Could reiki soothe your aches and pains?
Stressed, anxious or feeling sore? Reiki might just hold the key to a solution
We all have times when aches, pains and negative feelings drag us down and nothing seems to pick us back up.
Often whatever it is passes naturally, or can be tackled thanks to a trip to the GP.
But sometimes those niggles can linger. And we’re left wondering if there’s an alternative to conventional treatments.
Down the years many people have turned to a Japanese form of natural ‘hands on’ healing, Reiki, to help.
What is reiki?
Reiki – pronounced ray-key - was developed in the early 20th century in Japan by Dr Mikao Usui, and works with the body’s own natural ‘universal energy’ to balance the mind, body and soul.
Eastern medicine regards universal energy as vital to well-being – it’s known as ‘Ki’ in Japan, ‘prana’ in India and ‘Chi’ in China.
Reiki practitioners believe ‘ki’ revolves around a series of ‘chakras’ which are linked to different parts of the body and which control our emotional and physical wellbeing.
It’s believed that if one or more chakras become blocked or out of balance, it can have a negative impact on how we feel.
In order to create change and balance in the energy fields, a Reiki practitioner uses their hands to treat the body’s chakras.
What does it involve?
Treatment simply involves sitting or lying down while your Reiki practitioner aims to move and balance the energy within your body.
You don’t have to remove your clothes, and you stay awake throughout the process.
A practitioner may play gentle music and dim the lights to help you settle while they lightly move their hands across your body. Often they start at head and work to your feet, sometimes focusing on certain areas.
A session usually last between 20 minutes to an hour.
How does it feel?
Some people feel very relaxed or experience a tingling sensation. Some talk of seeing colours and feeling a warm sensation.
However others don’t feel anything at all. Reiki practitioners point out that doesn’t mean the treatment isn’t effective.
Does it work?
While there’s no definite scientific evidence that proves reiki works as a ‘cure’ for specific conditions, people who undergo treatment can experience reduced anxiety, lower blood pressure and less pain. Some reports show that the treatment can help reduce stress levels.