Reiki Healing: A Physiologic Perspective

Wetzel, Wendy S.

doi:10.1177/089801018900700109

Cited by 39 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Clinical researchers from many fields, including psychosocial oncology, have emphasized the importance of understanding how interventions work in order to advance treatment research (e.g., Kraemer et al 2002;Temoshok and Wald 2002;Wetzel 1989;Ernst 2003, 2004). We must seek to understand change processes in order to prevent merely compiling a catalog of instances in which interventions do or do not work.…”

Section: Mechanisms Of Mindfulnessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Oncology: Evaluating Mindfulness and Rumination as Mediators of Change in Depressive Symptoms

2010

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Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), an 8-week group psychosocial intervention, has received increasing research support for its efficacy in oncology settings. Changes associated with MBSR participation for people with cancer include improved psychological functioning and quality of life. However, as with other populations, it remains unclear which components of MBSR bring about change and whether targeted constructs are critical in changing outcomes. We propose a mediation model to be tested as a first step towards understanding program mechanisms. Specifically, changes in mindfulness and rumination were hypothesized to mediate the impact of MBSR participation on symptoms of depression in people living with cancer. A waitlist-controlled study of MBSR participation in 77 women who had completed cancer treatment was conducted to test this model. Pre-to postprogram, MBSR participants improved significantly more on depressive symptoms and mindfulness and decreased more on rumination scores compared to waiting controls. Decreases in rumination mediated the impact of MBSR on depressive symptoms, but mindfulness scores did not.Methodological recommendations are presented to promote research that will further elucidate the mechanisms of action of MBSR. Mediation analyses will inform the next generation of randomized controlled trials and may lead to program modifications that will maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of mindfulness-based interventions in cancer settings.

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Section: Mechanisms Of Mindfulnessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Oncology: Evaluating Mindfulness and Rumination as Mediators of Change in Depressive Symptoms

2010

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“…4 Reiki (pronounced ray-kee) is a form of energy healing that originated in Japan during the early 1900s and has since become an increasingly popular and accessible alternative healing technique throughout the West. 10 The word Reiki comes from a combination of the Japanese words Rei (meaning "free passage") and Ki (meaning "universal life energy") 11 ; hence, Reiki aims to facilitate the free passage of life energy. Reiki is based on the balancing of biofields, or energy fields, that surround the body.…”

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confidence: 99%

Pilot Crossover Trial of Reiki Versus Rest for Treating Cancer-Related Fatigue

Tsang¹,

2007

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Fatigue is an extremely common side effect experienced during cancer treatment and recovery. Limited research has investigated strategies stemming from complementary and alternative medicine to reduce cancer-related fatigue. This research examined the effects of Reiki, a type of energy touch therapy, on fatigue, pain, anxiety, and overall quality of life. This study was a counterbalanced crossover trial of 2 conditions: (1) in the Reiki condition, participants received Reiki for 5 consecutive daily sessions, followed by a 1-week washout monitoring period of no treatments, then 2 additional Reiki sessions, and finally 2 weeks of no treatments, and (2) Sixteen patients (13 women) participated in the trial: 8 were randomized to each order of conditions (Reiki then rest; rest then Reiki). They were screened for fatigue on the ESAS tiredness item, and those scoring greater than 3 on the 0 to 10 scale were eligible for the study. They were diagnosed with a variety of cancers, most commonly colorectal (62.5%) cancer, and had a median age of 59 years. Fatigue on the FACT-F decreased within the Reiki condition (P = = .05) over the course of all 7 treatments. In addition, participants in the Reiki condition experienced significant improvements in quality of life (FACT-G) compared to those in the resting condition (P < < .05). On daily assessments (ESAS) in the Reiki condition, presession 1 versus postsession 5 scores indicated significant decreases in tiredness (P < < .001), pain (P < < .005), and anxiety (P < < .01), which were not seen in the resting condition. Future research should further investigate the impact of Reiki using more highly controlled designs that include a sham Reiki condition and larger sample sizes.

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“…In one study, the hemoglobin levels and hematocrits of 48 subjects receiving Reiki training compared to a control group showed a significant increase. 14 Using electrodermal testing, Brewitt, Vittetoe, and Harwell 15 identified changes in three acupuncture meridians associated with the neuroendocrine-immune system in chronic illness patients receiving Reiki treatment. Wardell and Engebretson 9 found some support for biological stress-reduction mechanisms being responsible for the relaxing effect of Reiki.…”

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confidence: 99%

In Vitro Effect of Reiki Treatment on Bacterial Cultures: Role of Experimental Context and Practitioner Well-Being

Rubik

Brooks

Schwartz³

2006

The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine

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Objective: To measure effects of Reiki treatments on growth of heat-shocked bacteria, and to determine the influence of healing context and practitioner well-being.Methods: Overnight cultures of Escherichia coli K12 in fresh medium were used. Culture samples were paired with controls to minimize any ordering effects. Samples were heat-shocked prior to Reiki treatment, which was performed by Reiki practitioners for up to 15 minutes, with untreated controls. Plate-count assay using an automated colony counter determined the number of viable bacteria. Fourteen Reiki practitioners each completed 3 runs (n ϭ 42 runs) without healing context, and another 2 runs (n ϭ 28 runs) in which they first treated a pain patient for 30 minutes (healing context). Well-being questionnaires were administered to practitioners pre-post all sessions.Results: No overall difference was found between the Reiki and control plates in the nonhealing context. In the healing context, the Reiki treated cultures overall exhibited significantly more bacteria than controls (p Ͻ 0.05). Practitioner social (p Ͻ 0.013) and emotional well-being (p Ͻ 0.021) correlated with Reiki treatment outcome on bacterial cultures in the nonhealing context. Practitioner social (p Ͻ 0.031), physical (p Ͻ 0.030), and emotional (p Ͻ 0.026) well-being correlated with Reiki treatment outcome on the bacterial cultures in the healing context. For practitioners starting with diminished well-being, control counts were likely to be higher than Reiki-treated bacterial counts. For practitioners starting with a higher level of well-being, Reiki counts were likely to be higher than control counts.Conclusions: Reiki improved growth of heat-shocked bacterial cultures in a healing context. The initial level of well-being of the Reiki practitioners correlates with the outcome of Reiki on bacterial culture growth and is key to the results obtained. 7

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Reiki Healing: A Physiologic Perspective

Cited by 39 publications

References 8 publications

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Oncology: Evaluating Mindfulness and Rumination as Mediators of Change in Depressive Symptoms

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Oncology: Evaluating Mindfulness and Rumination as Mediators of Change in Depressive Symptoms

Pilot Crossover Trial of Reiki Versus Rest for Treating Cancer-Related Fatigue

In Vitro Effect of Reiki Treatment on Bacterial Cultures: Role of Experimental Context and Practitioner Well-Being

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