WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES OF REIKI?

WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES OF REIKI?

Reiki is considered safe and beneficial for most individuals, and more and more, is being embraced within mainstream modalities, however, some skeptics raise perceived disadvantage to cast a shadow over Reiki. As the concerns raised are often based on misconceptions or misunderstandings, I felt it was important to sift through and debunk some of those claims:

Lack of Scientific Validation: Probably the most common claims about the disadvantages of Reiki is that there is limited scientific evidence to support the efficacy of Reiki.

There is ongoing research exploring how Reiki may support relaxation and overall wellbeing. Many hospitals and hospices around the world now offer Reiki as a complementary service because patients often report feeling calmer, more supported, and more at ease during their care.

More than 900 hospitals and hospices worldwide offer Reiki (including Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins) as a compliment to medical care. For those who have carried out their own internal reviews, staff have reported observations of some patients requiring shorter hospital stays, experiencing less pain, decreased stress, smoother recovery periods, and improvements in emotional wellbeing. In some surgical environments, clinicians have noted that patients receiving Reiki as part of their care appeared to require less anaesthesia and recovered more comfortably. Whilst these are not to be construed as formal medical claims, rather they are the observations of clinicians and patients, they provide an encouraging insight into how Reiki may support people on multiple levels.

If you are interested in learning more about the use of Reiki in hospitals as well as the research and findings about the efficacy of Reiki here.

Subjective Nature of Experiences: Another perceived disadvantage of Reiki, is that people's experience of Reiki can vary widely from person to person (what works for one person may not necessarily work for another) and as a result, they question Reiki's consistency and reliability.

Taking a closer look at these claimed disadvantages of Reiki and we can see that they are unfounded.

Firstly, Reiki is a holistic practice that works on a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual level. It is not like taking a pill to mask a pain with a set dose. The journey to healing is unique for each individual, which quite opposite to being a disadvantage, is one of the greatest benefits of Reiki. Reiki has a Higher Intelligence and the energy (and healing) goes to where the healing is most needed at any given point in time. So whilst in one sense it is true that people's experience of Reiki will be varied, it is what makes Reiki so incredible and desirable as a healing modality because it targets the unique individual's Highest needs when it comes to their healing as opposed to treating everyone as the same where their underlying needs may be vastly different. As a result, it may seem like different people experience different results, but that's simply that their needs were different.

Lack of Formal Regulation - Potential for Misuse or Exploitation:  Some people fear the potential for misuse or exploitation arising out of the lack of formal regulation of Reiki. Unlike strictly regulated professions, Reiki is often said to lack standardised education, training, and certification requirements enforced by regulatory bodies. This lack of formal regulation may compromise practitioner competence and accountability.

And whilst this is a valid concern, it is comforting to known that Reiki Practitioners fall under the umbrella of non-healthcare professionals and are therefore are captured by the 'National code of conduct for general health workers'. There are State equivalents. This requires that people only provide services that they are trained for as well a degree of professional care in how they conduct their practice with clients. Practitioners are also required, by law, to make their clients aware of the Code.

There are also Reiki Associations, such as The Australian Reiki Alliance and Reiki Australia, which, although voluntary, require specific and recognised training of their members. This is another fallback to ensure your Reiki Practitioner has been properly trained.

In terms of that question of education and training, there are factors outlined here that can be considered to make sure you find the best Reiki Practitioner for you.

Despite the perceived disadvantages of Reiki that Reiki is unregulated, there are definite accountability mechanisms for Reiki Practitioners, covered by the relevant codes and Associations in terms of competence, which safeguards against any potential for misuse of exploitation.

Here are some tips when looking to engage a Reiki Practitioner and questions to ask them:

1. Have they received full in-person training (avoid anyone who has only had online training).
   

2. Does their Reiki lineage trace back to Mikao Usui.
   

3. Are they aware of their obligations under the National and State Codes of Conduct for Non-medical health professional?
   

4. Are they part of a professional Reiki Association.

Here are some of the most important factors when looking for the best Reiki Practitioner and some extra little tips here.

So whilst Reiki is, for the most part, unregulated, this supposed disadvantage of Reiki is cured by certain clear safeguards to prevent you engaging a Reiki Practitioner who is not qualified or properly trained, eliminating any risk of misuse or ineffectiveness of treatment.

Perception of Placebo Effects: Some skeptics attribute the perceived benefits of Reiki to the placebo effect rather than any inherent healing properties, citing this as a disadvantage of Reiki.

Firstly, this necessarily accepts that some people are experiencing genuine positive shifts from Reiki.

Secondly, there are emerging studies where authors note their observation of positive changes in wellbeing in both in-person and distant Reiki settings.

There have been several studies, for example, exploring distant Reiki. In these studies, the recipients are unaware that the practitioners channeling Reiki from another location. In these studies, some researchers reported positive shifts in certain markers of the participants relating to their wellbeing, which has contributed to ongoing discussion about whether Reiki’s effects extend beyond placebo.

In David E. McManus’s review, ‘Reiki Is Better Than Placebo and Has Broad Potential as a Complementary Health Therapy,’ which examined 13 peer-reviewed studies, McManus reported findings that suggested changes in parasympathetic activity (such as heart rate, blood pressure, and heart rate variability). He noted that participants with long-term health challenges described improvements in areas like pain, anxiety, mood, and overall quality of life. These interpretations reflect the conclusions of the researchers and continue to generate interest in how Reiki may influence relaxation and the nervous system.

Another study, ‘Reiki Improves Heart Rate Homeostasis in Laboratory Rats’ by Ann Linda Baldwin, Christina Wagers, and Gary E. Schwartz, observed changes in heart rate patterns in rats exposed to Reiki compared with controls. Because animals are not subject to placebo effects, some researchers view this as an intriguing area for further exploration into how Reiki may interact with stress physiology.

These studies, along with others similar, contribute to the broader conversation about Reiki and challenge the idea that its effects can be explained solely by placebo.

Limited Insurance Coverage: Another perceived disadvantage of Reiki, is that Reiki treatments often aren't covered by health insurance, making Reiki inaccessible to some people who rely on insurance for healthcare services. This could pose a financial barrier to accessing Reiki for those who may benefit from it. A similar argument is made regarding the lack of accessibility of Reiki through the NDIS. These are both valued concerns.

Reiki Associations and advocate groups are continuing to work on these issues, with many people wanting to access Reiki for their wellbeing care plan, finding themselves unable to, without coverage by Insurance or the NDIS. With the growing use of Reiki in mainstream hospital and hospice settings, this is something that is beginning to change (at least in those settings) and hopefully will extend beyond that.

In the meantime, there are often local Reiki groups who offer Reiki for free or for a small donations for those who cannot afford to have paid Reiki sessions. Research in your local area for Reiki community offerings, or call some local Practitioners, even Reiki Associations, to locate these offerings near you.

Potential Discomfort or Emotional Release caused by Reiki:  One of the most intriguing perceived disadvantages of Reiki is that some people may experience temporary discomfort or emotional release during or after a Reiki session. Despite these experiences often being a signs of healing, they may be perceived as undesirable or unsettling by some critics.

I find this perceived disadvantage curious. It's like saying a disadvantage of counselling is that you might cry during a session or that a disadvantage of physio is that it might hurt and be uncomfortable why the physio is helping me fix your sore knee. With any healing, there can be discomfort associated. And Reiki is no different.

Imagine a stream of water with muddy sediment at the bottom. That muddy sediment can represent aspect of or within ourselves that need healing (on a physical, emotional, mental or spiritual level). If you agitate the water, the sediment rises and make the water murky. Reiki can work in a similar way. Each Reiki session agitates the water, bringing the sediment (the stuff that needs healing) to the surface and it skims and removes the top layer of that murky sediment (representing a layer of healing) and then after Reiki, the sediment settles back to settle at the bottom, rendering the water clear again. In the next Reiki session, the Reiki agitates the water again, causing the muddy sediment to rises up, more is skimmed off and then it falls back down to settle at the bottom and so on until eventually there is no more muddy sediment and the water is clear. This is repeated until the there is no more sediment on the bottom of the stream.

The muddy sediment represents emotional or energetic stagnation we may hold within ourselves. This is an analogy of how Reiki works and so sometimes, clients may experience some uncomfortable side effects from the agitated murky water. This may be mild flu-like symptoms, headaches, nauseous or fatigue but these are not common, they are transient and usually move through swiftly and most of all, it is a positive sign of deep healing.

It is not common for clients to experience these symptoms and when they do, they are usually transient and move through quickly. Far from being a disadvantage of Reiki, these experiences are a real way to experience the healing effects of Reiki.

CONCLUSION

It is important to acknowledge that every healing modality, from mainstream to alternative approaches, all have their advantages and disadvantages. There is no one perfect offering. With Reiki, many individuals have experienced profound benefits from this gentle and non-invasive healing modality and with its growing use in mainstream hospitals and hospices and existing and emerging research around it's potential benefits, it is increasingly being embraced as such.

If you have any further questions, or want to chat to more about Reiki please contact me and we can arrange a time to chat. 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, sign up for a Reiki course here. I look forward to connecting with you for Reiki!

Warmest,

Fiona x

Fiona Phillips

Certified Reiki Shihan (Teacher) and Practitioner

Trained by the Jikiden Reiki & Arjava Petter Institutes

Within The Space | Melbourne

Disclaimer

Reiki is a complementary practice and is not a substitute for medical or psychological care. The studies and experiences referenced in this article reflect observations and interpretations within Reiki practice and research. Reiki practitioners do not diagnose, treat, or promise outcomes. Please continue to seek guidance from qualified healthcare providers for any medical or mental-health concerns.