Reiki in Healthcare

Reiki is a Japanese touch-based practice developed in the early twentieth century. Reiki is a Japanese touch-based practice developed in the early twentieth century by Mikao Usui. While traditionally described in energetic terms, contemporary healthcare settings understand Reiki primarily as a complementary modality that supports relaxation and stress recovery.

Reiki is now offered in integrative health programs across the United States, including Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, and Atlantic Health System as part of complementary care. In these settings, Reiki is used to promote relaxation, reduce anxiety, and support quality of life for patients coping with chronic or serious illness.

Sessions are typically conducted with the recipient fully clothed. The practitioner places hands lightly on or just above the body in a structured sequence. The primary observable effect is deep relaxation.

Reiki is not a substitute for medical or psychological treatment. It is best understood as a complementary practice that may support psychophysiological regulation and comfort within a broader treatment plan. Practitioners do not diagnose or treat medical or mental health conditions and work within defined scopes of practice.

When seeking a Reiki practitioner, look for appropriate training, ethical standards, and clarity regarding scope of practice.If you are looking for a Reiki practitioner, it is best to see if you can get a personal referral to a practitioner from some one you know. Make sure the person has proper training and certifications to practice Reiki. Check out his or her business reputation, ask for some references and where he or she has worked before going to their place of business.

Sources

McManus, D. (2017). Reiki Is Better Than Placebo and Has Broad Potential as a Complementary Health Therapy. Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine, 22(4), 1051–1057.

Guo, X., et al. (2024). Therapeutic effects of Reiki on anxiety: A systematic review. [Journal Title].

Liu, K., et al. (2025). Effects of Reiki therapy on quality of life: A meta-analysis. [Journal Title].