Distance Reiki is Scientifically Proven

Round-up of most recent research into Distant Reiki

While many research studies support in person Reiki for mental and physical health outcomes, less is known about the effects of distance Reiki. With an increase in online/remote/distance sessions as a result of the Covid pandemic, distance Reiki is now more popular than ever.

I decided to have a quick scout around the internet to see what factual evidence, from formal research, I could find regarding the proven benefits of distant/remote Reiki.

The shifting needs in our communities has resulted in distance Reiki being evaluated more frequently and there is a multitude of research published, the highlights of which are detailed in the snippets below:

• Due to an increasing number of individuals reporting increased stress and anxiety associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, a study was conducted to investigate distant Reiki as a virtual healing modality. Study findings demonstrated significant reductions in perceived stress and anxiety and support the feasibility of distant Reiki. In addition, the report suggested that nurses, who are Reiki practitioners, may influence the human-environmental field to foster healing. (Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9622335/)
• A randomised controlled trial found a significantly lower heart rate and blood pressure with distance Reiki after caesarean section. (Source: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/27536130231187368#)
• Reiki decreased pain, anxiety, and fatigue in oncology patients compared to usual care. (Source: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/27536130231187368#)
• Improvements in pain and quality of life following distance Reiki for patients with rheumatoid arthritis compared to an unspecified control group. (Source: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/27536130231187368#)
• Distance Reiki for software professionals reduced perceived stress. (Source: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/27536130231187368)
• Evaluation of distance Reiki for digital health employees during the COVID-19 isolation period observed reductions in stress and anxiety compared to no treatment control. (Source: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/27536130231187368#)
•  A distance Reiki study has been conducted with healthcare professionals assessed distance Reiki with nurses and found decreased stress, anxiety and pain, and increased wellbeing and sleep quality. (Source: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/27536130231187368)
• Distance Reiki lowers stress and pain for hundreds with cancer, and 91% rated the distant Reiki sessions as helpful by scoring the sessions at a 4 or 5.  (Source: https://centerforreikiresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/LifeSpark-article-8-2021.pdf)
• And a niche area, however distant Reiki has been found to be easy to administer, inexpensive, non-pharmacological, and appropriate for independent nursing practice to be effective in reducing phantom pain levels and increasing holistic well-being in people with limb amputation. (Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S152490422300200X)

• And most recently, a study investigated the effect of distant Reiki sessions on the holistic well-being of people without no acute/chronic diseases. Conducted between February 1 and March 31, 2022, of 180 healthy people who received 20-minute distant Reiki sessions for 4 consecutive days. Distant Reiki sessions improved participants' holistic well-being, helping them develop a positive mood, experience and perceive less sadness, and develop subjective vitality and cognitive awareness. (Source: https://journals.lww.com/hnpjournal/abstract/2024/01000/the_effect_of_distant_reiki_sessions_on_holistic.8.aspx)

 
More research is continuing with the Mayo Clinic currently undertaking a study to determine the effect of distance Reiki on patient reported quality of life and immunity among Multiple Myeloma patients. 

So, distance Reiki works. I am a firm believer that the deeper the trust between the client and the Reiki Practitioner, then the more effective the sessions can be because the patient is more open to change.

In my personal experience of working with clients all over the world, distance Reiki delivers the same benefits as in-person Reiki, and that over time clients will often experience profound shifts in their physical and mental health.