Reiki

Reiki is an alternative healing practice developed in Japan in 1922 by Mikao Usui, based on the belief that practitioners can channel a universal life-force energy called "ki" (or "qi") through their hands to promote healing and wellness in recipients. The practice involves the laying on of hands or holding hands near the body to direct healing energy to specific areas.

According to reiki tradition, Usui developed the technique after a spiritual experience on Mount Kurama, where he claimed to receive the ability to heal others through energy transfer. The practice was later brought to the West by Hawayo Takata, who learned reiki in Japan and established it in Hawaii and the mainland United States during the 1970s.

Reiki practitioners typically go through a series of "attunements" or initiations that supposedly open their ability to channel healing energy. The practice is divided into several levels, with practitioners advancing from basic hand positions to more advanced techniques and eventually to the ability to perform "distant healing" on people not physically present.

The theoretical foundation of reiki rests on the concept of a universal life force that can be manipulated to promote healing. Practitioners claim they can detect energy imbalances in clients and direct healing energy to restore proper energy flow. Sessions typically involve the client lying clothed on a table while the practitioner places hands on or near various parts of the body.

Scientific evaluation of reiki has consistently failed to demonstrate any effects beyond those attributable to placebo response, relaxation, and the therapeutic value of human touch and attention. Multiple systematic reviews and controlled clinical trials have found no evidence for the existence of the proposed healing energy or for therapeutic effects beyond what would be expected from conventional relaxation techniques.

A 2008 systematic review published in the International Journal of Clinical Practice concluded that the evidence for reiki's effectiveness was insufficient to suggest it was useful for any health condition. Similarly, the U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health states that there is no scientific evidence supporting the existence of energy fields used in reiki.

Despite the lack of scientific support, reiki continues to be practiced widely and is sometimes offered in hospitals and healthcare settings as a complementary therapy. Proponents argue that the practice provides stress reduction and emotional support, though these benefits can be achieved through conventional relaxation techniques without the unsubstantiated metaphysical claims.