Life is full of stress and anxiety, so much so that mental health is becoming a growing concern in society. The goal, then, is to find ways to reduce stress and return to a state of relaxation and mental clarity.

Reiki is a centuries-old energy healing technique created in Japan. Today, there are Reiki practitioners worldwide and a growing number of patients. It is seeing a tremendous surge in interest and popularity in the United States alone, but why?

The potential health benefits of the energy healing practice are staggering. Practitioners claim everything from better sleep to pain management for terminal illnesses. However, with little scientific backing, why are people trusting this holistic approach to healing instead of going to medical professionals for prescriptive options to stress reduction?

There is a significant discord between the medical profession and society, especially following the opioid crisis. People do not want more pills. They want naturalistic options, regardless of how the sales pitch might sound.

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Reiki and Life Force Energy

Reiki is built on the idea that human beings have a life force energy constantly flowing through their bodies. When the flow of this healthy energy is interrupted, your body will respond with pain, sickness, discomfort, or stress.

A Reiki master uses a series of specialized movements to help realign the energy flow and heal the body. These movements and hand placements can occur over the body or directly touching the body, depending on the situation and the practitioner.

Because of the level of intimacy or interaction during a Reiki session, it is not for everyone. Some people will be uncomfortable with the practitioner touching them or standing over them, meaning the session could make anxiety or stress worse for some.

Potential Health Benefits

Reiki masters and some studies suggest the practice can promote better sleep, improved mood, and pain relief. In addition, according to research, Reiki sessions can help individuals achieve a state of relaxation, allowing relief and healing from persistent stress or anxiety.

Because of the relief that can occur during these sessions, Reiki can help promote pain relief and healing from injuries and diseases. Any damage to the body causes stress, and when the body is under constant pressure, it does not efficiently promote healing. Reiki techniques encourage relaxation and consequently faster recovery.

The Science and the Placebo

The truth is, no one really knows how Reiki works or even if it really does. Scientifically speaking, there is no hard evidence to prove the existence of life force energy. However, people who attend Reiki sessions do experience lower blood pressure, less pain, reduced anxiety, and so much more.

For now, researchers are boggled by the effects of Reiki and chalk any success up to a potential placebo effect, with many experts explaining people feel better after a session because they believe it will work. However, regardless of your take, the practice was never intended as a solo treatment but rather a complementary one. Therefore, if you are still supposed to receive any traditional treatments, where is the harm in trying something that might be beneficial, whether the benefit is perceived or real.

Do you have any interest in trying a Reiki session? You surely wouldn't be alone. Hundreds of thousands of people practice and experience Reiki every year. Leave a comment below with your thoughts.