Reiki
Reiki Alongside Medical Treatment: What to Know
Reiki can be used as a complementary therapy, meaning alongside medical treatment, never in place of it. Cancer Research UK describes it as sometimes used for relaxation and well-being in palliative care, especially in hospices, while stating that there is no scientific evidence it can prevent, treat or cure cancer or any other disease. The safe way to use it is to keep your treatment unchanged and tell your medical team.
What is the difference between complementary and alternative?
Cancer Research UK draws the line clearly: a complementary therapy is used alongside conventional medical treatment, to help you feel better and cope, while an alternative therapy is generally used instead of it. Reiki, in its description, is a complementary therapy.
The Wikipedia article on Reiki reports that some physicians worry patients may substitute unproven therapies, including Reiki, for proven treatment of life-threatening conditions. The concern is about substitution, not about the session itself.
Where is Reiki offered in health care?
In some hospitals and hospices. The Wikipedia article on Reiki cites a 2014 Washington Post report that at least 60 US hospitals offered Reiki in response to customer demand. Cancer Research UK says some cancer centers and hospices in the UK offer it free or at low cost to people with cancer.
Being offered in a hospital is not the same as being a proven treatment; the 2014 report described hospitals as responding to demand.
What do the evidence and guidelines say?
Cancer Research UK says only a small number of studies have looked at Reiki, all with limitations, so they are not conclusive. It adds that some people with cancer say they feel more relaxed after therapies such as Reiki, and that studies suggest this is often because a therapist spends time with them; gentle touch in a calm setting can be relaxing.
One medical guideline is more direct. A guideline from the American Academy of Neurology and two other specialty bodies, as quoted in the Wikipedia article, states that “Reiki therapy should probably not be considered for the treatment” of painful diabetic neuropathy.
Is it safe alongside treatment?
Cancer Research UK says that, generally speaking, Reiki is safe for most people with cancer and that there are no reports of harmful side effects. The NCCIH similarly says it has not been shown to have harmful effects. Both points depend on Reiki staying an addition: nothing about a session should change your medicines, appointments or treatment plan.
Four things to tell your treatment team
Tell your doctor or nurse that you are having Reiki, how often, and where. Ask whether your hospital or hospice offers it, since some do. Mention any change in how you feel, rather than putting it down to the session. And if anyone suggests you can reduce or stop treatment because of Reiki, talk to your medical team before acting on it.
This article is general information, not medical or psychological advice; talk with a licensed clinician about your own situation.