Not a Captain and Tennille fan? Okay, okay, but here me out for a second! Now that I have your attention, I want you to channel your inner teenager and do the opposite of what the title says. Let that Reiki energy right into that heart! If you're like me, you grew up with a limited exposure to and knowledge of Reiki. Until I became an adult and had my first Reiki session, I had absolutely no understanding of what Reiki was or how it was supposed to help, but as Amber and I always say to each other, "Reiki is science!" In short, Reiki is positive healing energy that exists in the universe. Like all energy, Reiki cannot be created nor destroyed, but it can be channeled and directed (thanks, Bill Nye the Science Guy!). In the hands of a trained Reiki practitioner, this energy can be directed to parts of the body that need a boost including your heart, lungs, brain, pancreas, muscles, etc. Reiki can also help with our emotional and psychological state as well. If we understand that our brain waves are energy, we can acknowledge that a positive energy like Reiki can impact those brain waves positively, helping us to focus or process experiences in a healthier manner.
According the the National Institute of Health, Reiki has a positive impact on health and healing when used in conjunction with more traditional medicine. In this study, the NIH determined that Reiki had positive impacts on healing in both acutely and chronically ill patients. Physiologically, scientists discovered that patients who received Reiki treatments regularly had lower heart rate, lower blood pressure, and were generally more relaxed than patients who received a placebo treatment. The patients treated with Reiki also showed an increase in natural endorphins and an increase in healing markers in their blood chemistry.
In several studies conducted through UCLA, researchers also found a substantial improvement with patients who received Reiki treatments. Researchers saw an improvement in symptoms of depressions, pain (both post-surgical and traumatic), pain (chronic), an increase in red blood cell production, a reduction in blood glucose levels in diabetic patients, and increase in brain and muscle functions in post-stroke patients.
As a nationally registered paramedic, I often look for ways to treat my patients to the best of my ability. After one treatment of Reiki, I was sold on its healing properties. I believe in the healing power of Reiki so much that I became a Reiki II certified practitioner and hope to work toward my Reiki Master Practitioner in six months. If you already believe in the healing power of Reiki, consider this information to support that Reiki is an effective healing practice. If you are on the fence about Reiki, I hope you read this research and decide to take the plunge and schedule a session! As a principle, Reiki can do no harm, the paragon of the Hippocratic oath. What have you got to lose?! Get out there and schedule a session...give it a try. Just please...don't go breakin' my heart!