Medical Settings and Animals

  

Reiki is considered to be part of a Complementary and Integrative (CAM) healing practice. Reiki is not a substitute for other kinds of medical care but can work in conjunction with your medical doctor's treatment to relieve side effects and promote recovery.  For your information:

      - Reiki is being practiced in many hospitals and hospice centers

      - Nurses are being trained to include Reiki as part of caring for patients

      - Dentists who use Reiki during dental procedures report that patients feel calmer

Reiki increases the immunity and well-being of the patient, so any form of medical treatment is enhanced.  If you are currently taking medication prescribed by a physician for an illness, you would continue to do so along with your Reiki treatments.  You will be advised to check in with your physician since your Reiki sessions may alleviate symptoms, possibly prompting a reduction in your medication dosage.  Reiki may help minimize adverse side effects of any medication you may be taking.

 

On September 22, 2012, I attended the New York Reiki Conference  in New York City. At this conference, Dr. Sheldon M. Feldman was the keynote presenter. He talked how he sees first hand the benefits of Reiki, especially when treating women with breast cancer. Dr. Feldman welcomes Reiki practitioners to be in his operating room during breast surgery.   Doctors see the positive impact that Reiki has on healing their patients before, during, and after surgery. They report that patients receiving Reiki treatments feel calmer, require less pain medication, and healing takes place faster when compared to patients who do not receive any Reiki treatments.

 

Reiki can assist in easing the stress and discomfort associated with illnesses by improving relaxation, helping to relieve side effects, and promoting the body's own innate ability to rejuvenate.  Reiki has no known medical contraindications.  It is a safe and gentle practice.   All Reiki sessions are totally non-invasive. There is no physical manipulation, nothing is ingested, and nothing is applied to the skin.  

 

The following facts are from the Mayo Clinic ...

Reiki helps relax the body systems to move into a state of balance and harmony.

1)  The effects of Reiki done at Hartford Hospital found:

  • 86% of patients reported improved sleep
  • 78% of patients reported reduced pain
  • 80% of patients reported reduced nausea
  • 94% of pregnant women reported reduced anxiety during pregnancy

2)  Over 800 hospitals incorporate Reiki into their roster of patient services

They often use their own Reiki-trained physicians, nurses and support staff.

 

3)  Mayo Clinic volunteer services offers Reiki for both hospital and clinic patients.

Patients are assessed for pain, nausea, anxiety, before and after receiving a Reiki session.

 

4)  Reiki is offered in the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center as an educational experience.

 

5)  Reiki was used in operating rooms as early as the mid-90’s

 

6)  Reiki is listed in the Holistic Nursing "Scope and Standards of Practice" as an accepted form of care

 

7)  At Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York, Reiki and other subtle energy techniques were used in the operating room during open heart surgeries and heart transplants.

Of the 11 heart patients who received Reiki --

  • None experienced the usual post-operative depression
  • The bypass patients had no post-operative pain or leg weakness
  • The transplant patients experienced no organ rejection

 

8)  A Reiki station was set up to treat fire fighters and first responders at Ground Zero (after the 9/11 tragedy)

 

9)  Professional sports teams employ Reiki practitioners to help athletes recover more quickly from surgery and/or injuries and to enhance performance

 

 

**   Wonderful Testimonies to the Power of Reiki ** 

 

One of my friends who learned 1st & 2nd degree Reiki, was recently diagnosed with lung cancer (stage 4). She is scheduled to have surgery once the tumor shrinks. With her permission, I am sharing her email -- written April 2019.

 

“Hi Elayne,

I wanted to share some amazing Reiki experiences I have been having. First of all, I have been practicing self-Reiki, and particularly focusing on the site of my tumor which is the middle of my chest.

Yesterday I had a volunteer from the hospital come give me Reiki just prior to my second chemo infusion. It was very soothing and she also focused on the tumor site. As the session went on I was aware of a breaking up of tightness in my chest. I could feel the relaxation which resulted in deeper breathing. Afterwards, I went home and took a two hour nap. I woke up feeling completely renewed.

I believe in the power of this ancient Japanese healing modality, but never more so have I experienced these benefits than following my chemo treatment this week. There is so much more that we just don’t know about what it takes to heal the body. 

I continue to visualize the shrinking of my tumor and cancer cells dying. I attribute my feeling of wellness, in spite of the toxic chemicals and external beam radiation my body is taking, to the distant Reiki you and others are giving me as well as the hands-on from the volunteer and doing it on myself. I want to share my appreciation for sending me Reiki. I believe all this light and love is embracing me and creating miracles.”

 

Reiki story: about my friend during the Corona Virus 2020 -  My friend had been doing better this past year.  She was having weekly Reiki sessions in person and had been going through chemo and other treatments.   Now the Corona Virus has hit and no one can come to treat her directly.  Sadly, she is now dealing with the last stages of her life with the virus & cancer.

When I heard this, I started sending her a lot of Distant/Absent Reiki treatments and also to her husband & daughter. Her husband wrote me that all 3 are feeling calmer and more relaxed since receiving these Reiki treatments. It's so special to hear that. It may not change her prognosis but at least she's not feeling agitated or in pain like she did before I sent her more Reiki treatments. About 10 days later I received an email from her husband saying that she is doing better (for now) and doctors feel medicines and Reiki have really been helping her.

*   Follow up 2021 - Sad to say that she passed away.  She said Reiki helped her come to terms with her illness and situation. It was a peaceful transition for her, thanks to all the Reiki that she received.  Her husband has since taken my class and continues to use Reiki to help others.  

 

Eye story 2023  - I had a student want to learn Reiki to treat herself, children and her husband.  Her husband was having eye problems which became worse when he was working. He was seeing blurry and cloudy. His Doctor could not find a cause for this and wasn’t sure how to treat him. The Doctor told him to try to relax more and reduce his stress levels. That's when this student took my class.  She gave her husband a lot of Reiki treatments and during winter break the symptoms went away. Then he went back to work and the problem started again.  She continued giving him Reiki treatments and learned 2nd degree so she could even send him Reiki during the day when he was at work and then in the evening.   Good news -- after 2 months the eye problem has gone away.  She got to the root of the problem which is what Mrs. Takata said we need to do when treating certain conditions.   The Doctor was very surprised !!

                            Reiki  in Many Hospitals within the United States

 

- Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, NY -   This is just one of many hospitals where Doctors receive help from Reiki practitioners during the open-heart surgery and heart transplants. They see excellent results in the post-operative unit.

- Warren Grant Magnuson Med Center, of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland - The palliative care and pain unit, Reiki provided great success in alleviating pain and providing state of calmness in patients.

- Reiki is currently being included as part of the medical treatment in various hospitals located in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Arizona, California, New Hampshire, Maryland, Michigan, and Pennsylvania 

 

 

 

Reiki helps with Mild Alzheimer’s Disease and Cognitive Impairment

 

Stress, memory problems, confusion, depression, anxiety and caregiver burnout are challenges that occur in the area of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.  What if Reiki treatments could give some real help to patients and caregivers?  Research has shown that Reiki sessions can be effective in addressing a number of the challenges dementia patients and their caregivers face every day. Scientific validation of Reiki’s effectiveness comes from numerous studies examining a variety of types of people, problems and settings. This type of solid research has helped bring Reiki into the mainstream.  Published research has shown that Reiki can help people with mild cognitive impairment or mild Alzheimer’s.

 

Here is what was proven in an experiment... One group of patients received four weeks of Reiki treatments; a control group received none. The Reiki recipients showed statistically significant increases in mental functioning, memory and behavior after Reiki treatments. Caregivers can administer Reiki at little or no cost, potentially reducing the need for medication and hospitalization. For more details here is the reference:  Crawford, S. E., Leaver, V. W., Mahoney, S. D. Using Reiki to decrease memory and behavior problems in mild cognitive impairment and mild Alzheimer’s disease.The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 12(9), 911-913, 2006. 

 

Research shows that Reiki also can help reduce depression and anxiety among people with chronic illnesses. Both hands-on and absentee/distance Reiki (the latter performed non-locally, without touch) were found to reduce depression significantly. Effects lasted up to a year post-treatment. Reiki can help dementia patients feel calmer and make dealing with them easier for all involved in their care.

Many nurses have added Reiki to their skills, as they are prone to burnout and compassion fatigue. Studies involving nurses’ self-care have demonstrated that Reiki can help prevent them feeling overly stressed and overwhelmed when treating patients.

 

Unfortunately, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias cannot be cured. People live for many years with the disease, which takes a huge toll both on them and their caregivers. As many effective tools as possible are needed to help manage the patients and their caregivers. Teaching Reiki to family members and professional dementia caregivers can help meet many needs. For both patients and caregivers they will feel increase in calmness, improved moods, increased memory capability, reduced pain, and healing when they have Reiki treatments.  And the caregivers and family members benefit from learning Reiki to treat the patient and also to do Reiki on themselves.    

 

 

 

      Reiki Helps Pre-Pregnancy, During Pregnancy, and Postpartum Care 

 

I want to share a story of a woman, who decided to try Reiki, as she was having difficulty becoming pregnant. She agreed to see if Reiki could help her situation.  She had four Reiki treatments, her body was able to relax and balance itself.  She called me a month later and was delighted to say that she was able to conceive. It was so amazing. She found that during her pregnancy she had a lot of nausea and back pain and decided to continue with Reiki treatments because she didn’t want to take any medication. She didn't live closeby and couldn't come in for a hands-on treatment. I sent her a number of Absentee treatments. These helped alleviate nausea and also provided relief from hip and back pain. Reiki also helped her sleep better and cope with her body and emotional changes during her pregnancy.  During labor, she found Reiki helped to reduce pain from contractions and reduce anxiety during labor.  

Reiki treatment is also helpful for post-partum recovery.  Healing is still occurring inside a mother’s body after her baby is born, even after an easy or uncomplicated birth. Reiki treatment can help new mothers maintain well-being and emotional balance during those first weeks of adjustment.  This is especially important for the percentage of women who may experience post-partum depression.

For those women who had a difficult labor, or a caesarean delivery, Reiki can help facilitate healing on physical and emotional levels.  Clinical studies of Reiki treatment are demonstrating benefits for reducing anxiety and pain levels.  Women recovering from surgery or birth trauma can benefit from this additional source of compassionate, palliative support. The medications used to relieve post-surgical pain often have unpleasant side effects, and the discomfort from the incision can make it difficult for women to hold or breastfeed their babies.  Reiki treatments support the physical healing process, enabling women to get back on their feet sooner. 

** Feel free to contact me if you are trying to become pregnant, expecting a baby, and/or would like to find out more how Reiki treatments can help with your pregnancy.

 

 

 

Reiki and Animals (horses, dogs, cats, etc.)

 

    

Animals are very receptive to Reiki. Pets such as dogs and cats react well to receiving Reiki. The positive response of animals to energy validates the idea that one doesn't need to believe in Reiki for it to work. We do not ask animals if they want a treatment. If they don't want a treatment they will walk away.  However, most animals instinctively sense Reiki is good for them. There is no need for language or any explanations about Reiki when treating animals. 

 

Sometimes doing an Absentee treatment is the best way to give animals a treatment. I know of someone who took the First Degree class in order to treat his dog and cat. It usually takes less time to treat pets. Animals are more relaxed and comfortable after Reiki treatments. Those with arthritis have greater mobility. Reiki helps with recurring stomach issues. It is a powerful yet gentle way to provide comfort, relief from pain, fear, and anxiety of dying animals helping to ease their transition to death.

 

Kentucky is called "horse country" because of the many horse farms and horse racing that takes place in this area. There are many people interested in learning Reiki to treat their horses.  Reiki works on all types of animals --  larger animals as well as smaller pets.

 

 

 ** Reiki Master and member of The Reiki Alliance, Tobi Doering, offered to share this story about treating her dogHere it is --

     "Shortly after I learned Reiki, my 2 year old male Doberman started losing his hair and was acting very listless.  I took him to the vet, she took blood for tests, and determined that he was hypothyroid.  She gave me a bottle of pills and told me to give him half in the morning and half in the evening for the rest of his life.  I gave him ONE, and decided that there must be a better way.   I went back to the vet, and asked her to show me where his thyroid was located.  She showed me, but warned that “a relaxation technique couldn’t cure his thyroid.”

      I began his treatment, giving him Reiki on his thyroid several times per day for a period of about two weeks, did not give him any medication, and began to notice that his hair was coming back.  My daughter, who did not know that any of this was going on, commented that he was acting like he had a lot more energy and not at all lethargic like before.  I continued Reiki treatments on his thyroid for another week, and only gave him overall body Reiki after that.  He never had any more thyroid problems and lived a long and healthy life."