Reiki – pronounced ray-key' – is a Japanese word used to describe any type of healing work based on life-force energy. In the United States, it is the common word for the Usui System of Natural Healing eGuide, a hands-on healing method that focuses universal energy into a recipient's body. In a typical Reiki session, Reiki is applied using specific hand positions, over several places, front and back, from the tailbone to the top of the head. Then specific conditions are addressed in the areas of the body needing attention. Applied in a systematic fashion, Reiki is extremely effective.

Reiki serves as an excellent first-aid technique for accidents and injuries. Reiki helps in reversing and healing existing health problems, and it can be safely used as a complement to other healthcare methods. Reiki has proven to be entirely in keeping with modern ideas of preventive medicine and holistic health.

Reiki works by balancing and restoring the body's natural healing abilities. The Usui System can be easily taught to anyone regardless of age, physical condition or spiritual beliefs. Because of this wide range for Reiki students and Reiki's use for first-aid, Reiki training for the entire family is becoming more popular.

In the mid-1800's in Kyoto, Japan, Dr. Mikao Usui, President of the Christian University, rediscovered this ancient healing system. For many years, this dynamic system was taught only to members of the Japanese aristocracy.

About 1925, Usui passed on his understanding and refinements of Reiki to Dr. Chujiro Hayashi, a Japanese Medical Doctor. Dr. Hayashi opened a Reiki clinic in Tokyo and kept detailed records of treatments given. From his work, he developed the Usui System of Natural Healing, which includes standard hand positions and training system.

In the 1930s, Dr. Hayashi passed on his work to Hawayo Takata, a Hawaiian. Until 1975, she was the only person in the entire Western Hemisphere teaching this ancient healing art. Today, Reiki is being taught to people all over the world. It is used in holistic healthcare delivery systems at major hospitals and university's in America today.

Certified Reiki teachers often sponsor exchange or support groups, which meet periodically to exchange Reiki treatments on each other, as well as give treatments to guests. These groups provide an excellent opportunity to learn more about Reiki, meet trained people and get to know the teachers better. You may decide to take training–at a minimum, for family use–and benefit from Reiki any time you want.

A female client has fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis, and is in some degree of constant pain. Two or three times a week, she is treated with Reiki. After these treatments, her pain level has significantly subsided, her energy level has significantly increased, and her mental outlook and attitude towards life has greatly improved. Recently she said,"The only time I am completely without pain is when I am on the table receiving Reiki. What a relief!"

Another client frequently gets migraine headaches. When this occurs and he is able to get to the office, he is treated with Reiki directly to his head. The frequency of the migraines has significantly decreased with the use of regular Reiki treatments.

Reiki has proven over time to be very, very effective on all types of headaches and in greatly reducing stress.

Source: Doug Gibbs, CRMT, Arvada CO.

A Denver man with lymphoma, had a reaction to his chemotherapy, resulting in a temperature of 104.3. His sister wanted to take him to the hospital but he refused to get out of bed. He had tried Tylenol and other medications but nothing was effective. Reiki was applied to him. One hour after he was treated, his temperature had come down a full degree. Ninety minutes after treatment, he was able to go to the hospital.

During a team building program, a man threw out his shoulder in an activity. He was in a great deal of pain and detached himself from the group. He was treated with Reiki. After five minutes, he integrated back into the group, and was amazed that he didn't feel any pain. This is something that happens to him often and the pain normally lasts for several hours.

A Denver woman's back had been hurting her for several days. She received a Reiki treatment from her brother's Reiki practitioner, and after twenty minutes her pain went away.

Source: Marcella Skogen, CRTII, Denver CO.

Reiki also works on animals. Karen Chenoweth treats a 17 year-old horse that has arthritis of the spine. The horse has a history of flinching and moving in pain when being saddled. The rider now reports"1000% improvement in putting on saddle" and tightening the girth.

After a horse-kick injury on her foot, Karen Chenoweth immediately used Reiki on herself. She was fully recovered by the next morning. Normally, it takes a week to recover from such an injury.

Source: Karen Chenoweth, CRMT, Broomfield CO.

Following three months of chemotherapy, a client was suffering from a dramatically enlarged spleen. She then had Reiki treatments on her spleen. On her next visit to her oncologist, he found that the spleen was back to normal size.

Another client suffered from asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. After one month of Reiki three times per week, she is reporting more ease in her breathing.

Chapter Sources: Tim McNamara, CRMT, Denver CO; and Kenton Johnson, CRTII, Denver CO.

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