Reiki, which originated in Japan, is a type of energy medicine. In Reiki, practitioners intend to channel energy through their hands and transfer it into the patient’s body to promote healing.
A systematic review of Reiki in the treatment of pain and anxiety suggested beneficial results (1, 2). However, high-quality clinical trials of Reiki are limited, and evidence is mixed. Other systematic reviews have not shown a benefit in depression (3) or other clinical conditions (4).
(See also Overview of Integrative, Complementary, and Alternative Medicine.)
References
1. Thrane S, Cohen SM: Effect of Reiki therapy on pain and anxiety in adults: an in-depth literature review of randomized trials with effect size calculations. Pain Manag Nurs 15(4):897-908, 2014. doi: 10.1016/j.pmn.2013.07.008
2. Rao A, Hickman LD, Sibbritt D, et al: Is energy healing an effective non-pharmacological therapy for improving symptom management of chronic illnesses? A systematic review. Complement Ther Clin Pract 25:26-41, 2016. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2016.07.003
3. Joyce J, Herbison GP: Reiki for depression and anxiety. Cochrane Database Syst Rev (4):CD006833, 2015. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006833.pub2
4. Lee MS, Pittler MH, Ernst E Effects of Reiki in clinical practice: a systematic review of randomised clinical trials. Int J Clin Pract 62(6):947-54, 2008. doi: 10.1111/j.1742-1241.2008.01729.x
