Sham Reiki Research Articles

Is Reiki effective in reducing heart rhythm, cortisol levels, and anxiety and improving biochemical parameters in individuals with cardiac disease? Randomized placebo-controlled trial.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of Reiki in patients with cardiac disease. This study was a single-blind, pre-post-test, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Patients from the cardiology outpatient clinic of a training and research hospital were randomized into three groups: Reiki (n = 22), sham (placebo) (n = 21), and control (no treatment) (n = 22). Data were collected using a personal information form, biochemical parameters, cortisol levels, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and electrocardiography analysis. The Reiki group received Reiki to nine main points for 30 min, while the sham Reiki group received the same points during the same period without starting the energy flow. On Day 2, distance Reiki was performed for 30 min. After 1 week, the researchers administered the Beck Anxiety Inventory, assessed the biochemical parameters and cortisol levels, and analysed the electrocardiography again. Of the patients, 52.3% were male and 47.7% were female, and the mean age (years) was 60.45 ± 9.67 years. The control group had a significantly higher post-test cortisol level than the other groups (P = 0.002). According to the post hoc analysis, there was a significant difference between the Reiki vs. control groups and sham vs. control groups (P = 0.002). The control group had a significantly higher post-test cortisol level than the pre-test cortisol level (P = 0.008). Reiki group had a significantly lower mean post-test Beck Anxiety Inventory score than the other groups (P < 0.001). There was no difference between the electrocardiography results of the groups (P > 0.05). Reiki reduces blood cortisol levels and anxiety levels in patient with cardiac diseases. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05483842.

The effect of reiki on anxiety, fear, pain, and oxygen saturation in abdominal surgery patients: A randomized controlled trial

ObjectiveThis study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Reiki on anxiety, fear, pain levels, and oxygen saturation in open abdominal surgery patients. Materials and MethodsA three-arm, parallel, randomized, and controlled trial design was used in this study. 93 participants were enrolled and randomly divided into three groups (n = 31): reiki, sham reiki, and control groups. All patients in the experimental group, before and after Reiki or Sham Reiki treatments, and all patients in the control groups without any intervention were evaluated with the State Anxiety Inventory STAI-I, with the Surgical Fear Questionnaire for fear of surgery and pain. VAS Scale. Descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis H, and Wilcoxon were used in the analysis of the research data. ResultsSurgical fear, anxiety, and pain levels decreased, and oxygen saturation levels increased in the Reiki group. The differences between the groups were statistically significant (p<0.005). DiscussionSince Reiki is inexpensive, safe, effective, and easy to apply, it should be administered by nurses to patients who are scheduled for open abdominal surgery.

The Effect of Reiki on Anxiety, Stress, and Comfort Levels Before Gastrointestinal Endoscopy: A Randomized Sham-Controlled Trial

PurposeThis study's aim is to determine the effect of Reiki when applied before upper gastrointestinal endoscopy on levels of anxiety, stress, and comfort. DesignThis single-blind, a pretest and post-test design, randomized, sham-controlled study was held between February and July 2021. MethodsPatients who met the inclusion criteria were separated by randomization into three groups: Reiki, sham Reiki, and control. A total of 159 patients participated in the study. In the intervention groups (Reiki and sham Reiki), Reiki and sham Reiki were applied once for approximately 20 to 25 minutes before gastrointestinal endoscopy. FindingsWhen the Reiki group was compared to the sham Reiki and control groups following the intervention, the decrease in the levels of patient stress (P < .001) and anxiety (P < .001) and the increase in patient comfort (P < .001) were found to be statistically significant. ConclusionsReiki applied to patients before upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was effective in reducing stress and anxiety and in increasing comfort.

Evaluation of the Impacts of Reiki Touch Therapy on Patients Diagnosed With Fibromyalgia Who Are Followed in the Pain Clinic.

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of Reiki application on pain, anxiety, and quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia. The study was completed with a total of 50 patients: 25 in the experimental group and 25 in the control group. Reiki was applied to the experimental group and sham Reiki to the control group once a week for 4 weeks. Data were collected from the participants using the Information Form, Visual Analog Scale, McGill-Melzack Pain Questionnaire, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Short Form-36. There was a significant difference between the mean Visual Analog Scale pain scores during and before the first week (P = .012), second week (P = .002), and fourth week (P = .020) measurements of the individuals in the experimental and control groups, after application. In addition, at the end of the 4-week period, the State Anxiety Inventory (P = .005) and the Trait Anxiety Inventory (P = .003) were significantly decreased in the Reiki group compared with the control group. Physical function (P = .000), energy (P = .009), mental health (P = .018), and pain (P = .029) subdimension scores of quality of life in the Reiki group increased significantly compared with the control group. Reiki application to patients with fibromyalgia may have positive effects on reducing pain, improving quality of life, and reducing state and trait anxiety levels.

Effect of Reiki on the stress level of caregivers of patients with cancer: Qualitative and single-blind randomized controlled trial

ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the effect of Reiki on stress levels of individuals caring for patients with cancer. MethodsThe study was conducted a pretest–posttest, single-blind randomized controlled trial and qualitative study using a semi-structured in-depth interview. In this study, women who were primary caregivers of patients with cancer treated in a university hospital were randomized to Reiki and sham Reiki groups. The Reiki group received Reiki to nine main points for 45 min, once a week for 6 weeks, while the sham Reiki group received the same points during the same period without starting energy flow. CSI scores and salivary cortisol levels were evaluated at baseline and at the end of the study, whereas systolic and diastolic blood pressure and pulse rate were evaluated before and after application every week. After the study, the opinions of the Reiki group on Reiki experience were collected by using a questionnaire consisting of semi-structured questions. ResultsThe study was completed with a total of 42 caregivers. The sample size was calculated based on the difference in Caregiver Strain Index (CSI) scores before and after the intervention. According to the power analysis, with α = 0.05 and β = 0.20, the effect size was 1.71 and the power 99 %. Post-intervention CSI scores declined in the Reiki group compared with that in the sham Reiki group (p < 0.05). No significant difference was found between the groups in terms of saliva cortisol levels (p > 0.05). According to the results of the general linear model repeated measure and Friedman tests, which were conducted to evaluate the change in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and pulse rate over a 6-week period, the values of these parameters decreased before and after each application compared with the caregivers in the sham Reiki group (p < 0.05). All caregivers stated that they found the caring process less stressful after the Reiki sessions and felt relieved compared with the pre-therapy period, and some of their physical complaints decreased. ConclusionReiki reduces the stress levels of caregivers, is effective in regulating blood pressure and pulse rate, does not cause a significant change on saliva cortisol level, and provides relief to caregivers.

Effects of Reiki on Pain, Anxiety, and Blood Pressure in Patients Undergoing Knee Replacement: A Pilot Study.

This blinded, controlled pilot study investigated the effects of Reiki on 46 patients undergoing knee replacement surgery. Of the 3 groups, Reiki, Sham Reiki, and Standard of Care, only the Reiki group showed significant reductions in pain, blood pressure, respiration rate, and state anxiety, which provides evidence for a full-scale clinical study.

Effects of Reiki on Pain and Vital Signs When Applied to the Incision Area of the Body After Cesarean Section Surgery: A Single-Blinded, Randomized, Double-Controlled Study.

This study was conducted to determine the effects of Reiki on pain and vital signs when applied for 15 minutes to the incision area of the body after cesarean section surgery. The study was single-blinded, randomized, and double-controlled (Reiki, sham Reiki, and control groups). Forty-five patients, equalized by age and number of births, were randomly assigned to the Reiki, sham Reiki, and control groups. The treatment, which was applied to the patients in these 3 groups, was applied for 15 minutes to the incision area of body in the first 24 and 48 hours after the operation within 4 to 8 hours of the application of standard analgesics. The study data were collected using a patient follow-up form and a visual analog scale. Mean visual analog scale measurement values were significantly different from each other according to groups and times (P < .05). A reduction in pain of 76.06% was determined in the Reiki group patients between day 1 pre-tx and after application on the second day (day 2 post-tx) measurements. Mean breathing rate and systolic blood pressure measurement values were significantly different from each other according to groups (P < .05). The Reiki group was observed to use fewer analgesics throughout the study and to need them after a longer time than the sham Reiki and control groups (P < .05). It was concluded that Reiki applied for 15 minutes to the incision area after a cesarean operation had the expected effects on pain and the need for the use of analgesics, but it had no effect on vital signs.

The effect of Reiki therapy on quality of life of patients with blood cancer: Results from a randomized controlled trial

IntroductionReiki therapy has been used for a variety of health issues. The aim of this study was to ascertain how Reiki therapy could help holistically in alleviating suffering in patients with blood cancer. Its main aims were to: (1) assess the effect of Reiki as a complementary therapy on the quality of life (QoL) of cancer patients, (2) compare the QoL of cancer patients receiving Reiki therapy with the QoL of cancer patients who received sham Reiki therapy. MethodsThe sample consisted of an intervention (58 patients) and a control group (initially consisting of 58 patients). Patients were allocated to one of two groups (true Reiki or sham Reiki) by using computer randomization. True Reiki or sham Reiki treatment was delivered twice a week for 4 weeks and lasted 60min. Quality of life was measured using the Portuguese version of the WHOQoL-Bref. Data was analysed using univariate comparisons, t Student or Mann-Whitney test for each dimension, and multivariate comparison by estimation of latent class models. ResultsSixteen patients who had been allocated to the control group died after recruitment into the study and before they took part in the study or had answered the questionnaire. The Reiki group showed significantly more improvements in the general, physical, environmental, and social dimensions of the WHOQoL-Bref (p<0.05). Only the psychological domain did not reach statistical significance. Multivariate clustering using latent class models revealed that being younger (under 52), an unmarried male, and having a higher level of education contributed to a greater satisfaction with life in those you received true Reiki therapy when compared with sham Reiki. ConclusionsThese findings suggest that Reiki may be an effective and safe option for improving well-being in patients with blood cancer. These findings may lend support for the inclusion of Reiki into national health services as it may provide a useful contribution to improving patients' welfare and consequently a better quality of life.

Reiki Reduces Burnout Among Community Mental Health Clinicians.

Clinicians working in community mental health clinics are at high risk for burnout. Burnout is a problem involving emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment. Reiki is a holistic biofield energy therapy beneficial for reducing stress. The purpose of this study was to determine if 30 minutes of healing touch could reduce burnout in community mental health clinicians. We utilized a crossover design to explore the efficacy of Reiki versus sham Reiki, a pseudo treatment designed to mimic true Reiki, as a means to reduce symptoms of burnout. Subjects were randomized to whether they started with Reiki or sham. The Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) and the Measure Your Medical Outcome Profile Version 2 (MYMOP-2) were used as outcome measures. Multilevel modeling was used to represent the relations among variables. Reiki was statistically significantly better than sham Reiki in reducing burnout among community mental health clinicians (p=0.011). Reiki was significant in reducing depersonalization (p<0.001), but only among single people. Reiki reduced the primary symptom on the MYMOP also only among single people (p=0.03). The effects of Reiki were differentiated from sham Reiki. Reiki could be helpful in community mental health settings for the mental health of the practitioners.

Reiki therapy for postoperative oral pain in pediatric patients: Pilot data from a double-blind, randomized clinical trial

PurposeTo examine the effects of Reiki as an adjuvant therapy to opioid therapy for postoperative pain control in pediatric patients. MethodsThis was a double-blind, randomized controlled study of children undergoing dental procedures. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either Reiki therapy or the control therapy (sham Reiki) preoperatively. Postoperative pain scores, opioid requirements, and side effects were assessed. Family members were also asked about perioperative care satisfaction. Multiple linear regressions were used for analysis. ResultsThirty-eight children participated. The blinding procedure was successful. No statistically significant difference was observed between groups on all outcome measures. ImplicationsOur study provides a successful example of a blinding procedure for Reiki therapy among children in the perioperative period. This study does not support the effectiveness of Reiki as an adjuvant therapy to opioid therapy for postoperative pain control in pediatric patients.

The application of Reiki in nurses diagnosed with Burnout Syndrome has beneficial effects on concentration of salivary IgA and blood pressure

This study aimed to investigate the immediate effects of the secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), α-amylase activity and blood pressure levels after the application of a Reiki session in nurses with Burnout Syndrome. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design was conducted to compare the immediate effects of Reiki versus control intervention (Hand-off sham intervention) in nurses with Burnout Syndrome. Sample was composed of eighteen nurses (aged 34-56 years) with burnout syndrome. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either a Reiki treatment or a placebo (sham Reiki) treatment, according to the established order in two different days. The ANOVA showed a significant interaction time x intervention for diastolic blood pressure (F=4.92, P=0.04) and sIgA concentration (F=4.71, P=0.04). A Reiki session can produce an immediate and statistically significant improvement in sIgA concentration and diastolic blood pressure in nurses with Burnout Syndrome.

Reiki Improves Heart Rate Homeostasis in Laboratory Rats

To determine whether application of Reiki to noise-stressed rats can reduce their heart rates (HRs) and blood pressures. In a previous study, we showed that exposure of rats to 90 dB white noise for 15 minutes caused their HRs and blood pressures to significantly increase. Reiki has been shown to significantly decrease HR and blood pressure in a small group of healthy human subjects. However, use of humans in such studies has the disadvantage that experimental interpretations are encumbered by the variable of belief or skepticism regarding Reiki. For that reason, noise-stressed rats were used as an animal model to test the efficacy of Reiki in reducing elevated HR and blood pressure. Three unrestrained, male Sprague-Dawley rats implanted with radiotelemetric transducers were exposed daily for 8 days to a 15-minute white noise regimen (90 dB). For the last 5 days, the rats received 15 minutes of Reiki immediately before the noise and during the noise period. The experiment was repeated on the same animals but using sham Reiki. The animals were housed in a quiet room in University of Arizona Animal Facility. Mean HRs and blood pressure were determined before Reiki/sham Reiki, during Reiki/sham Reiki, and during the noise in each case. Reiki, but not sham Reiki, significantly reduced HR compared to initial values. With Reiki, there was a high correlation between change in HR and initial HR, suggesting a homeostatic effect. Reiki, but not sham Reiki, significantly reduced the rise in HR produced by exposure of the rats to loud noise. Neither Reiki nor sham Reiki significantly affected blood pressure. Reiki is effective in modulating HR in stressed and unstressed rats, supporting its use as a stress-reducer in humans.

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

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) in the rest condition, participants rested for approximately 1 hour each day for 5 consecutive days, followed by a 1-week washout monitoring period of no scheduled resting and an additional week of no treatments. In both conditions, participants completed questionnaires investigating cancer-related fatigue (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Fatigue subscale [FACT-F]) and overall quality of life (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy, General Version [FACT-G]) before and after all Reiki or resting sessions. They also completed a visual analog scale (Edmonton Symptom Assessment System [ESAS]) assessing daily tiredness, pain, and anxiety before and after each session of Reiki or rest. 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.

Personal Interaction with a Reiki Practitioner Decreases Noise-Induced Microvascular Damage in an Animal Model

To determine whether Reiki, a process of transmission of healing energy, can significantly reduce microvascular leakage caused by exposure to excessive noise using an animal model. Reiki is beginning to be used in hospitals to accelerate recovery. Despite many anecdotes describing Reiki's success, few scientific studies are reported and none of those use animals. Animal models have the advantage over human subjects in that they provide well-controlled, easily interpretable experiments. The use of noise is relevant to hospital patients because of the excessive ambient noise in hospitals in the United Kingdom and United States. Loud noise can lead to several nonauditory disorders in humans and animals that impair recovery. In the rat, stress from noise damages the mesenteric microvasculature, leading to leakage of plasma into the surrounding tissue. One group of four rats simultaneously received daily noise and Reiki, while two other groups received "sham" Reiki or noise alone. A fourth group did not receive noise or additional treatment. The experiment was performed three times to test for reproducibility. Average number and area of microvascular leaks to fluorescent albumin per unit length of venule. In all three experiments, Reiki significantly reduced the outcome measures compared to the other noise groups (sham Reiki and noise alone) (p < 0.01). Application of Reiki significantly reduces noise-induced microvascular leakage in an animal model. Whether or not these effects are caused by Reiki itself, or the relaxing effect of the Reiki practitioner, this procedure could be useful for minimizing effects of environmental stress on research animals and hospital patients.