The Alchemy of Healing: How Reiki Enhances The Hero One balm

From when Faye first made The Hero One Balm, she knew she wanted me to Reiki charge all the pots she had carefully curated.  Having grown up receiving and benefitting from Reiki treatments, this was an obvious step for her. Many of you may also have experienced the amazing benefits of Reiki, but for others who are wondering what Reiki is, and if it is just woo-woo, here’s a brief description together with some of the scientific evidence there is to support this unique healing practice. 

Reiki is an energy healing therapy developed in Japan in the early 1900s by Dr. Mikao Usui which has gained increasing popularity in the West over the past 20-30 years. The word Reiki is composed of two Japanese words: ‘Rei’ and' Ki’ … Rei means Universal, and Ki means Energy.

When I first became a Reiki Master over 30 years ago, few people knew anything about this healing modality, and for most, it was considered quackery! Fast-forward 30 years, and Reiki is increasingly popular and one of the most scientifically studied energy healing techniques. The positive results of these studies have led to Reiki, alongside other alternative therapies, now becoming accepted and offered in hospitals in the UK and USA, as well as in private practice.

So what does a Reiki practitioner do, and how can it help?

First, let's rewind to how you become a Reiki practitioner…unlike other healing techniques, Reiki is not taught, the ability is transferred during a series of attunements. The attunement energies are channelled to the student through a Reiki Master, linking them to the source of Reiki.  Think of it like tuning a radio; you can’t listen to Magic FM if the dial is tuned to Radio 4. One difference is that once you have received a Reiki attunement, you will have it for the rest of your life; the ‘dial’ doesn’t need retuning! 

Face-to-face Reiki treatments are a wonderful, relaxing, and healing experience. I really recommend it to anyone who hasn’t tried it yet! During a session, the practitioner will lay their hands on or above the client, and Reiki energy will flow.

Reiki works in several ways. It has been shown to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which positively impacts the immune system and aids healing. Classified as a biofield energy therapy, Reiki is believed to help balance a person’s energy field, assisting them in healing themselves. There are many other theories, and for any of you interested I am happy to recommend further reading.

Several scientific studies have demonstrated that Reiki reduces pain, depression, anxiety and fatigue…

• A 2017 pilot study at Rome’s National Cancer Institute found Reiki significantly helped reduce side effects of radiotherapy.
• A trial in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management examined the quality of life and pain management. Those patients who had Reiki had much-improved pain control.
• When studied against physiotherapy for relieving back pain, both significantly reduced pain and were more effective than drug treatment.
• Researchers at US universities measured the effect of Reiki on patients undergoing knee replacement. Following Reiki treatments, levels of pain, anxiety, and blood pressure all dropped. A similar study at a Pennsylvania Hospital resulted in such significant pain reductions that they established a dedicated Reiki programme.

One study I love was carried out in Zurich in 2023 which shows that the crystalline structure of water is changed and becomes more ordered following a Reiki treatment!

Reading the results of these and the many other studies into the efficacy of Reiki confirms what I and many others already knew from first-hand experience.  Its amazing benefits, including pain management, made it a very simple but important decision for Faye to have her balms Reiki charged. For me, I am just so honoured that she has asked me to do this.

Next time … what does Reiki charged mean?

Chrissy x