The Harvard Study of Reiki Sessions
In 2019, Harvard University conducted a study on the effects of Reiki, aiming to explore its potential benefits and provide a more rigorous scientific assessment of this holistic practice. The study involved participants receiving Reiki sessions and measuring their physical and psychological responses. Results indicated that individuals who received Reiki reported significant reductions in stress, anxiety, and pain compared to a control group. The study also highlighted improvements in overall well-being and mood among the Reiki recipients. While the findings were promising, the researchers noted the need for larger, more comprehensive studies to conclusively determine the efficacy of Reiki and fully understand the mechanisms behind its effects. This study contributed to the growing body of evidence suggesting that Reiki may offer therapeutic benefits, encouraging further investigation within the scientific community.
From The Center for Reiki Research
“It’s been a long time coming, but the Reiki study conducted at Harvard by members of the Center for Reiki Research (Dr. Natalie Dyer, Dr. Ann Baldwin, and William Rand) in 2015 and 2016 has now been accepted for publication in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine! This is the largest prospective Reiki study to date and hopefully will lead to more research."
A total of 1411 Reiki sessions were conducted and included in the analysis. Statistically significant improvements were observed for all outcomes of psychological and physical and physical health, including pain, drowsiness, tiredness, nausea, appetite, shortness of breath, anxiety, depression, mood, and overall well-being.
The results from this large-scale multi-site effectiveness trial suggest that a single session of Reiki improves physical and psychological health”.
(Center for Reiki Research Facebook Page: Sept 23, 2019)