WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF REIKI?

Taking a closer look at the Myths and Realities of Reiki: Your Guide to Questions of Safety and Effectiveness

WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF REIKI?

Reiki is one of the fastest emerging traditional holistic modalities for healing, offering individuals a pathway to healing of the mind, body and inner being. Original from Japan as an ancient healing art, far from being new-age, many people are just coming to an awareness of Reiki for the first-time as they are seeking out alternatives or perhaps compliments to mainstream approach to their health and well-being. And like anything left of mainstream which are not well understood, there can be many misconceptions about the safety and effectiveness of Reiki that warrant exploration and clarification.

As an experienced Traditional Japanese Reiki Practitioner in and Shihan (Teacher/Master), I want to explore with you the evidence and address common concerns, to provide you with a real and reliable understanding of the safety and efficacy profile of Reiki. Let's look at some of the misunderstanding and myths.

REIKI CAUSE HARM OF ADVERSE SIDE EFFECTS

Despite prevailing myths that Reiki may cause harm or adverse effects, extensive research and anecdotal evidence have overwhelmingly and consistently shown that Reiki has an excellent safety profile, with no documented instances of adverse reactions. Reiki involves gentle, non-invasive touch and is widely considered low risk. You can read more here about what Reiki is.

In terms of side effects, although it is not common, some clients can experience a release of emotions or some uncomfortable effects in the healing process which are transient and usually fast moving. Quite the opposite of being a 'risk' it is merely a natural part of any healing, no different to someone releasing emotion in a counselling therapy session, experiencing detox symptoms after dropping an addiction or starting a new diet, or feeling physical discomfort when a psychotherapist, works on an injured knee. These are all part and parcel of the healing process.

There have been no specific safety concerns identified to date in available studies that are associated with Reiki, and it is generally considered safe as a complementary practice. This is reflected in the growing number of hospitals and hospices worldwide (including Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins) that offer Reiki as a complementary support. In these settings, Reiki is provided alongside medical care in a range of departments, such as children’s wards, emergency rooms, pre-op and post-op areas, oncology, cardiology, orthopaedics, internal medicine, and palliative care.

Quite the opposite of Reiki causing harm, research available to date has reported associations with the following areas of improvement:

1. Stress and Anxiety Reduction (some research authors have reported observations of measurable benefits to the parasympathetic nervous system, decreased blood pressure and other objective measures of stress)
   

2. Pain Alleviation (with research reporting improved postoperative comfort and relaxation responses that may support the body’s natural recovery process).
   

3. Improved Quality of Life (including client-reported increased energy, better sleep, a general sense of vitality).
   

4. Support for Cancer Patients (including report by patients in research of reduced treatment-related side effects such as pain, nausea, and fatigue and improving mood, motivation and positive or hopeful mindset. Where Reiki is used alongside medical treatment, these effects are described as supportive rather than curative.
   

5. Promotion of Healing (including subjective reports of faster recovery and reductions in stress-related physiological markers).
   

6. Psychological Well-being (including patient-reported reduction in anxiety and depression as well as reports of experiencing a more positive outlook on life.
   

Placebo Considerations: Although some people believe that Reiki's effects are a placebo responses, research may give rise to a challenge around this belief as studies suggest effects that extend beyond placebo, though research in this area is ongoing.

With a growing body of research on the potential benefits of Reiki now available, any myths about the harm or it ineffectiveness needs to be re-thought - many of them reporting Reiki's effectiveness in supporting holistic well-being, from stress reduction, pain management, psychological improvement, and enhanced healing with no safety concerns.

Addressing Common Concerns: Exploring Potential Discomfort and Side Effects

Reiki is often experienced as deeply relaxing and nurturing, and many of my clients report feeling being 'held' and 'supported' by the loving energy of Reiki. New clients may come with a little uncertainty or slightly nervous as to what to expect but we spend a good amount of time in discussion before they get onto the Reiki table where the session is explained to them and they get to ask as many questions as they like and need. I make sure that they are absolutely ready, comfortable and ready when they do. Any initial uncertainty is then replaced with enthusiasm for the session to start!

Once on the table, it is common for clients to be quickly put at ease once receiving Reiki, with clients often falling asleep during sessions due to the deeply relaxing affects of the energy. Some of the most common comments I receive is that they have never felt so deeply relaxed as they did when receiving the Reiki. Additionally, as practitioners, we strive at every turn to create a safe and supportive atmosphere conducive to relaxation and well-being.

Some clients can experience increased tiredness or mild side effects of Reiki such as headaches, nausea, stomachaches, diarrhea or flue -like symptoms following a Reiki session. These discomforts are sometimes referred to as "healing crises" or "energy healing crises." Whilst the terminology may sound alarming (and I personally prefer to use the words 'side effect of healing'), it simply signifies the body's response to shifting energy. No different to feeling tired after a deeply dealing counselling session or feeling the detox symptoms after giving up a bad habit like sugar. They are signs of detox and healing and nothing at all to be concerned about. For an extra layer or comfort, I encourage all my clients to stay in touch with me and any side effects they may be experiencing so that I can monitor and also provide comfort to them post-session.

Having said that, these are not common to experiences and they are generally mild and certainly transient, indicating the body's natural healing response. These experiences are interpreted within Reiki practice as part of the natural energetic response following a session.

For the most part, clients report a sense of calm and well-being after a Reiki session.

Navigating Unregulated Territory: Understanding Certification and Insurance Coverage

One area of concern some people have about Reiki is that there is a lack of formal regulation over the Reiki community. Unlike conventional healthcare professions, Reiki therapy lacks standardized education, training, and certification requirements. And there is no objective overseeing body to regulate the conduct of Reiki Practitioners.

Let's take a look at each of these issues:

Professional Conduct: 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' and the State equivalents. The code ensures that Practitioners don't provide services that they are not trained for as well as holding them to a standard of professional care. This provides protection to consumers. I would stay away from any practitioner who is unfamiliar with the Code as it may suggest inadequate training.

There is also optional membership with Reiki Associations such as The Australian Reiki Alliance and Reiki Australia which require a standard of training in order to be eligible for membership. They also have a complaints process and oversee professional conduct as an added layer of security for clients.

Training: Reiki really is a grass-roots energy healing modality with various systems and evolutions in the training over times. There is no standardised Reiki training per se, although many reputable Reiki practitioners are trained under a particular system (which has a standard syllabus) and quality Professional Practitioners adhere to ethical guidelines established by professional organizations.

It is important to know what to look for when searching for a Reiki Practitioner in order to feel assured of their training and ethical practice standards.

Certainly, there are some Reiki Practitioners who haven't been well trained or who, for example, have done online courses where it is questionable whether they are even channeling Reiki at all. This is a legitimate concern for consumers.

To avoid issues, understand the system of Reiki they teach and their lineage. It is recommended that you ask questions in order to determine their training and experience.

Insurance: Reiki generally is considered low-risk as a practice, but accidents and unexpected things can happen. Not all Reiki Practitioners may be covered by insurance, therefore, it is recommended that you ask, before engaging a Reiki Practitioner, if they have the relevant insurance and public liability cover.

Embracing the Nature of Reiki and It's Approach To Healing

Reiki is not like taking a pill at a required dose to produce the desired effect. It works with energy and by its nature, is very different to mainstream models and approaches to wellbeing. If people want that, they can go to a doctor (and in fact Reiki works beautifully alongside and as a complement to medical approaches.

When people come to Reiki, it is important that there is an appreciation and acceptance for the fact that it operates quite different to mainstream approaches. Reiki can vary widely from person to person, even with the same ailment or issue. Reiki practitioners understand the energy supports where it is most needed for the individual. This can often translate to some people, that Reiki is not efficacious.

Reiki must be understood as a holistic healing modality. Holistic means that it treats the mind, body and spirit as a whole being and using its Higher Intelligence, Reiki goes to where the Reiki is most needed. This will be unique for every individual and will be different for every session of one individual. Say two people come with the same issue, Reiki may work on healing two very different aspects of their being, even if on the surface, for example, both come with an injured knee. Perhaps once will ease the pain of the knee and the other will release emotions or work on anxiety. Whatever Reiki deems to be most in need of healing, is where Reiki will facilitate healing.

Further, while some individuals report profound benefits and feelings of relaxation and rejuvenation, others may have more subtle or nuanced experiences. But even this doesn't mean much. There are so many factors which influence the experience of the client and not everything that is being healed, is necessarily obvious. Here is an interesting article detailing the complexity of energy healing, that also addresses the issue of when people think that Reiki maybe didn't work for them.

Ultimately, Reiki is a deeply personal journey, and each individual's experience is unique. It is not a cookie-cutter approach to healing and that, in a way, it ones of its greatest benefits.

As a side note, the quality of the Reiki channeled is also important and that certainly can vary from Practitioner to Practitioner. For considerations to take into account when searching for a Reiki Practitioner, you can read more here and here.

Conclusion: Embracing the Healing Potential of Reiki

Reiki is an incredibly powerful healing therapy that treats the individual in a holistic, all-encompassing manner. Despite the misconceptions that still circulate about Reiki, its use continues to grow because so many people report clear shifts in how they feel, think, cope, and move through their daily lives. Across clinical settings and personal accounts, it’s evident that people recognise something meaningful in the experience. Accordingly, we can safely embrace the wisdom of Reiki with open hearts and minds, trusting in its capacity to illuminate the path to healing, balance, and inner harmony.

If you have any 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 & The Arjava Petter Institutes

Within The Space | Reiki 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.