What Is Reiki, And Who Might Be Helped By It?

Jan. 13, 2010 -- Question: What is reiki, and who might be helped by it?

Answer: Reiki is a technique that is approximately about 100 years old, which is an energy treatment that taps into spiritual awareness -- but it's not a religion. We have found it in the integrative medical setting to be very useful for making people who are extremely stressed feel calm. Many people might be helped by it.

I've found it particularly useful in people who are in the end stages of dying because there are actually two schools of reiki: one which is hands on, and one which involves distance healing. It helps individuals really tap into that sense of interconnection and spirituality, which helps them feel like they belong in the world.