Remove the cause and you will remove the effect - Hawayo Takata

A Reiki treatment is pleasant, soothing, relaxing, and centering. It can also be gently energizing, depending on the recipient’s current state. Reiki is always balancing, and follows the need of the receiver, not the intention of the practitioner. Besides immediate stress-reduction and symptomatic relief, there are other subtle and profound effects that unfold over time and accumulate with continued treatment. Reiki works from the most subtle level of our existence, where imbalance begins. As we regain balance, called homeostasis in medicine, superficial symptoms often disappear, and the body's innate healing potential is enhanced. Whereas specific results are never promised, and vary widely from person to person, Reiki can be a valuable addition to any treatment plan or well-being program. Because Reiki is balancing and extremely gentle, it is appropriate in any situation. It will not interfere with any medical interventions being used, and will provide comfort and relief from their side effects. It is often suggested that those who seek Reiki during chronic or serious illness have at least four treatments, on consecutive days if possible, before evaluating the benefit Reiki may bring. The effect of Reiki treatment is cumulative, and although treatment is generally relaxing, there are often distinct differences in the experience of different treatments and an overall deepening of the experience over repeated sessions.

Types of Treatment

Reiki is most commonly offered through light touch to a clothed recipient who is either lying down or sitting comfortably. In a complete treatment, hands are placed on the head and the front and back of the torso. Hands can also be placed wherever there is pain or injury, if desired. Hands-on treatment can be received from anyone who has completed First degree training or higher.

Hands-on Reiki can be offered informally as needed. Placing hands lightly for even a few moments can be beneficial, especially in an emergency situation.

Reiki can also be offered as distant healing by a practitioner who has been trained at the Second degree.

Timing of treatments

There is a wide range of opinion regarding the timing of treatment. Generally it is advisable to have treatments closer together at the beginning. Whether this is daily or weekly should be discussed by the practitioner and client and decided either before or after the first treatment.

If you learn to practice Reiki on yourself (from a Reiki master in 8-10 class hours), you will be able to give yourself as much treatment as you like. At least once a day is recommended (which can be done while falling asleep or awakening--or both!). People with chronic health concerns often practice more than once a day, depending on need and schedule. You can still receive treatment from a professional if you choose, and you will find that those treatments deepen once you start practicing on yourself.

Integrating Reiki

Reiki is a therapy that can be used alone or in conjunction with conventional medicine or other complementary and alternative techniques. Reiki will not alter the action of other interventions. When used to support a patient during necessary but invasive conventional medical procedures or therapies, Reiki may help maximize results while minimizing side effects by enabling the individual to return to balance between conventional treatment sessions.

Safety

There are no known medical contraindications to Reiki treatment. The recipient draws the healing vibration according to his/her need, so there is no danger of over-dosing. The only concern about the safety of Reiki is really a concern that people be sensible. Someone who has suffered poor health for a long time may feel so refreshed by Reiki treatment that they over-extend themselves. I have never seen real harm come from this, but it is simply wiser to conserve well-being than to exhaust it.

Each person must take responsibility for his/her medical care. Because Reiki is balancing and does not involve any substance, Reiki treatment can be safely combined with any conventional medical interventions or traditional healing therapies. Anyone dependent on medication, such as diabetics, should have their medications monitored by their physician, in case the need for medication decreases. I have seen the need for insulin reduced even in people who have been treated for diabetes over many years. Some patients have been able to reduce their psychiatric and pain medications under the close supervision of their physicians. This is a decision made between patient and physician and does not involve the Reiki practitioner.