proof that reiki helps with depression

research into reiki & depression.

Can Reiki help with depression? I certainly believe so because my clients tell me it does.

So, being inquisitive, I started to search out any formal research findings, and came across this interesting study, outlined in brief below.

​The following is a summary by Pat Cougar of the research article "Long-Term Effects of Energetic Healing on Symptoms of Psychological Depression and Self-Perceived Stress" by Adina Goldman Shore, PhD. Originally published in the May/June 2004, Vol. 10, No. 3 issue of Alternative Therapies magazine.

Dr. Adina Goldman Shore's article was the result of a one-year study of the effects of Reiki healing on psychological depression and self-reported stress. The study investigated the hypothesis that it is the Reiki energy itself, and not the "hands on" touch, that is the healing factor, and examined the long-term effects of Reiki on depression and stress. Dr. Shore also provides some basic information regarding the uses of Reiki, including it usefulness in psychotherapy.

Forty-five participants with symptoms of depression and stress volunteered for this study. Participant were randomly assigned to one of three groups: Hands-on (touch) Reiki, Distance (non-touch) Reiki, and distance Reiki placebo. Participants were not aware of which group would be receiving placebo Reiki.

Twelve Reiki Masters, and three second degree Reiki practitioners were chosen to conduct the one to one and one-half hour sessions.

Each participant received one treatment weekly for six weeks.

Three tests, designed to measure levels of depression and stress, were administered to each participant before and after the series of six sessions. One year later, the participants retook the three tests.

After testing was completed, the control/placebo group received another six weeks of Reiki treatments, this time with actual Reiki, and the three tests were administered to this group again.

Findings of the study demonstrated that:

• There were no changes in the control/placebo group until they received the six sessions of actual Reiki a year after the first six placebo sessions.
  
• Both the hands-on and the distance Reiki were effective in relieving symptoms of depression and stress.
  
• Distance Reiki was shown to be slightly more effective than hands on, which ruled out touch as the causative factor, although the difference may have been influenced in part by the project's design.
  
• The results of the placebo group served to rule out any changes due to expectations of the participants.
  
• Re-testing a year later demonstrated that the positive results of the six Reiki treatments had remained intact.
  
  

Dr. Shore concluded that combining Reiki with traditional forms of treatment for psychological depression would be beneficial, especially because of Reiki's effectiveness, and cost reduction.

There we have it. I always say to clients 5-6 reiki sessions for a shift to be experienced, and this research supports that.

Over the next coming weeks I'm going to be searching out more clinical papers and studies regarding the therapies I provide, its always useful to be able to back up my own thoughts and findings with more formal studies.