Can Reiki work alongside the NHS?

This is not a research paper but a personal understanding and account of the use of Reiki, more of which you can read in this blog.

For over 30 years I worked in the NHS as an Occupational Therapist (OT) in community mental health.  As an OT, I always worked with the “whole” person considering their physical, mental, emotional and social needs in regards to their disability or condition. However, it was only fairly recently, over the past 5 years, that I became aware of another aspect of a person’s life that was being ignored – the spiritual aspect.  When I use the word spiritual it is meant in a non-religious or non-faith context.  For me the spiritual aspect is the unspoken and sometimes unrecognised energy around us that impacts greatly upon our health and wellbeing.

Read Karen’s interview with Mystic Mag and how the NHS has contributed to where she is now.

Einstein and quantum physicists have explained that at a quantum level everything that exists in the universe is energy, vibrating and oscillating at different rates.

When we are in good health we are in a state of perfect subatomic communication between every part of our body.

This “communication” is at sub atomic level (biophotons that make up our physical body) and at subconscious level (thoughts and emotions).

When we eat a vegetable we absorb the biophotons created by the sun and stored in the plant as it grew.  We in turn store these biophotons which affect chemical reactions in our bodies.

At subconscious level every thought and emotion produces changes in our physical body and DNA which impact upon our health.

Energy shows that everything is connected and that once something is joined it remains connected.

The energy that is present for Reiki is present all around us and physicists have proven that our physical world is one large sea of energy that constantly flashes in and out in milliseconds and that nothing is solid.

Reiki and other energy modalities are started to be noticed by the NHS and other healthcare organisations in possibly adding another dimension to health and healing.

Reiki and meditation research has shown that both practitioner and receiver become synchronised in both alpha and theta brain wave states, left and right balanced. Zimmerman 1990.

There are over 57 NHS hospitals offering Reiki and some with their own in-house Reiki Therapist. I am delighted to have offered Reiki as a volunteer at the Fern Centre at North Devon District Hospital, Barnstaple.

Research on the effect of Reiki in a variety of clinical areas such as addictions, cancer, dementia and depression to name but a few, are becoming more widespread.   St Georges Hospital NHS Trust are currently doing research on the use of Reiki.

Further information can be found at UK Reiki Federation website

What is Reiki?

Reiki is a spiritual, energy based practise that promotes self-healing within the mind, body and spirit much like meditation.  It is a non-intrusive gentle modality that is both “hands on and hands off” and does not diagnose but works with what the body needs at that time, therefore complimenting other healthcare treatments.  Further information is found on the Reiki page.

As a Reiki Practitioner and teacher I am not doing the healing but am an integral part to kick-starting the person’s body to start a healing process.

Benefits of Reiki

At the very least Reiki can evoke a deeply relaxing state which in itself is effective at lowering blood pressure, reducing stress, promoting good sleep patterns and evoking a sense of peace and calm.

Reiki can help restore energy, re-balance the interface between physical and emotional health, ease anxiety and strengthen the immune system.

Experiencing Reiki

A Reiki session is unique to each person and to that point in time, as the body will receive what it needs in the present moment. Apart from a sense of deep relaxation people may experience sensations of warmth or cold, tingling even dizziness as the energy within the person shifts and resettles.  People may see colours or images which may have immediate meaning to them.  The Reiki energy will continue to shift and re-balance after the session so after effects of tiredness, being emotional, increased energy, vivid dreams may occur.

Who can have Reiki?

You don’t have to be unwell or ill to receive Reiki as we can all benefit from re-adjustment and realignment of our energy.  Reiki however will be especially beneficial for:-

• Managing stress
• Improving sleep patterns
• Enhancing sense of wellness
• Low mood
• Anxiety
• Pain relief
• Muscular aches and pains

There are contra-indications for receiving Reiki such as first trimester of pregnancy, pace maker, epilepsy and recent fractures and operations.

What next?

If you are a healthcare worker in the NHS or experience any of the above and would like to have a Reiki session then please contact me for discounted rates.