Title : Is Reiki more Effective than Placebo?
Abstract:
Background: Reiki is an energy healing technique (biofield therapy) in which an attuned therapist places their hands on or near the client’s body and sends energy to the client to activate the body’s ability to heal itself and restore balance. It was developed in Japan end of the 19th century by Mikao Usui of Kyoto. Inexpensive, safe evidenced based treatments would be welcomed given the enormous international socio-economic burden of health and research suggests Reiki is safe, inexpensive and may assist in treating a wide variety of illnesses over placebo. Given Reiki is a biofield therapy which is not yet accepted by the dominant biomedical paradigm, and its growing use, it is important to establish Reiki’s effectiveness over placebo.
Method: A systematic review of randomised placebo controlled (RPCT) trials examining hands on Reiki’s effectiveness in adults was conducted through a systematic search of 8 databases. Twenty-six RPCT met inclusion criteria and were assessed for risk of bias (ROB) using Cochrane ‘s Revised ROB 2 assessment tool. This was followed by a GRADE assessment assessing a further 5 domains to arrive at a low, moderate or high level of evidence for each area examined.
Results: A high level of evidence was found for Reiki over placebo in reducing clinically relevant anxiety, stress, depression, and elevated to high blood pressure. A moderate to high level of evidence was found for Reiki over placebo in reducing and acute pain. A moderate level of evidence was found for Reiki over placebo in reducing heart rate/ heart-rate variability, and normal range diastolic blood pressure. A low to moderate level of evidence was found for Reiki over placebo in reducing burnout, chronic pain, normal levels of stress, and wellbeing and comfort in chronic conditions.
Conclusions: The results suggest that Reiki may be effective in treating a variety of areas over placebo. In most areas there are a small number of studies so findings are inconclusive and more RCT controlling for placebo in Reiki research are needed.
