Reiki is a Japanese method of treatment that is used to promote healing.
It is frequently used for people with mental health disorders (e.g., addiction) and physical health disorders (e.g., chronic pain) but it can be used on anyone who is interested in experiencing emotional and physical healing.
Below, we outline some of the uses of Reiki:
Holistic therapies draw on many different techniques to treat the mind and body in order to reduce stress. Reiki is just one example of holistic therapy, but other types known to treat addiction include yoga, body massage, and reflexology.
Reiki is based on the idea of energy healing, which is an alternative medicine. It is believed that Reiki practitioners can provide a flow of energy to their patients by placing their hands on or above the individual’s body.
As well as changing the energy of the patient, Reiki is also believed to reduce stress. When the therapist channels positive energy into the patient, they are aiming to promote healing in the patient’s mind and body, which involves becoming less stressed.
At Rehab 4 Addiction, we offer free advice from a team of non-judgemental professionals, many of whom are in recovery and understand how hard it can be to change your relationship with addiction.
For more information, simply reach out to our 24/7, confidential hotline on 0800 140 4690.
According to Reiki, chakras are energy points in the body. There are seven chakras, running from the top of the spine to the bottom, and each one is linked to a different part of the body.
Reiki practitioners aim to open the chakras, as they believe this leads to more positive emotions and sensations.
The seven chakras are:
As you can imagine, these are the areas of the body that the therapist will focus on. They should never place their hands on other parts of the body, and they should not apply a lot of pressure when they target these areas.
There is some controversy regarding the success of Reiki therapy; many people believe that it does not work, and it only seems to work due to the placebo effect.
However, there is also a theory that the placebo effect is not as simple as believing you have been healed when you have not (1).
In some cases, healing has been recorded in the bodies of Reiki patients, and even if this is linked to a placebo, it still clearly has a real effect on the patient’s health.
Some studies show that Reiki can lead to healing in patients with issues such as anxiety, drowsiness, nausea, negative affect, and depression (2).
To increase the chances of Reiki being a successful treatment, it is important that you feel comfortable on the treatment table, or in the chair.
We recommend researching Reiki, preparing questions for the therapist, bringing your own relaxation music to listen to, and wearing comfortable clothes.
At Rehab 4 Addiction, we offer free advice from a team of non-judgemental professionals, many of whom are in recovery and understand how hard it can be to change your relationship with addiction.
For more information, simply reach out to our 24/7, confidential hotline on 0800 140 4690.
There is no evidence that engaging with Reiki for addiction treatment will harm you physically. As the practice simply involves a therapist holding their hand over a patient, there is no risk that the patient will have a negative physical response to a Reiki session.
However, there could be other mild risks that you need to consider before going to Reiki therapy. For example, there is a risk that the treatment could be ineffective, and this is particularly a problem if you spent a lot of money on the session(s).
If this happens at rehab, you may feel as though you missed out on trying other forms of individual therapy that would have been more effective.
Some patients feel incredibly tired after Reiki sessions, which can be risky if they need to drive home or go to work after the session. However, most patients do not experience extreme fatigue, and this is thought to resolve itself as the patient’s body heals.
In some cases, patients do not feel comfortable with Reiki, and this leads to an anxiety-inducing session.
For instance, if they do not like the idea of lying down in a dark room, or being in close contact with what is potentially a stranger, they may leave the session feeling even more stressed. However, this is rare.
It goes without saying that getting Reiki from an unqualified individual poses risks. You should always make sure you are meeting with a professional Reiki therapist, and this will always be the case if you go to inpatient rehab.
Yes, you can get Reiki, and various other holistic therapies, at rehab. Most drug and alcohol rehab clinics in the UK will offer holistic therapy, but you will have to check that they provide Reiki treatment before you register.
Rehab 4 Addiction can arrange for you to get Reiki treatment at inpatient rehab, outpatient rehab, or an outpatient clinic. Our referrals are known for being extremely effective, so we can usually get you a place in treatment in a few days or weeks.
Reiki treatment can occur before or after a drug or alcohol detox, depending on the patient’s specific needs, and the protocol of the rehab centre.
Often, patients will begin Reiki after they have detoxed from a substance, as part of the therapy programme at rehab. Reiki sessions help patients to stay calm as they battle tough conversations, big life decisions, and intense feelings.
Sometimes, Reiki sessions take place while the patient is still in the process of detoxing. This can either reduce the withdrawal symptoms they are experiencing or help them to cope with the unwanted symptoms.
For example, if they are feeling highly anxious during the detox, Reiki could bring their anxiety level down.
Each patient is treated as an individual at rehab, so we cannot say whether you would have Reiki before or after the detox, and whether it would work for you. Some patients do not feel any less anxious after having Reiki.
Fortunately, the treatment plan can be adapted when necessary, so the staff will change their techniques when they notice that something isn’t working for them.
This could mean introducing evidence-based therapy or another alternative therapy with Reiki, reducing your Reiki sessions, or swapping the practice entirely and replacing it with a different therapy.
At Rehab 4 Addiction, we offer free advice from a team of non-judgemental professionals, many of whom are in recovery and understand how hard it can be to change your relationship with addiction.
For more information, simply reach out to our 24/7, confidential hotline on 0800 140 4690.
Reiki is not an evidence-based therapy. Though there are studies suggesting it can successfully treat addiction, it is not part of the group of evidence-based therapies that are linked to a host of scientific studies (such as dialectical behaviour therapy, compassion-focused therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and cognitive behavioural therapy).
However, Reiki is often referred to as a complementary therapy (3). This means it can be used alongside evidence-based therapies for more universal addiction treatment. Just because it is not as closely linked to science as other therapy models does not mean it should be avoided at all costs.
There is no set structure for a Reiki session, so your therapist will explain what the session will look like before you start. This will include telling you how long it is expected to last, how you are supposed to position yourself, and what they will be doing to promote relaxation in your body.
Most of the time, Reiki patients will be asked to get comfortable on a table or chair. To make the environment peaceful, the lights will often be dimmed, and relaxing music will be played.
When the patient and therapist are both ready to begin, the therapist will start to place their hands over the patient’s torso, head, and limbs, without pressing down.
Sometimes, therapists hold their hands above the body, so no physical contact is made, but it is more common to gently touch the target areas.
The idea is that the therapist will move around the different areas of the body, releasing positive energy. They know to move onto another body part when they feel as though there is no remaining energy in their hands.
Again, there is no fixed timeframe for a Reiki session. If you are in an informal setting, such as with a trained friend or family member, you can decide how long you want the session to be.
The optimal time for a Reiki session is between 45-90 minutes, as this allows enough time for the therapist to work on the different areas of your body. If the session is too short, they may have to rush the process, which could significantly affect the success of the treatment.
Sometimes, patients leave a Reiki session feeling much better than they felt when they entered the room. They may feel more relaxed, comfortable, and energised. However, this does not always happen.
If Reiki is successful, most people will feel the effects within a few months. This of course depends on various other factors, such as other treatments they are receiving, how much sleep they are getting, what their diet is like, and whether they have remained sober.
It is proven that Reiki is great at boosting the mood of individuals who engage with this practice. A 2011 study found that Reiki can lead to lower stress levels, decreased anxiety and depression, and mood benefits (4).
When people with addiction experience these benefits, it is much easier for them to avoid relapse. There is less of an attraction to drugs and alcohol when an individual is a content, and when they are not struggling with serious mental health issues.
However, Reiki cannot cure mental health disorders, including addiction. Some people will always have to battle their problems, but they can manage them better with Reiki and other forms of therapy.
As Reiki is a method of relaxation, this can have a positive knock-on effect on various physical health conditions, such as stress-induced migraines, high blood pressure, and insomnia.
Your first port of call for a serious medical condition should not be Reiki, as there is not enough evidence to show that it significantly improves physical health. However, alongside medication and evidence-based therapy, Reiki can produce great results for physical pain.
No, you do not have to go to rehab to get Reiki. It is available in many different settings. However, if you have a moderate to severe substance abuse problem, we strongly recommend going to rehab for comprehensive treatment that includes Reiki.
Please get in touch with us at 0800 140 4690 if you would like to get Reiki treatment at residential rehab, or outpatient rehab.
We would be happy to explain more about Reiki, including the specifics of the therapy, the practicality of getting Reiki at rehab, and the types of people that benefit from Reiki the most.
If you do not want to try out Reiki, you can still get a referral to rehab with Rehab 4 Addiction. We will make sure that your treatment programme does not centre around Reiki, though we may ask you to give it a chance if this is something you are willing to do.
Work with us to find a place at a high-quality treatment centre. Tell us your needs, and we will find you a rehab facility with the aim of guiding you towards long-term addiction treatment.
[1] REIKI CAN’T POSSIBLY WORK. SO WHY DOES IT? https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/04/reiki-cant-possibly-work-so-why-does-it/606808/
[2] A Large-Scale Effectiveness Trial of Reiki for Physical and Psychological Health https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31638407/
[3] Complementary and Alternative Healthcare: Is it Evidence-based? https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3068720/
[4] A Randomised Controlled Single-Blind Trial of the Efficacy of Reiki at Benefitting Mood and Well-Being https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2011/381862/
