Reiki -

The very origin of Reiki is questionable. Some practitioners claim this is an ancient Tibetan healing system while other sources state it originated with a Buddhist schoolteacher in Japan in the mid 1800s.  In practice it uses light touch hand placements on the patient or above the patient to channel healing energies to the recipient. Practitioners attempt to “redirect the body’s spiritual energy”  Some practitioners that are more mercenary, will employ “Reiki by phone” for a fee, of course.  Reiki practitioners may vary widely in technique and philosophy, Reiki commonly is used to treat emotional and mental distress and chronic and acute physical problems and to assist the recipient in achieving spiritual focus and clarity.  There is little alpha level evidence Reiki has any benefit in physical healing of the body.  One study of Reiki on healing of wounds for very mixed results (Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2016 Aug 23;(8) with all studies at high risk for bias.  Reiki was specifically “not recommended” as a treatment for fibromyalgia syndrome (Schmertz 2012 Jun;26(3):311-17).  A review of randomized controlled trials with Reiki found “the evidence is insufficient to suggest that Reiki is an effective treatment for any condition” (Int J Clin Pract 2008 Jun;62(6):947-54.  On the other hand, there are many very positive Reiki studies that are uncontrolled (no placebo or comparison arm) suggesting strongly that Reiki functions primarily as a placebo effect itself, or the “power of suggestion” may convince unwitting patients of its usefulness.  There is also a profoundly strong bias in most of these exuberantly positive studies that invalidate most of the studies. (same person administering Reiki is collecting the results and analysis)