Ultimately it may be foolish at best to make patients who are suffering wait for rigorous research of a low risk, low cost practice that is already supported by modest research evidence and significant anecdotal evidence (Miles 2007) and which supports the delivery of conventional medical care.
An in-depth review of the medical literature on Reiki, "Reiki--Review of a biofield therapy: history, theory, practice, and research" by Pamela Miles and Gala True, PhD, published in the March 2003 issue of the peer-reviewed medical journal Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine is available for download on this site under References and Resources/Articles.
“Reiki for Mind, Body and Spirit Support of Cancer Patients,” published in the Fall 2007 issue of the peer-reviewed medical journal Advances in Mind/Body Medicine, is available open access. www.advancesjournal.com
Block KI, Cohen AJ, Dobs AS, Ornish D, Tripathy D. The challenges of randomized trials in integrative cancer care. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 2004 Jun;3(2):112-27.
Mansour AA, Beuche M, Laing G, Leis A. A study to test the effectiveness of placebo Reiki standardization procedures developed for planned Reiki efficacy study. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 1999;5(2):153-164.
Miles P. Preliminary report on the use of Reiki for HIV-related pain and anxiety. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. 2003;9(2):36.
Miles P. Reiki for Mind, Body and Spirit Support of Cancer Patients. Advances in Mind-Body Medicine. 2007 Fall;22(2): 20-26.
Olson K, Hanson J. Using Reiki to manage pain: a preliminary report. Cancer Prevention Control. 1997 Jun;1(2):108-13.
Olson K, Hanson J, Michaud M. A phase II trial for the management of pain in advanced cancer patients. Journal of Pain Symptom Management 26(5):990-997, 2003.
Shiflett SC, Nayak S, Bid C, Miles P, Agnostinelli S. Effect of Reiki Treatments on Functional Recovery in Patients in Post-Stroke Rehabilitation: A Pilot Study. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2002 Dec;8(6):755-63.
Shore AG. Long-term effects of energetic healing on symptoms of psychological depression and self-perceived stress. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. 2004 May-Jun;10(3):42-8.
Tsang K, Carlson L. Pilot Crossover Trial of Reiki Versus Rest for Treating Cancer-Related Fatigue. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 6.1 (2007): 25-35.
Vitale A, O'Connor PC. The effect of Reiki on pain and anxiety in women with abdominal hysterectomies: A quasi-
experimental pilot study. Holistic Nursing Practice. 20(6):263-272, 2006.
Wardell DW, Engebretson J. Biological correlates of Reiki touch healing. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 2001;33(4):439-45).
Clinical Applications of Reiki in Conventional Health Care Settings
Reiki treats the patient, not the condition or illness. It offers rapid stress reduction and a sense of profound well-being, and can potentially benefit anyone who is suffering. Reiki treatment is offered in a wide range of medical settings in the United States and abroad, including obstetrics and neo-natal care, surgery, emergency rooms, psychiatric units, oncology, infectious disease clinics, rehabilitation, organ transplantation units, hospice and palliative care centers. At Portsmouth Regional Hospital in New Hampshire, Reiki treatment is offered to all patients. In other hospitals, Reiki is offered only in some departments (Miles and True, 2003). Some hospitals sponsor community-based Reiki clinics where the public is invited to experience Reiki. Whereas some physicians invite practitioners to offer Reiki treatment on site, others refer patients to local practitioners for treatment or training.