Much of the evidence for Reiki is anecdotal, but there is a growing number of scientific studies. There are also books that explain the scientific basis for distance healing techniques such as distance Reiki.
Here are a few interesting articles and other resources that I’ve come across about complementary and alternative therapies like Reiki, aromatherapy, and acupressure. I’ll keep updating this blog post as I find more things.
Articles & Blog Posts
- Does Energy Healing Really Work? on health.com
- Reiki Healing and Mental Health: What the Research Shows on PsychCentral.com
- Remarkable Healing Power of Reiki as Cancer Treatment on Asbestos.com — The title is misleading. This article does not advocate the use of Reiki as the sole/primary treatment of cancer. It talks about using Reiki alongside other treatments since it helps people to release anxiety and worry, and experience a deep feeling of relaxation, among other things.
Websites
- www.energyresearch.us — James L. Oschman has a Ph.D. In Biological Sciences from the university of Pittsburgh. On this site you’ll find videos, articles, and books he has writtten on the medical and physics-based explanations for distance healing
- Reiki, Medicine & Self Care with Pamela Miles – Pamela Miles has presented on the topic of Reiki at the medical schools of Yale and Harvard and set up one of the first Reiki programs in a medical institution in the United States. On the Medical Papers page of her site she has some information and links to papers that have been published on the subject of Reiki.
- Mesothelioma Alternative Therapies – a webpage on Mesothelioma.net that talks about different types of complementary and alternative therapies (such as emotional therapies, mind-body therapies, and energy therapies) and includes some links. Mesothelioma.net provides patients diagnosed with mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure, with resources, and information.
Books
- Energy Medicine: The Scientific Basis by Dr. James L. Oschman
Interesting Tidbits
The following items aren’t rigorous scientific studies, but they are about interesting, related topics.
- Does Meditation Really Affect Your Brain? — a 5:16 minute video from SciShow Psych
- Their “Rescuing Hug” Stunned the World — a short article on LittleThings.com about the practice of co-bedding (placing premature twins in the same incubator)
- Does Energy Medicine Really Work? — a seven minute video with Donna Eden showing some simple exercises that demonstrate the electromagnetic nature of the body