| Science Daily recently published a review of a new | | | | her to get around. None of the conventional |
| study examining the efficacy of biofield therapies | | | | treatments for her injury - painkillers, steroids and |
| such as Reiki, Therapeutic Touch and Healing Touch, | | | | cortisone injections - were providing much relief. She |
| entitled "Biofield Therapies: Helpful or Hype?", | | | | lives in Florida, so I was unable to treat her in person. |
| conducted by Dr. Shamini Jain, from the UCLA | | | | Instead, we agreed to set aside time several |
| Division of Cancer Prevention and Control Research, | | | | evenings during the week for me to send Reiki to |
| and Dr. Paul Mills, from the Department of Psychiatry | | | | her. |
| at the University of California, and the Moores | | | | After our first session, I asked Laurie if she had |
| Comprehensive Cancer Center in San Diego. The | | | | noticed anything different and she reported she felt |
| study found that these biofield therapies such as | | | | warmth in her knee and at one point, actually felt as |
| Reiki demonstrate "promising complementary | | | | if someone or something was physically manipulating |
| interventions for reducing the intensity of pain in a | | | | it. The next day, she sent me a text message, |
| number of conditions, reducing anxiety for | | | | saying her knee felt better than it had in weeks. |
| hospitalized patients and reducing agitated behaviors | | | | After a couple more sessions, Laurie's healing was so |
| in dementia, over and above what standard | | | | profound that she wrote in her testimonial, "I could |
| treatments can achieve." Additionally, the researchers | | | | get up and do all my normal activities PAIN FREE - |
| found "strong evidence that biofield therapies reduce | | | | something I hadn't been able to do for months!" She |
| pain intensity in free-living populations, and moderate | | | | was so impressed by the results she is actually |
| evidence that they are effective at lowering pain in | | | | considering learning how to do Reiki. |
| hospitalized patients as well as in patients with | | | | As with any complementary therapy, individual |
| cancer." | | | | response may vary, but many people like Laurie are |
| As a Reiki Master, I have seen measurable pain | | | | seeing good results with using Reiki and other biofield |
| reduction quite clearly while working with clients in my | | | | therapies for management of pain resulting from |
| practice, including chronic pain from existing injuries | | | | physical or medical conditions. In Laurie's case, her |
| and conditions like fibromyalgia, as well as | | | | doctor was recommending surgery. It will be |
| post-surgical pain. I am pleased to see this evidence | | | | interesting to see if continued Reiki treatment and |
| borne out as a result of clinical research. | | | | physical rehabilitation may allow for complete healing |
| To further demonstrate Reiki's ability to reduce pain | | | | of her knee without surgery. The inclusion of biofield |
| and facilitate healing, I would like to share a client's | | | | therapies, such as Reiki, in the clinical setting may be |
| recent experience receiving distance Reiki. (Reiki | | | | a welcome presence and potentially reduce the |
| practitioners at Level II or higher are trained to | | | | amount of drugs or other interventions needed to |
| channel Reiki to others without being physically | | | | keep patients stable and comfortable during the |
| present.) Laurie tore her meniscus in her right knee, | | | | healing process. |
| and the resultant pain and swelling made it difficult for | | | | |