The truth of Reiki is in your practice.

Reiki is a simple practice. What supports it best is simply to practice. People, however, are often not so simple; we like and deserve support from many avenues. In this section, you will find support in the form of answers to common questions about Reiki practice, articles about Reiki and related health or spiritual topics, and links where you can purchase various supports including treatment tables, session timers, music, meditation training and Pamela's favorite books on healing, spirituality, and medicine. 

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Are you saying that only people who are initiated into Reiki can heal with their hands? Not at all. Hands on healing may be the oldest form of healing known to humanity. There are many techniques of manual healing, and some people practice naively, without any training. Reiki is a particular technique of vibrational healing that is facilitated by touch, which is very easy to learn at the First degree, and which can effectively be practiced on oneself.

I often place my hands gently on my body while resting. Am I doing Reiki? Unless you have received the Reiki initiations, you are not practicing Reiki.

Will Reiki treatment interfere with medications or other conventional treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation? Reiki has no known medical contraindications and safely supports any medical intervention without interference because Reiki operates at a very subtle level. Pharmaceutical medication and surgery are directed at specific targets within the body (tumor cells, invading pathogens, blocked vessels, specific receptors or metabolic pathways). In contrast, Reiki does not attack disease, it balances the person experiencing the disease. When an invasive medical intervention is necessary, such as surgery or medications that have side effects, Reiki helps the body rebalance so that it can heal more efficiently. People using Reiki during chemotherapy, for example, report fewer and lighter side effects of treatment, and greater emotional equilibrium than when they received chemo without Reiki. As has already been demonstrated for acupuncture and some mind/body interventions, Reiki may help support the body's ongoing function as it undergoes chemotherapy. Many patients feel it is worthwhile to either learn Reiki or receive treatment simply because it helps them feel better.

I'm very anxious and my mind jumps all over the place. I can't sit still. Don't I have to be able to focus to do Reiki? No, you do not. One of the great advantages of this technique is that you do not need to concentrate to access the healing pulsation. Once you have completed the First degree training, you are able to give yourself Reiki no matter what your state of mind. I have trained many people who have used Reiki to support their recovery from substance abuse. Reiki is also effective in healing trauma.

Can I learn Reiki from a book? No, you cannot learn Reiki from a book. You can only learn Reiki from a qualified Reiki master who not only instructs you in the technique, but even more importantly, who gives you the initiations needed to commence your practice. I suggest that students refrain from reading books about Reiki until they are very solid in their practice, because each Reiki master has her own perspective and understanding, and this can be very confusing to a beginner. It's wiser to simply continue with the practice as you have been taught. Reiki reveals itself through daily practice. When you feel that you have a strong inner connection with Reiki, then it can be stimulating to read about other perspectives, but it is not necessary to do so. At all levels, Reiki is developed through self-treatment, not through reading.

How can someone who is ill give themselves Reiki? Aren't they just re-circulating bad energy? Reiki self-treatment is effective regardless the health of the practitioner because the initiations connect beyond the individual biofield to the inner wellspring of healing vibrations. Placing hands lightly on one's own body stimulates a flow of healing pulsations that encourages the individual to return to balance. I have created hospital programs where patients with HIV/AIDS, cancer, or sickle cell anemia have been trained in Reiki self-treatment. A program evaluation conducted during these classes showed significant reduction in anxiety and pain after 20 minutes of Reiki treatment. The effect was the same whether it was self-treatment or students treating each other. No one is saying that Reiki cures serious illnesses, but there is much anecdotal evidence that people can ease their suffering and strengthen well-being with Reiki self-treatment.

Is it true that you shouldn't give Reiki to a broken bone before it is set? I do not consider this is a valid concern. My experience is that Reiki enables appropriate healing within the immediate context. I have never heard of a situation in which a bone healed prematurely because of Reiki treatment. If anyone has had such an experience, please report it to the Institute for the Advancement of Complementary Therapies (I*ACT) I encourage students to follow their own understanding and intuition. If you have a doubt, give Reiki to the head, or solar plexus, or the surrounding area to reduce the trauma and relieve pain until the patient receives qualified medical attention.

I've been told not to send people Reiki while they are in surgery because it might interfere with the anesthesia. Is this true? This is a point on which there is much controversy in the Reiki community. I have supported many surgical patients, and have given Reiki in the operating room during surgery, and there has never been a problem. On the contrary, the patients have healed very well. My experience is that Reiki minimizes the trauma of surgery without interfering with it, just as it minimizes the side effects of radiation and chemotherapy, thereby possibly enhancing their effectiveness. Surgeons often comment on the speed of recovery of patients using Reiki before, during or after surgery. Practitioners who caution against Reiki and surgery are concerned that the body will process the anesthesia too quickly. I have two responses to that. First of all, at least one anesthesiologist is continually present and monitoring the patient, adjusting the medication as needed. Secondly, Reiki does not heal allopathically, in isolation; Reiki heals holistically, in context. It has been my experience that Reiki enables the body to heal in ways that enhance and do not compromise surgical outcomes. I request anyone who has had a contrary experience to send a report to the Institute for the Advancement of Complementary Therapies (I*ACT)

Does one have to agree with particular religious beliefs to practice Reiki? Not at all. Reiki is a non-dogmatic healing technique. You don't have to believe in anything to benefit from it. You don't even have to believe it can help you. You simply have to be open to try it. Those who have strong religious convictions find nothing in Reiki to contradict their religious beliefs. Of course I do not inquire about students' religious beliefs, but students of mine who are Christians, Jews, and Muslims have shared that Reiki deepened their connection to their religion.

The idea of an initiation seems so foreign to me. What exactly is happening? Is it safe? It's true that initiation is not common in contemporary American or European culture. It is, however, something that exists in every indigenous culture and in all spiritual traditions. Reiki initiations are sometimes called attunements or empowerments; they empower the student to practice Reiki. The Reiki initiations open the connection between the individual bioenergetic field and its inner source, so that healing Reiki pulsations will flow spontaneously in response to need. Hawayo Takata gave four initiations in the First degree training, each one creating a stronger connection. The final initiation includes a seal so that the capacity to offer Reiki is never lost. The Reiki initiations are safe, but it may not be prudent to receive initiation from someone with whom you are uncomfortable. As in all healing relationships, we deserve to work with someone who is qualified and whose presence feels respectful and nourishing. Some people are simply incompatible, and others have hidden agendas. Trust your instincts.

Is Reiki meditation? No, Reiki is not meditation, but they are deeply related. Meditators connect very readily to Reiki, and Reiki practice deepens one's practice of meditation. People who have found their attempts to meditate frustrating, find that a few moments of Reiki can lead them easily into a meditative state. What we today call Reiki grew out of Mikao Usui's Method to Achieve Personal Perfection, which was a meditative spiritual practice. Reiki may draw you into a meditative state if the circumstances are conducive. Otherwise, you will experience relaxation and centering.

Can people be hurt with Reiki? No, because Reiki does not heal through the intention or direction of the practitioner. Reiki flows in response to the need of the person receiving the treatment, and stops once balance is achieved. When there is no need, the Reiki hands become quiet. Although Reiki is not harmful, unbalancing or dangerous, it may uncover a pre-existing imbalance. For example, a person who is deeply exhausted may feel the need to sleep more in the days following treatment. It is not that Reiki made him sleepy, but rather that Reiki relaxed him enough to be both aware of his fatigue and able to rest. I know of no adverse reactions, but if such reactions are being experienced, it would be important for that experience to be investigated and understood. Anyone who experiences an adverse response to Reiki is asked to submit a report to the Institute for the Advancement of Complementary Therapies (I*ACT)

Medical Papers in PDF:(Click to download)



Miles P. Reiki for Support of Cancer Patients. Advances in Mind-Body Medicine. Fall 2007;22(2):20-26. (Open access article)





Reiki Vibrational Healing. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. 2003;9(4):74-83.






Miles P, True G. Reiki--Review of a Biofield Therapy: History, Theory, Practice and Research. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. 2003;9(2):62-72.






Miles P. Preliminary report on the use of Reiki for HIV-related pain and anxiety. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. 2003;9(2):36.






Schmehr R. Case Report: Enhancing the Treatment of HIV/AIDS with Reiki Training and Treatment. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. 2003;9(2):120.






Schiller R. Reiki: A Starting Point for Integrative Medicine. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. 2003;9(2):20-21.

You can download, reproduce, and freely share the Reiki backgrounder at the website of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). NCCAM is the center at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that studies the safety and efficacy of complementary therapies such as Reiki. 




Michael Cohen, JD writes a blog that is an invaluable resource for any health care professional interested in the legal aspects of the practice of complementary and alternative medicine.


Alandydy P. Guidelines for Hospital Reiki Practice. 2003.




POPULAR MEDIA

This book is a comprehensive and reliable resource for anyone who is addressing cancer or who works with cancer patients. It includes a section on Reiki for cancer prevention written by Pamela Miles.  Alternative Medicine Magazine's Definitive Guide to Cancer: An Integrative Approach to Prevention, Treatment, and Healing (Alternative Medicine Guides)

Interviews with Pamela Miles by United Press International columnist Bernard Starr, PhD
Reiki: A healing touch


Reiki: Learning to do it




Reiki module written by Pamela Miles for the consumer health website of the Center for Spirituality and Healing at the University of Minnesota. 


Reiki in Hospitals:
These articles describe the use of Reiki in various medical settings and
address issues relevant to integrating Reiki into conventional health care,
such as research.

Reiki in Hospitals - introduces Reiki and medicine, and
describes HIV Reiki programs in New York City hospitals.

Reiki in Portsmouth Regional Hospital - started in 1995, this Reiki program has provided over 8000 treatments.

Reiki at the NIH's Clinical Center - Reiki is used by the Pain and Palliative Care Service to relieve pain and suffering of patients enrolled in clinical research trials.

Emergency Reiki: professionals use Reiki in emergency and acute care settings.

Outpatient Reiki - A non-medical professional collaborates to offer Reiki to patients in conventional health care settings.


Foreign Language Translations



Reiki dans les Hopitaux par Pamela Miles - traduit et resume par Nita Mocanu. Publie dans la revue Reiki FORUM. 

Reiki en los hospitales por Pamela Miles - traducido y resumido por Dorina Mocanu. Publicado en la revista Reiki FORUM.

"Reiki y Medicina" por Pamela Miles y Gala True traducido por Viviana Bilezker. Los aspectos bio-energticos de Reiki en su aplicacin teraputica.

Deutsche Ubersetzung: Josefa Kayatz und Oliver Klatt
Erstveroffentlichung in deutscher Sprache im Reiki Magazin, Ausgabe 4/2003 .
www.reiki-magazin.de






Articles in PDF:






Miles P. The Bridge to Conventional Medicine: A Call for Case Reports. Reiki Magazine International. 2002;4(3):32-33






Schmehr R. Case Report: Enhancing the Treatment of HIV/AIDS with Reiki Training and Treatment. Reiki Magazine International. 2002;4(3):34-35






Miles P. Ask your question: Reiki and surgery. Reiki Magazine International. 2002;4(4):14






Miles. P, Simple Steps for Self Healing






Articles by Pamela Miles on the web:





Miles P. From Here to Serenity. Yoga Journal; March/April 2000
www.yogajournal.com/health/62_1.cfm   






Miles P. How Doctors can Help.  Spirituality and Health; Fall 2000
www.spiritualityhealth.com/newsh/items/article/item_38.html






Miles P. Healing Naturally: Symptoms and Suggestions. CRIA Update.  Forum summary from Complementary Therapies and HIV Disease, June 9, 1999. 
www.thebody.com/cria/summer99/symtoms.html 






Miles P. Complementary Medicine: A User's Guide. CRIA Update. Summer 1999;8(3): pp 3.
www.thebody.com/cria/summer99/user_guide.html








Published Articles

Shiflet S, Nayak S, Bid C, Miles P, Agostinelli S. Effect of Reiki Treatments on Functional Recovery in Patients in Poststroke Rehabilitation: A Pilot Study. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2002;8(6):755-763.

Miles P. Experts Meet on Integrative Pain Management. International Journal of Integrative Medicine. June/July 2002;4(3):48-50.

Miles P. Living with HIV: healthy therapy options. Daily News AIDS Awareness Special Supplement. May 1999: p 19.






Pamela Miles in the media

"Reiki--Simple and Profound" by Shirley Vanderbilt
Massage and Bodywork June/July 2006
http://www.massageandbodywork.com/Articles/JuneJuly2006/reiki.html

"Researching Reiki" by Shirley Vanderbilt
Massage and Bodywork Feb/March 2004
http://www.massagetherapy.com/articles/index.php/article_id/640

Nguyen L. Healthy Alternative: Old medicine meets new as a lifestyle. New York Daily News; New York, NY; Feb 19, 2001; www.nydailynews.com


Reiki therapy provides emotional well-being. Patient Education Management. November 2002;9(11):130-132.

McDaniel B. What the doctor ordered: Reiki in hospitals. Reiki Magazine International. 2000;3(3):24-27.

"Energy Medicine Goes Main Street" by Alison Rose Levy 
Spirituality and Health Spring 2001
http://www.spiritualityhealth.com/NMagazine/articles.php?id=676

"Energy Healing" by Catherine Guthrie
Alternative Medicine October 2003
http://www.alternativemedicine.com/common/news/store_news.asp?task=store_news&SID_store_news=772&storeID=02AD61F001A74B5887D3BD11F6C2816

Links to Support Your Practice, 
Deepen Your Understanding, and 
Strengthen Your Wellbeing


The updated paperback edition of Reiki: A Comprehensive Guide is now available. I wrote this book as a companion to support your continuing practice and deepening understanding of Reiki, regardless your lineage or practice style. 


Meditate CD by Pamela Miles and bansuri flute master Steve Gorn 
Reiki and meditation are separate practices that complement one another. This CD will help you start to meditate or deepen your existing practice. You can listen to the tracks directly from the CD or create different meditation playlists to suit your mood and developing skill. You can also refresh yourself midday by listening to the Natural Breath track right at your desk. 

A treatment table provides for the comfort of both the recipient and the practitioner. If you are giving frequent treatments to clients or friends and family, it is a wise investment. Health Mark Reiki Portable Massage Table 



The Reiki timer emits a lovely gong chime at regular intervals that tells you when to move your hands to the next placement.


The Meditation timer provides the same support for your meditation, and shuts off so you can end your session or continue uninterrupted for as long as you like. 

Anyone who is addressing cancer or who works with cancer patients will find much of interest in this book, including a section on Reiki for cancer prevention written by Pamela Miles. Alternative Medicine Magazine's Definitive Guide to Cancer: An Integrative Approach to Prevention, Treatment, and Healing (Alternative Medicine Guides)





The Wellness Inventory helps you assess and strengthen your overall wellness by recognizing those parts of life where you consistently support your well-being, identifying those areas where you are not satisfied, and creating an on-going program to raise your satisfaction. 

The Reiki Alliance is an international organization of Reiki masters who stay close to the practice as taught by Hawayo Takata. www.reikialliance.com



Meditation is a companion practice to Reiki. One does not replace the other; rather they support and expand one another. 
www.siddhayoga.org

www.sallykempton.com

Some people prefer to have soft music during Reiki treatment. These CDs have no percussion and are suitable for either self-treatment or when sharing Reiki with another.
R. Carlos Nakai  Sanctuary


Steve Gorn Luminous Ragas




Andrew Weil, MD, is a trusted resource for information on integrative medicine and health practices (see books below). www.drweil.com


Intuition opens naturally with consistent, daily Reiki self-treatment over time. When students want to learn more, I refer them to the work of psychiatrist, intuitive and author, Judith Orloff (see books below). www.drjudithorloff.com


People often use Reiki to support healthy weight management. You may also find these CDs useful The Self-hypnosis Diet: Use the Power of Your Mind to Make Any Diet Work for You by Steven Gurgevich, PhD


Pamela's favorite books on healing, spirituality and medicine:



HEALING

General

 
Healing Sounds: The Power of Harmonics by Jonathan Goldman



Food and Healing by Annemarie Colbin PhD  



Continuum Concept by Jean Liedloff



Energy Medicine by Donna Eden and David Feinstein PhD



Spontaneous Healing by Andrew Weil, MD



Healthy Aging by Andrew Weil, MD



Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom by Christiane Northrup, MD



Healing Night: The Science and Spirit of Sleeping, Dreaming, and Awakening by Rubin Naiman, PhD



Heal Thyself: Lessons on Mindfulness in Medicine by Saki Santorelli PhD



Healing Words by Larry Dossey, MD




Native American Healing

Coyote Medicine by Lewis Mehl-Madrona, MD, PhD



Honoring the Medicine: An Essential Guide to Native American Healing by Kenneth Cohen




Ayurveda

The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies by Vasant Lad



Body, Mind, and Sport: The Mind-Body Guide to Lifelong Health, Fitness, and Your Personal Best  by John Douillard



The Three-Season Diet: Eat the Way Nature Intended: Lose Weight, Beat Food Cravings, and Get Fit by John Douillard




Chinese Medicine

The Way of Qigong: The Art and Science of Chinese Energy Healing by Kenneth Cohen



Move Your Stuff, Change Your Life: How to Use Feng Shui to Get Love, Money, Respect and Happiness by Karen Rauch Carter



Floral Acupuncture: Applying the Flower Essences of Dr. Bach to Acupuncture Sites by Deborah Craydon and Warren Bellows




Intuition


Intuitive Healing by Judith Orloff, MD






SPIRITUALITY




True Nature by Barbara Bash


Crooked Cucumber: The Life and Zen Teaching of Shunryu Suzuki by David Chadwick



The Heart of Meditation: Pathways to a Deeper Experience by Swami Durgananda, Sally Kempton



Courage and Contentment by Gurumayi Chidvilasanda




Yoga Spandakarika: The Sacred Texts at the Origins of Tantra by Daniel Odier



Ultimate Healing: The Power of Compassion by Lama Zopa Rinpoche



The Splendor of Recognition: An Exploration of the Pratyabhijna-hrdayam, a Text on the Ancient Science of the Soul by Swami Shantananda



Daughters of the Goddess: The Women Saints of India by Linda Johnsen





MEDICINE



Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science by Atul Gawande, MD



On Call: A Doctor's Days and Nights in Residency by Emily R. Transue, MD



Kitchen Table Wisdom: Stories that Heal by Rachel Naomi Remen, MD



My Grandfather's Blessings: Stories of Strength, Refuge and Belonging by Rachel Naomi Remen, MD



In the Country of Illness by Robert Lipsyte



Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World by Tracey Kidder


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