What is it? Reiki (pronounced ray-key) is a hands-on therapy which is believed to promote the flow of energy through the body. Reiki means "universal life energy" in Japanese. Practitioners maintain that by using a specific series of hand positions on the individual client, that person will draw energy from the practitioner's hands to where it is needed in his/her body. Deemed an easy-to-learn art or technique, lay people can learn how to use reiki on themselves and their families. There is, however, a longer training and initiation period for those who wish to become reiki masters or teachers.
What does it treat? Reiki is a complementary therapy and not an alternative to orthodox medical treatment. Its benefits are seen to be in helping people to relax and de-stress themselves. To that end, sufferers from arthritis, back pain, depression and other stress-related disorders have found relief from reiki. It is also used by some practitioners as an after-care therapy with cancer patients.
It can be uncomfortable to receive if the individual is suffering from a high fever. Inflamed skin is also not touched by a reiki practitioner.
A first timer's experience: (30-year-old fashion designer): "The reiki master began by telling me all about reiki and asked me my age, what I did for a living, and whether or not I had had any operations or was on medication. She then asked me to lie down on her plinth with two pillows under my head and two under my knees. She began by placing both her hands over my eyes for about five minutes. Her hands began to feel very hot while there. Then, she placed her hands on the top of my head, the back of my head and on my temples.
Each time, she left them there for five minutes or more. Then, she moved on to my chest, lower ribs, stomach and abdomen, again leaving her hands in each place for five minutes or so. I had my eyes closed during this time, and I felt like I was in a trance. I found myself daydreaming about things I had to do, but rather than getting stressed about them, they came into my head and just floated away again.
During this time, my stomach started gurgling and later I began to pass wind. This was a little embarrassing but the reiki practitioner said, not to worry that this was normal. She asked me to turn over and began using the same hand positions on my shoulders, my upper back, my lower back and my bottom.
During all this time, I believe I felt more relaxed than I have ever felt. I had no concept of time but the whole session took about one-and-a-half hours. When it was complete, I felt quite lightheaded. She asked me if I suffered from a lot of constipation, which I do. She said that she had felt this problem in my body.
She also said that it was related to a lot of things going on in my life about which I found difficulty expressing my views and feelings. After she left, I felt really tearful. Then, I started to laugh. Later, that evening, I felt fine - just completely tired.
An advocate's view: Paul Callaghan (53) businessman: "I first heard of reiki a long time ago. However, it was four years ago when I had my first treatments (four in a row, which is the recommended number to begin with). At that time, I wasn't content with my life and I didn't know why. Basically, if you are open to reiki, it makes you confront areas in your life. And it made me confront personal and work issues instead of burying them.
What developed from there were perhaps obvious things such as that we are all individually responsible for our own lives and the direction they take. Reiki made me get rid of anger, resentment and blame I had towards other people. I can honestly say that these emotions no longer exist in my life. And instead of trying to lead my life through other people, I became more content with my own company.
It also made me realise that the past is gone. We are living for now and the future is a dream which may never come. So, I don't live in fear of the future anymore. Reiki has also made me better at my job and more focused. Instead of compromising on issues, now if I think I am correct, nobody will change my view.
I have a reiki treatment irregularly now - whenever I need one. Basically, it's whenever my head becomes too cluttered with things which are not important. Reiki just seems to get rid of that clutter.
The medical view: Dr Muiris Houston, Irish Times Medical Correspondent, says: "Reiki therapy may help patients by offering general relaxation. This therapy does not lend itself to research in clinical medicine trials. Any claims that it treats specific conditions should be viewed with caution."
There are currently four practitioners of reiki who have been assessed and approved (to practise the traditional form of reiki to the general public) by the Reiki Association of Ireland (021- 371058). There are many more practitioners who have varying levels of training, some of whom use reiki combined with other therapies. A single reiki session costs between £20 and £35. See also: www.reikiassocation.org.uk and www.furumoto.org.
