Holistic & Natural Perimenopause & Menopause Support Melbourne | Reiki for Sleep, Anxiety & Natural Symptom Relief

Natural Support for Perimenopause and Menopause: A Gentle, Powerful Ally in Times of Change

Hot flushes. Brain fog. Night sweats. Anxiety that wasn’t there before. Waking at 3am for no reason. Weight gain that clings on despite doing everything "right." A short fuse. A missing libido. A sense of disconnection from your own body. Not feeling yourself anymore. Missing your spark.

These are just some of the symptoms women report during perimenopause and menopause—and they can feel like a total hijacking of your system.

As Dr. Mary Claire Haver, a board-certified OB/GYN, a Certified Culinary Medicine Specialist, author of 'The New Menopause" and one of the leading menopause specialists globally, explains, perimenopause is a time when estrogen and progesterone fluctuate unpredictably. That rollercoaster can elevate cortisol, increase inflammation, impact insulin sensitivity, and throw your entire hormonal ecosystem off balance. Dr. Fatima Khan, a hormone specialist and educator in Melbourne, Australia, similarly highlights that menopause isn’t just about the ovaries retiring—it’s a full-body recalibration that affects brain, muscle, gut, and emotional regulation.

In recent times, perimenopause and menopause have become a popular topic. Finally, it’s gaining the focus and attention that our mothers often never received. For them, these symptoms were often experienced silently—dismissed by doctors or not even recognised by the women themselves. There was little awareness, and even less support.

We’re lucky. We live in a time where information is exploding—especially on social media—and women are finally beginning to get the care, language, and validation they deserve, both medically and beyond!

And as part of that, more and more, women are searching beyond the mainstream approach—looking for natural and complementary therapies that fill in the gaps, offer emotional support, and help bolster the effects of nutrition, movement, and medical care.

And this is where Reiki comes in.

A brief introduction to Reiki

Let me start by introducing myself. My name is Fiona Phillips, and I am an experienced Japanese Reiki Shihan (teacher) and Practitioner based in Fitzroy, Melbourne, specialising in non-Westernised, Traditional Japanese Reiki. Reiki is a Japanese healing art founded by Mikao Usui in Tokyo, Japan in the early 20th century. It works with ki — the universal life-force energy that flows through all living beings and supports health, vitality, and wellbeing.

Many traditional healing systems work with this same energy — known as chi in Chinese medicine, qi in Qi Gong and Tai Chi, and ki in the Japanese system of Reiki. Our ki can be affected by stress, emotional strain, poor sleep, illness, overwork, or disconnection from the body. When this energy is depleted or blocked, it can lead to physical, emotional, or spiritual imbalance. Reiki helps restore and support the natural flow of ki throughout the body.

During a session, the Reiki Practitioner gently places their hands on the recipient’s fully clothed body. In Traditional Japanese Reiki, the Practitioner is trained to located where in the recipient’s energy body, the Reiki is needed most, helping to reduce stress, ease physical symptoms, and promote a deep sense of calm and wellbeing.

When it comes to perimenopause and menopause, Reiki offers so much, by way of support, to women struggling through this, oftentimes, challenging period of life.

This One’s Personal

I’m at the age now where so many of the women around me—friends, clients, and myself included—are navigating perimenopause or menopause. It’s not just a clinical stage of life, it’s a deeply personal one. And I’ve seen how tough it can be. The symptoms can hit in unexpected ways, and the emotional weight of it all can feel overwhelming.

This phase of life has shown up in my own body, and I’ve walked alongside women I love as they’ve faced everything from debilitating fatigue to anxiety, brain fog, or feeling like they’re losing a sense of themselves. So this isn’t just something I work with professionally—it's personal...it’s something I care about deeply.

Supporting women through this transition has become a personal mission. We deserve more support, more compassion and understanding, and as many tools as we can get that honour the whole person at this stage of life. Reiki is more certainly one of those tools, and I’ve seen (and personally experienced) it offer real comfort and relief—physically, emotionally, energetically. It doesn’t promise quick fixes, but it does create a nurturing and effective space for deep recalibration, support, and for supporting you as are you coming home to yourself in a new way. I often say, it's one very powerful tool to have in our toolkit!

A Holistic Approach to Hormonal Upheaval

Reiki doesn’t approach the body in parts or symptoms — it works with the whole being. Hormonal shifts, emotional fluctuations, and physical symptoms are all seen as part of a broader energetic landscape. Rather than trying to “fix” or "target" one aspect, Reiki supports the restoration of balance at a deep level. In doing so, hormonal equilibrium can naturally return as part of the body’s wider movement toward harmony.

Reiki can stand alone or work alongside other supports, depending on what each person feels drawn to in their own healing journey. It’s not a substitute for HRT (for those that choose this option), herbal supplements, a good GP, physical exercise or nutritional support. It works powerfully alongside all of those things.

What makes Reiki unique is that it supports your body’s own healing intelligence. You might lie down for Reiki to help with night sweats and find that what it really helps is your anxiety. Or your sleep. Or the muscle aches. Or the emotional overwhelm. And the best thing is that no one symptom is mutually exclusive. When Reiki helps one, it will often improve others. Our mind, body and spirit is one connected echo-system - every aspect of being impacts the others.

Sometimes, it's subtle. Sometimes, it's deeply felt. But over time, clients often say, “I just feel more like myself again.”

What the Research Says

While we still need more studies specific to perimenopause and menopause, there’s a growing body of research showing Reiki’s effect on the stress response in general. Studies have demonstrated measurable reductions in heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol after Reiki sessions. For example:

• A 2019 study published in the Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine found that a single session of Reiki significantly reduced stress and anxiety in university students compared to a placebo group.

  
  

• A 2020 review in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice concluded that Reiki had consistent positive effects on pain, anxiety, depression, and quality of life.

  
  

• The Touchstone Process research summaries (compiled by the Center for Reiki Research) provide peer-reviewed evidence that Reiki positively impacts biological markers of stress, including salivary cortisol and immune function.

  
  

• A large-scale 2019 study by Dyer, Baldwin, and Rand found statistically significant improvements in pain, fatigue, sleep, anxiety, and overall well-being after Reiki sessions.

  
  

• A pilot study in a hospital setting in India showed that Reiki significantly improved pain, pulse, blood pressure, and respiration in post-surgical patients, suggesting faster recovery and reduced anxiety and depression.

  
  

• A meta-review by McManus (2017) concluded that Reiki was more effective than placebo in activating the parasympathetic nervous system, as shown by lowered heart rate and blood pressure.

  
  

• A lab study by Baldwin et al. (2008) demonstrated that Reiki reduced heart rate and blood pressure in noise-stressed rats compared to controls, offering measurable evidence of Reiki’s calming effect on the nervous system—even in the absence of belief or expectation.

Reiki is also gaining increasing recognition in mainstream healthcare settings around the world. It’s now offered in over 900 hospitals and medical facilities, including The Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins Hospital, and Cleveland Clinic, and is sometimes even used in surgery theatres during heart surgeries and as part of post-operative recovery and cardiac care. While it’s not a replacement for medical treatment, it’s being acknowledged as a supportive and effective therapy that can help reduce blood loss, reduce the need for pain medications (by easing pain symptoms), reduce anxiety, and support overall mental and physical wellbeing.

For women navigating the perimenopausal transition—where stress hormones like cortisol can spike and contribute to symptoms—this is particularly important. Lowering the body’s stress response has a ripple effect on sleep, weight, mood, and even inflammation.

Emotional Support in a Time of Identity Shifts

Perimenopause and menopause aren’t just physical. They’re profoundly emotional and even existential for some For many women, this phase brings a sense of reckoning. It’s a letting go. A reconfiguring. A grieving. A waking up. A renewal.

Reiki offers a compassionate space to meet those emotional undercurrents. It gives the nervous system a break. It helps regulate emotions, not by suppressing them, but by creating enough calm in the system that those emotions can be held without overwhelm.

Clients often tell me that Reiki helps them cry when they couldn’t before. Or that it gave them clarity about a situation they’ve been wrestling with. That they felt loved, support and nurtured. Or that for the first time in weeks, they felt rested and peaceful. This is deep, valid healing—and part of the perimenopause and menopause journey too.

Natural Perimenopause and Menopause Support in Melbourne - The Toolkit We All Deserve

In a world that often tells women to just “get on with it,” Reiki is a powerful reminder that rest, support, and inner resourcing matter. Reiki—a natural support for perimenopause and menopause - works beautifully alongside hormones, sleep hygiene, nutrition, and strength training—supporting and enhancing these foundations and working on a holistic level, supporting our physical, emotional, mental and psychological wellbeing.

If you’re new to Reiki, you can read more about what Reiki is, or explore what to expect in a Reiki session. If you’re curious, here is more about learning how to practice Reiki yourself, I’ve also written about how to find the right Reiki course or teacher.

If you’re considering Reiki as part of your perimenopausal or menopausal care, I invite you to reach out. I am based in Melbourne and offer both in person and distance Reiki Therapy. If you would like to book a Reiki session in Melbourne (or distance Reiki worldwide), you can book an appointment here or if you would like to learn Reiki yourself as a way to offer yourself daily support, you can sign up for Melbourne Reiki courses here.

Whether you’re exploring this for the first time or returning to it as an anchor, Reiki can be an incredible and powerful support in the midst of great change.

Warmest,

Fiona x

Fiona Phillips

Certified Reiki Shihan (Teacher) and Practitioner

Komyo ReikiDo/Jikiden Reiki | Melbourne

Within The Space

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Resources and Recommendations

If you’re looking to deepen your knowledge of menopause and perimenopause, these are trusted voices I recommend:

Dr. Mary Claire Haver – Instagram | Website

Dr. Fatima Khan – Instagram | Website

Education & Further Reading

The Menopause Society (formerly NAMS) – evidence-based resources for women and professionals

The Galveston Diet – holistic approach to inflammation and hormone balance

Australasian Menopause Society – Australian-focused guidance on menopause care

Hormone Health Network – reliable, patient-focused info on hormonal transitions

Balance – Menopause Training Hub - Created by Dr Louise Newson, Balance offers menopause education for GPs, allied health professionals, and wellness practitioners. It includes CPD-accredited modules and is widely respected in the UK and internationally.

Menopause Movement (Dr. Michelle Gordon) - Offers courses and coaching with a U.S.-based perspective, including integrative health approaches and lifestyle-based strategies.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are natural ways to manage menopause symptoms?

Many women explore options like acupuncture, herbal medicine, magnesium, and mind-body practices like meditation or Reiki. Reiki supports the body’s natural balance, emotional resilience, and nervous system regulation without side effects.

How can I calm anxiety during perimenopause naturally?

Reiki offers deep nervous system support and emotional regulation, helping to ease anxiety gently and without medication. Many clients feel more grounded and emotionally steady after just a few sessions.

What helps with menopause-related sleep problems?

Hormonal changes can disrupt sleep, especially in perimenopause. Reiki helps calm the body’s stress response and supports restful sleep by creating a deeply relaxed state.

Is there a natural way to manage hot flushes and night sweats?

Reducing stress is one of the most effective natural strategies. Reiki supports the parasympathetic nervous system, helping reduce the intensity and frequency of flushes by calming the body from within.

Can Reiki help with menopause symptoms like anxiety, insomnia or hot flushes?

Yes. Reiki supports your body and mind to shift out of stress mode. Many women report better sleep, fewer emotional spikes, and greater ease navigating symptoms after regular Reiki sessions.

Is Reiki a natural alternative to HRT?

Reiki isn’t a replacement for hormone therapy, but it works well alongside it. It helps support your nervous system, emotional wellbeing, and energetic balance—especially if you’re still experiencing symptoms on HRT, or if you’ve chosen not to use hormones.

How often should I have Reiki during perimenopause or menopause?

This really depends on your individual needs. Some women benefit from weekly or fortnightly sessions during times of intense transition, while others come monthly to maintain balance. Even one session can be deeply supportive.

Can Reiki help with menopause-related weight gain or inflammation?

While Reiki doesn’t directly target weight, it reduces stress and supports the nervous system—both of which influence hormones, inflammation, and metabolism. Many clients find it helps create the conditions for their body to feel more balanced and responsive to other therapies.

Is Reiki safe to use with other natural remedies or supplements?

Yes. Reiki is gentle, non-invasive, and works well alongside other natural or medical treatments. It enhances what’s already working and supports the whole person—mind, body, and energy.