What is Reiki and what is the scientific stance on it?

What is Reiki and what is the scientific stance on it?

• A. Reiki is an energy-healing practice; evidence for efficacy is limited; considered safe as an adjunct and should not be claimed to cure disease.
• B. Reiki cures most illnesses and should replace conventional care.
• C. Reiki is dangerous and contraindicated in all settings.
• D. Reiki is a form of physical therapy with FDA approval.

Answer: (A)

Reiki is understood as an energy-healing approach where a practitioner places hands near or on the body to facilitate relaxation and a sense of balance. From a scientific standpoint, there isn’t a proven mechanism by which Reiki transfers energy or produces specific physiological healing. Well-conducted studies generally show little to no effects beyond what you’d expect from relaxation, attention, and placebo. The safest, most widely supported stance is that Reiki can be a relaxing, low-risk adjunct to standard medical care, but it should not be presented as a cure or substitute for conventional treatments. Regulatory bodies and medical guidelines do not approve Reiki as a medical therapy, so the claim that it cures most illnesses is not supported by robust evidence.

Reiki is understood as an energy-healing approach where a practitioner places hands near or on the body to facilitate relaxation and a sense of balance. From a scientific standpoint, there isn’t a proven mechanism by which Reiki transfers energy or produces specific physiological healing. Well-conducted studies generally show little to no effects beyond what you’d expect from relaxation, attention, and placebo. The safest, most widely supported stance is that Reiki can be a relaxing, low-risk adjunct to standard medical care, but it should not be presented as a cure or substitute for conventional treatments. Regulatory bodies and medical guidelines do not approve Reiki as a medical therapy, so the claim that it cures most illnesses is not supported by robust evidence.