of salivary cortisol.
The technique is also known as “attunement” or “hand placement.” It uses the practitioner’s hands to channel energy into the patient’s body. This process can be done by placing the palms of the hands on or just over different body parts, referred to as energy centers or chakras. The practitioner then decides how long to leave the hands in each position based on the flow of energy they perceive.