Reiki (Ray’-key) is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is based on the Asian concept of life energy and is done by laying on hands, either lightly touching or held a few inches away from the body. A subtle energy flows from the hands of the practitioner into the client, and it is this energy that creates the relaxation and healing effect. Reiki is not massage. The client remains clothed, lies on a massage table or sits in a chair, and listens to quiet music. Reiki is practiced by people of any religion who want to relieve suffering through their compassionate presence.

The stress and anxiety caused by illness are unavoidable, but can be greatly reduced by the compassionate presence of Reiki. It is also useful for dealing with the stress of everyday life and as a tool for the spiritual journey.

It is a great privilege to provide Reiki for someone who is near death. The room becomes a holy place and the peace that is such a part of Reiki can often be felt by the family and friends who are present.

Reiki is practiced by nurses, physicians, and other trained practitioners in hundreds of hospitals across the country, including: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, The Cleveland Clinic, Duke Integrative Medicine Center, Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital, and Yale New Haven Hospital.

Studies have shown that Reiki reduces pain, anxiety, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and fatigue.

The National Institutes of Health Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine website reports that NIH has recently funded the following studies on Reiki:
• How Reiki might work
• Whether Reiki is effective and safe for treating the symptoms of fibromyalgia
• Reiki's possible impact on the well-being and quality of life in people with advanced AIDS
• The possible effects of Reiki on disease progression and/or anxiety in people with prostate cancer
• Whether Reiki can help reduce nerve pain and cardiovascular risk in people with type 2 diabetes.

“People use Reiki for relaxation, stress reduction, and symptom relief, in efforts to improve overall health and well-being. Reiki has been used by people with anxiety, chronic pain, HIV/AIDS, and other health conditions, as well as by people recovering from surgery or experiencing side effects from cancer treatments. Reiki has also been given to people who are dying (and to their families and caregivers) to help impart a sense of peace.”
The National Institutes of Health Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine