The Promise of Reiki for Cancer Patients and Survivors
Receiving a cancer diagnosis leads to monumental physical, emotional and spiritual challenges. Integrative therapies like Reiki offer nurturing support through relaxing touch therapy to deepen mind-body healing potential. When used along with standard medical care, Reiki provides comfort, stress relief and well-being - elements for which positive anecdotal stories abound even if robust clinical trials are lacking. By learning what Reiki is, how it aims to help renew strength and purpose during cancer treatment, and reading motivational healing accounts, its gentle power comes to light.
Understanding Reiki and Its Origins
Reiki was founded in 1922 by Japanese Buddhist Mikao Usui during a spiritual retreat. The name Reiki essentially translates from Japanese as universal life energy. Practiced in self-treatment or with a practitioner through light hands-on touch or hovering just above the body, the goal is channeling healing energy into imbalanced areas to reduce stress, relieve pain, accelerate healing, and create deeper mind-body wellness.
How Reiki Therapy May Assist Cancer Patients
Though impact and effectiveness vary widely for individuals, potential benefits reported by those with cancer include:
- Lessening feelings of anxiety, fear and depression
- Soothing nausea and treatment side effects
- Easing nerve and muscle pain
- Improving sleep quality
- Bolstering immune response
- Increasing relaxation and inner stillness
- Supporting more optimism about the future
Motivational Reiki and Cancer Healing Stories
Renewing Body and Spirit During Breast Cancer Treatments
Michelle was fearful when diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer at only 38 years old. Along with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, she embraced various integrative therapies to help cope. Finding great comfort receiving Reiki, it relaxed her nervous system and transported her into a parasympathetic state of relief. Feeling energy flowing to cells desperate for restoration firsthand brought mindfulness to supporting her bodys innate power to heal.
Alleviating Bone Pain From Lung Cancer
As Rogers lung cancer advanced, painful metastasis to nearly all his bones caused constant suffering. Opioid pain medication caused mental fogginess. The gentle touch of his Reiki healers helped relieve the worst pain when simple movement became nearly impossible near the end. The non-invasive nurturing energy brought acceptance and hope that eased his transition with family by his side.
Accelerating Recovery After Colon Cancer Surgery
At 28, Dana faced a shocking stage 3 colon cancer diagnosis. Recovering after surgery, persistent fatigue set in until starting Reiki sessions. The warmth penetrating deep inside brought new vitality she could almost visualize flowing through her system. With core relaxation and immune response boosted, she continued Reiki self-care along with chemotherapy to achieve full remission within the year.
Finding Spiritual Strength During Pediatric Leukemia
Only 14, Sadie endured intense chemotherapy battling a type of childhood leukemia. Reiki treatments nurtured her tender heart when isolation from friends felt crushing. The gentle hands radiating positivity and touch comforted like a mothers embrace. Her practitioners smile and soothing voice whispered hope. In the darkness Reiki sparked light - helping Sadie bravely fight while displaying grace and maturity beyond her years.
Discovering Purpose After Uterine Cancer
Bethany recovered physically from uterine cancer treatment but emotional scars lingered for years until discovering Reiki. The flow of energy touched places inside still in need of healing. It was akin to cognitive therapy - forcing out buried thoughts to process old wounds. Reiki built connection to self and spirituality lacking since her health crisis. Regaining inner power led to renewed passions to help other women diagnosed with gynecologic cancers.
Research on Reiki and Cancer
While many cancer patients and survivors report highly positive experiences with Reiki therapy, from a medical perspective stronger research on effectiveness is still needed. Some early study analysis and conclusions point toward benefits warranting larger scale clinical trials:
Analyzing Multiple Reiki Studies on Cancer Patients
A 2020 review compiling data from multiple Reiki studies with cancer patients suggests consistent improvements in comfort, well-being, fatigue, pain and anxiety but notes most had very small sample sizes and limited statistical strength.
Reducing Cancer-Related Fatigue
A small study in breast cancer survivors indicated reduced exhaustion levels after just 20 days following Reiki versus relaxation alone. Most robust evidence points to Reiki easing fatigue though sample sizes remain relatively small thus far.
Lessening Discomfort During Hospice Care
Terminally ill hospice patients including those with end-stage cancers often suffer high levels of pain. Reiki used as an adjunct therapy shows promise helping make patients more comfortable though additional study is warranted.
Overall Reiki provides excellent safety with rare side effects when administered by a qualified professional. Existing research data continues trending positively. As one healing modality among many to potentially assist those impacted by cancer, Reiki aligns with building hope and human connection when people are most vulnerable.
Trying Reiki for Yourself or Loved Ones
Receiving a cancer diagnosis unleashes emotional turbulence. Healing not just the body but spirit simultaneously enables empowering the whole self to overcome disease. Pulled by intuition or the positive stories of others who gained comfort from Reiki during cancer, being open to potential benefits may be wise. Some helpful tips if considering exploring Reiki touch therapy include:
- Ask nurses or cancer networks to refer experienced Reiki practitioners familiar working with cancer patients
- Check practitioner background, training credentials and expert testimonials
- Discuss goals for therapy sessions based on your needs and conditions
- Remain engaged with all standard medical care throughout
- Discuss concerns openly with your Reiki practitioner
- Tune into sensations and messages received during and after sessions
- Track progress through symptoms relief, emotional states and inner awareness
The nurturing energy of Reiki offers light to walk through darkness, building courage one gentle session at a time.
FAQs
What are the main benefits of Reiki for cancer patients?
The main potential Reiki benefits reported by those with cancer include reduced anxiety, improved ability to relax, less treatment side effects like nausea, eased nerve and muscle pain, enhanced sleep quality, boosted immunity and optimism about healing.
Is there research showing Reiki helps cancer patients?
Early Reiki and cancer research shows consistently positive trends for improvements in comfort, fatigue, pain and emotional wellness but larger controlled studies are still needed. The therapy appears very safe with few risks.
Can Reiki replace medical treatment for cancer?
No, Reiki should only be used as an integrative complementary therapy alongside all treatments prescribed by your oncology doctors, including medications, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery as advised.
How frequently do those with cancer receive Reiki?
Reiki session frequency varies based on patient needs and preferences. Many start with 1-2 visits weekly, while some receive treatments daily or multiple times per day if hospitalized. Self-Reiki can be practiced whenever desired.
What should I look for in a Reiki practitioner for cancer care?
Choose an experienced Reiki practitioner familiar working with cancer patients. Confirm proper credentials and training in the lineage of Reiki mastership. Experience treating those with cancer often comes from hospice work as well.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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