REIKI IN MEDICAL ENVIRONMENTS
Reiki is actively being used throughout the world in an ever growing number of hospitals and mental health centers. Reiki is NOT a substitute for medical and other health care treatments. Reiki is recognized in today’s health field as a complementary approach along with Western medical treatments, psychological counseling, and other traditional treatments. Reiki is known to enhance medical treatment, acting to reduce negative side effects, improve healing time, and promote a positive outlook. Reiki is also used to offer support and to reduce the discomforts of pregnancy and childbirth.
A study done in 2007 by the National Health Interview Survey indicates that 1.2 million adults and 161,000 children received one or more sessions of energy healing therapy such as Reiki in the previous year.
According to the American Hospital Association, in 2007, 15% (or over 800 American hospitals) offered Reiki as part of hospital services.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, one of the leading cardiovascular surgeons in the United States, was an early pioneer of the use of Reiki in hospitals. Dr. Oz has allowed the use of Reiki during open heart surgeries and heart transplant operations at the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Centre in New York City and he has promoted Reiki on his own television show as well as on the Oprah Winfrey show. Says Dr. Oz: "Reiki has become a sought-after healing art among patients and mainstream medical professionals."
Some New York area hospitals where Reiki treatments are performed are:
- Southside Hospital
- Columbian Presbyterian
- Beth Israel,
- John Hopkins,
- Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat,
- Memorial Sloan Kettering
- Cancer Treatment Centers of America.
The National Institute of Health (NIH) categorizes Reiki as Energy Medicine and describes Reiki as “energy healing therapy". The NIH National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) websitestates: “Reiki appears to be generally safe and no serious side effects have been reported.” http://nccam.nih.gov/health/reiki/
