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Mental Health Wiki > Depression > Treatments for depression > Complementary and lifestyle treatments for depression > Reiki
ReikiFrom $1Table of contentsWhat is reiki?Reiki (pronounced ‘ray-key’) is a form of energy healing that originated in Japan. A session of reiki involves a practitioner lightly laying their hands or placing them a few centimetres away from parts of the person’s body for 3-5 minutes per position. Distance reiki, where the practitioner can work without being physically present with the recipient, is available with further training. How is it meant to work?There is no scientific explanation for how reiki works. Practitioners believe reiki uses life force energy present in all living things to promote self-healing. This energy is believed to flow through the practitioner’s hands to the patient. Does it work?One study in 45 adults with depression symptoms compared hands-on reiki, distance reiki and distance reiki placebo where no healing took place. Sessions were 1 to 1.5 hours long once a week for six weeks. The study found that the hands-on reiki and distance reiki groups improved more than the distance reiki placebo group. These improvements were still present one year later. These findings need to be confirmed in further research. Are there any risks?Reiki appears to be generally safe. RecommendationThere is not enough good evidence to say whether reiki works. ReferencesShore AG. Long-term effects of energetic healing on symptoms of psychological depression and self-perceived stress. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine 2004; 10(3):42-48. |