You’re lying on a table, fully clothed, in a room that probably smells like lavender or sandalwood. Someone is lightly resting their hands on your head or hovering them just above your torso. You feel... warm. Maybe a little tingly. Or maybe you just feel like you’re taking a really expensive nap.
This is the reality for thousands of people every day. But if you ask ten different people to explain reiki: what is it and how does it work, you’ll get ten different answers ranging from "it’s a miracle" to "it’s just the placebo effect."
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Honestly? It’s a bit of both, and a lot of history.
Reiki isn't some ancient, lost secret from the dawn of time. It was actually developed in the early 1920s by a Japanese man named Mikao Usui. After a period of fasting and meditation on Mount Kurama, Usui claimed to have a revelation about healing energy. He called it Reiki—Rei meaning "Universal" and Ki meaning "Life Energy." It’s the same "Ki" you hear about in Aikido or the "Qi" in Tai Chi.
The Mechanics of the "Energy"
Let's get the weird part out of the way first.
Practitioners believe there’s an invisible field of energy flowing through the human body. When this energy is blocked or "low," you get stressed or sick. When it’s "high," you feel great. The practitioner acts like a jumper cable for a car battery. They aren't giving you their energy—because that would leave them exhausted—instead, they’re channeling universal energy into you to kickstart your own healing process.
Does that sound like science? No. Not really.
If you look at the research from places like the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), they’ll tell you straight up: there is no high-quality scientific evidence proving this energy exists or that it can be manipulated by human hands.
But wait.
If it’s "fake," why are major institutions like the Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins, and Cleveland Clinic offering it to cancer patients and people recovering from surgery? They aren't doing it because they’ve suddenly abandoned science. They’re doing it because of the "how it works" part that happens in the nervous system.
The Parasympathetic Shift
When we talk about reiki: what is it and how does it work, we have to look at the Autonomic Nervous System.
Most of us spend our lives in "sympathetic" mode. Fight or flight. High cortisol. Racing thoughts. Reiki, through a combination of light touch, a quiet environment, and focused intention, forces the body into "parasympathetic" mode. Rest and digest.
A study published in the Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine back in 2017 looked at Reiki for pain and anxiety. The researchers found that Reiki was statistically better than a placebo at improving heart rate variability (HRV) and lowering blood pressure.
When your HRV improves, your body is literally better at handling stress. Your muscles unclench. Your breathing slows down. In that state, your immune system actually functions better. So, even if you don't believe in "auras" or "chakras," the physiological shift is very real. You aren't just imagining that you feel better; your body is actually chemically different after an hour on that table.
What Actually Happens in a Session?
It’s surprisingly boring.
You don’t take off your clothes. You don’t get cracked like a glow stick. You usually just lie there.
The practitioner follows a series of hand placements. They might start at your crown, move to your eyes, then the throat, the heart, the solar plexus, and down to the feet. They might hold a position for three minutes or ten.
Some people feel heat. I’ve talked to people who swear the practitioner’s hands felt like heating pads, even though the practitioner’s skin was room temperature. Others see colors. Some people just fall asleep and drool on the pillow.
Both are fine.
There are also different "levels" of practitioners.
- Level I: Can treat themselves and others.
- Level II: Can use symbols and even perform "distance reiki" (which is where even some fans start to raise an eyebrow).
- Master Level: Can teach others.
The "distance" thing is where the conversation gets polarized. Practitioners argue that because energy isn't bound by time or space, they can "send" it to someone in another city. Skeptics argue this is where the practice enters the realm of pure fantasy. Interestingly, a lot of the modern interest in Reiki grew during the pandemic when in-person touch wasn't an option, leading to a massive surge in Zoom-based energy sessions.
Is It Just a Placebo?
Maybe. But the placebo effect isn't a "nothing" result.
In medicine, if a sugar pill makes 30% of people feel better, we call it the placebo effect. In wellness, if a session makes you feel 30% less anxious, we call that a win.
Dr. Ann Linda Baldwin, a professor of physiology at the University of Arizona, has done significant work mapping the effects of Reiki on lab rats. Yes, rats. The reason that matters is that rats don't have "expectations." They don't know what Reiki is. They don't have a "belief" in energy healing. Yet, in her studies, stressed rats exposed to Reiki showed significantly reduced physiological signs of stress compared to those who weren't.
This suggests there’s something happening beyond just "thinking" you're getting better. Whether it's the biofield, the subtle electromagnetic frequency of the human heart, or something else entirely, we're still figuring it out.
Why Do People Get It Wrong?
The biggest misconception is that Reiki is a replacement for medical treatment.
It’s not.
If you have a broken leg, you need a cast. If you have an infection, you need antibiotics. Reiki is a complementary therapy. It sits alongside traditional medicine. It helps with the experience of being ill—the fear, the exhaustion, the pain management—but it doesn't "cure" diseases in the way a pharmaceutical drug targets a pathogen.
Another weird myth? That it’s a religion.
It’s not. You can be an atheist and do Reiki. You can be a priest and do Reiki. There’s no dogma. You don’t have to pray to anyone. It’s a technique, more like a specific type of meditation than a church service.
The Five Precepts
Mikao Usui didn't just teach hand positions. He taught a way of living. He had these five principles, which honestly, are just good advice for anyone, energy healer or not:
- Just for today, I will not worry.
- Just for today, I will not be angry.
- Just for today, I will be grateful.
- Just for today, I will do my work honestly.
- Just for today, I will be kind to every living thing.
It’s simple. Almost too simple. But if you actually try to live by those for 24 hours, you realize how hard it is.
How to Find Someone Who Isn't a Crook
Because Reiki isn't regulated by a government board like nursing or massage therapy, anyone can print a certificate and call themselves a Master. It’s a bit of a Wild West.
If you want to try it, look for someone who has a background in another clinical field—maybe a nurse or a licensed massage therapist who also does Reiki. Ask them about their lineage. In Reiki, "lineage" is the chain of teachers leading back to Mikao Usui. If they can’t tell you who taught them, walk away.
Also, watch out for "miracle" claims. If someone tells you they can cure your Stage 4 cancer with their hands, leave immediately. A real practitioner will tell you they are there to support your relaxation and well-being, nothing more.
Actionable Steps for the Curious
If you’re sitting there thinking this sounds like total nonsense but you’re still a little curious, here’s how to approach it without losing your mind or your money.
Start with Self-Applied "Reiki"
You don't need a practitioner to test the relaxation response. Sit in a quiet room. Place your hands over your heart. Close your eyes. Focus on the sensation of warmth between your palms and your chest. Breathe. Do this for five minutes. If you feel calmer, you’ve just experienced the baseline of what Reiki is trying to achieve.
Check Hospital Programs
If you want a session, see if your local hospital has an integrative medicine department. Many cancer centers offer Reiki for free or at a low cost to patients. These practitioners are vetted and understand how to work in a medical environment.
Vet Your Practitioner
Before booking, ask three questions:
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- "Where did you receive your training?"
- "How do you integrate this with traditional medical care?"
- "What should I expect to feel during and after the session?"
Set Realistic Expectations
Don't go in expecting to see God or have your chronic back pain vanish in thirty minutes. Go in with the goal of 60 minutes of deep, uninterrupted rest. Anything else that happens is a bonus.
Track the "Hangover"
Some people feel what’s called a "healing crisis"—basically, you might feel a bit tired or emotional the day after. This is common in many types of bodywork. Drink a ton of water and pay attention to your sleep quality for the 48 hours following a session.
Reiki is ultimately a tool for stillness. In a world that never shuts up, there’s something deeply valuable about a practice that requires you to be quiet, be present, and allow someone else to hold space for your healing. Whether that's "universal energy" or just the power of human compassion, the result is the same: a moment of peace.