Reiki is not Alternative Medicine

emily
Jul 10, 2020
2 min read

I don't consider reiki to be alternative medicine, as it's not intended to substitute the medical expertise and advice of your health care provider. I consider it a complimentary practice.

This topic comes up frequently when I talk about reiki with my friends and colleagues in the medical field - ranging from naturopathic doctors to ICU nurses and palliative care professionals - and we all agree in this approach. I use reiki as a complementary tool that can be used in a holistic health approach.

Complimentary Medicine

Non-mainstream treatments that are used alongside mainstream medical treatments are called complimentary medicine. Examples of these modalities may include reiki, massage, acupuncture, tai chi or even drinking green tea. An example of complimentary medicine in practice is using reiki to help reduce stress and anxiety associated with cancer treatments.

Alternative Medicine

If a non-mainstream practice is used in place of conventional medicine, it's considered alternative medicine. One example of alternative medicine in practice is using a specific diet to reduce cholesterol instead of medication that is prescribed by a doctor.

Holistic Approach

Holistic health is about caring for the whole person and taking your physical, mental, spiritual and social needs all into consideration - rather than, for example, one organ system. It's rooted in the understanding that all of these aspects affect your overall health, and being unwell in one aspect affects you in others. A holistic approach to healthcare aims for well-coordinated care between different providers and institutions.

Energy Therapy: Reiki's Role in Holistic Heath

The National Cancer Institute defines energy therapy (or energy healing) as a form of complementary medicine based on the belief that a vital energy flows through the human body. The goal of energy therapy is to balance the energy flow in the patient. It is used to reduce stress and anxiety, which is believed to trigger the bodies natural healing abilities and promote well-being.

People commonly report a sense of calm, mental clarity and sleeping well after receiving a reiki treatment. I have several clients who have shared that they felt grounded, centered, whole and even lighter after a reiki session with me.

Comment on this post with any questions/comments or send me an email for private inquiries.

#reiki #reikihealing #energy #energyhealing #holistic #holistichealth #health #complimentarymedicine #alternativemedicine