Hello wonderful readers! It's a pleasure to welcome you to my blog, where we discuss the science of spirituality, energy healing, and metaphysical ideas in a way that's both accessible and down-to-earth. Today, I have a particularly exciting blog post prepared for you. Despite common misconceptions, there are many compelling scientific research studies supporting the notion that reiki energy healing can indeed influence our physiology. We’re going to be exploring the scientific underpinnings of reiki and its potential to restore your body’s natural healing capabilities.
Baldwin et al. (2008) conducted a study demonstrating the potential of reiki to lower heart rate in rats subjected to noise-induced stress. Rats exposed to intense white noise were administered either authentic reiki or a placebo treatment before and during exposure to the noise. The results demonstrated a significant decrease in mean heart rate in the group receiving genuine reiki compared to the placebo group. Furthermore, a strong correlation was observed between the change in heart rate and the initial heart rate among the reiki-treated rats, suggesting a homeostatic influence. Specifically, reiki administration effectively mitigated the increase in heart rate triggered by the noisy environment, an effect not observed with the placebo treatment. This study effectively demonstrated the profound effects of reiki on our physiological response to stress.
In a large-scale comprehensive research study by Dyer et al. (2019), the authors aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of reiki both physical and psychological health. 1411 participants received a single 45-90 minute in-person reiki session from certified reiki masters and a range of physical and psychological measures were reported immediately before and after the reiki session. The findings of the study demonstrated that a single reiki session had profound beneficial effects on participants' physical and psychological well-being. Specifically, statistically significant enhancements were noted for all measured outcomes, including improved effects on pain, drowsiness, tiredness, nausea, appetite, shortness of breath, anxiety, depression, and overall well-being (all p-values <0.001). These results suggest that even a single reiki session may be a valuable complementary therapy for promoting both physical and psychological health.
Diaz-Rodriguez et al. published two studies in 2011 examining the effects of reiki on healthcare professionals experiencing burnout. In both studies, participants underwent two sessions spaced a week apart, with random assignment to either authentic reiki or placebo reiki treatments. The initial study assessed various metrics, including several heart rate variability measures reflecting sympathetic (fight or flight) and parasympathetic (rest and digest) nervous system activity, along with temperature, salivary flow rate, and cortisol levels before and after each session. Notably, the genuine reiki group showed significantly higher standard deviation of the normal-to-normal interval (SDNN) values, indicating an increase in heart rate variability and parasympathetic nervous system activity. Moreover, body temperature was notably higher in the genuine reiki group. The low-frequency component measurement, linked with heart rate variability in the 0.04 to 0.15 Hertz range, was decreased in the genuine reiki group, which was potentially associated with the observed rise in body temperature. The second study investigated the immediate effects of reiki on secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), α-amylase activity, and blood pressure, all of which are associated with either sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system activity or immune system function. Notably, participants who received genuine reiki showed a significant increase in sIgA concentrations between pre- and post-session measurements, contrasting with the placebo group. sIgA, an essential antibody in the body's initial defence against pathogens, plays a critical role in immune system function. Additionally, the genuine reiki group exhibited notable decreases in diastolic blood pressure, suggesting a potential activation of the parasympathetic nervous system. These collective findings indicate that reiki may have beneficial effects on the parasympathetic nervous system and the immune system in individuals dealing with burnout, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic approach in such circumstances.
Numerous additional research studies showcase the favourable effects of reiki on both our physical health and mental well-being, though I cannot delve into them all extensively within this post. The documented activation of the parasympathetic nervous system and enhancements in immune function attributed to reiki are pivotal for reinstating the natural flow of life-force energy within the body and fostering its innate healing capacity. It is time for the scientific community to place trust in and recognise the profound potential of the ancient wisdom embedded in these practices for healing the mind and body.
References
Baldwin et al. (2008) ‘Reiki Improves Heart Rate Homeostasis in Laboratory Rats’ The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (14)4, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2007.0753
Diaz-Rodriguez et al. (2011) ‘Immediate Effects of Reiki on Heart Rate Variability, Cortisol Levels, and Body Temperature in Health Care Professionals With Burnout’ Biological Research For Nursing (13)4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/10998004103891
Diaz-Rodriguez et al. (2011) ‘The application of Reiki in nurses diagnosed with Burnout Syndrome has beneficial effects on concentration of salivary IgA and blood pressure’ Rev. Latino-Am. 19 (5) DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-11692011000500010
Dyer et al. (2019) ‘A Large-Scale Effectiveness Trial of Reiki for Physical and Psychological Health’ The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (25)12 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2019.0022
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