Why it is good for you
Reiki works in conjunction with the meridian energy lines and chakras through the use of the hand-positions, which normally correspond to the seven major chakras on the body. These hand-positions are used both on the front and back of the body, and can include specific areas (see localized treatment). According to authors such James Deacon, Usui used only five formal hand-positions, which focused on the head and neck. After Reiki had been given first to the head and neck area, specific areas of the body where imbalances were present would then be treated.
The Reiki healing technique uses energy to remove blockages that can occur within the body’s energy fields. The practice teaches that there is a flow of energy within and around the human body.
Without this flow blockages can occur due to stress, anxiety, or tension. It is believed that these blockages can harm the body, mind, or spirit.
Because of these blockages, you may experience physical or emotional pain. When the Reiki treatment process is used for healing, these blockages can be removed, and the physical or mental pain can be eliminated.
Healing
Usui Reiki Ryōhō does not use any medication or instruments, but uses looking, blowing, light tapping, and touching. According to Frank Arjava Petter, Usui touched the diseased parts of the body, he massaged them, tapped them lightly, stroked them, blew on them, fixed his gaze upon them for two to three minutes, and specifically gave them energy, and used a technique commonly referred to as palm healing as a form of complementary and alternative medicine. Through the use of this palm healing (sometimes referred to as "tenohira" (掌, meaning "the palm"), practitioners believe that they are transferring healing energy in the form of qi through the palms.
Whole body treatment
In a typical whole-body Reiki treatment, the Reiki practitioner instructs the recipient to lay down, usually on a massage table, and relax. Loose, comfortable clothing is usually worn during the treatment. The practitioner might take a few moments to enter a calm or meditative state of mind and mentally prepare for the treatment.
The treatment proceeds with the practitioner placing the hands on the recipient in various positions. However, practitioners may use a non-touching technique, where the hands are held a few centimeters away from the recipient's body for some or all of the positions. The hands are usually kept in a position for three to five minutes before moving to the next position. Overall, the hand positions usually give a general coverage of the head, the front and back of the torso, the knees, and feet. Between 12 and 20 positions are used, with the whole treatment lasting anywhere from 45 to 90 minutes.
The intuitive approach might also lead to individual positions being treated for much shorter or longer periods.
The use of the 12 hand positions energize on many levels, by,
• Energizing on a physical level through the warmth of the hands,
• Energizing on the mental level through the use of the Reiki symbols,
• Energizing on the emotional level through the love that flows with the use of the symbols,
• Energizing on the energetic level though the presence of an initiated practitioner as well as the presence of the Reiki power itself.
It is reported that the recipient often feels warmth or tingling in the area being treated, even when a non-touching approach is being used. A state of deep relaxation, combined with a general feeling of well-being, is usually the most noticeable immediate effect of the treatment, although emotional releases can also occur. As the Reiki treatment is said to stimulate the body's natural healing processes, instantaneous "cures" of specific health problems are not normally observed. A series of ten treatments, typically at intervals of five weeks, is usually recommended if a chronic condition is being addressed, and regular treatments on an on-going basis can be used with the aim of maintaining well-being.
Localized treatment
Some practitioners use localized treatments for certain ailments, and some publications have tabulated appropriate hand positions. However, other practitioners prefer to use the whole body treatment for all chronic conditions, on the grounds that it has a more holistic effect. Another approach is to give a whole body treatment first, followed by a localized treatment for any specific ailments.
Safety and effectiveness
Reiki practitioners may encourage their clients to consult a medical doctor for serious conditions, stating that Reiki can be used to complement conventional medicine. Clinical trials have not reported any significant adverse effects from the use of Reiki.