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Question: What could be concerns for people who might have a negative perception about reiki therapy?

(Posted by: Kay on 2010-07-28 09:08:46)

The NCCAM, an agency which receives grant money from the National Institutes of Health, classifies Reiki Therapy as a form of Complementary and Alternative therapy, just as they do with chiropractic care, Acupuncture, and massage therapy. As such, why would someone continue to have a negative perception about Reiki Therapy?

Posted by: Reiki Chick on 2010-07-28, 11:38:01

Firstly I believe that people tend to be afraid of what they don't know or understand. That's the beginning of the problem. In addition, in most countries, reiki is still relatively unregulated. This means that anyone can call themselves a reiki practitioner/ master/ teacher with no knowledge or understanding with very little legal repercussions. I personally know people who insist they are bonafide reiki practitioners who were trained and attuned while they slept from some guy they paid $60 to overseas. I tried explaining that they were scammed, and that you cannot be trained and attuned while you sleep, but because they've paid out their money, they feel they can legitimately make that claim. So what happens from here? those people go out and advertise themselves. Any clients they do see would very quickly come to realize that this person is full of crap and knows nothing. The problem with that is that often Reiki gets the blame rather then the person who made false claims. And thus the gossip spreads. In addition, some people do not really understand how the body works, and therefore put far more trust in pills and western medicine then they should. Most western people also have a disconnect between what they eat, exercise, sleep and how they feel on a day to day basis. So these people are never going to accept reiki no matter what others say. But times are changing. Reiki is becoming more mainstream as people become more educated on it. There are associations out there that work to regulate the industry and who advocate for the government to take a bigger role in monitoring claims and education. This will help hugely. In the meantime, as a Reiki Master myself, I don't worry about the nay sayers. I put my energy towards work to help educate those who are interested in learning, and providing treatments for those who want it. Just my thoughts.

Posted by: angrydoc on 2010-07-28, 09:43:28

Maybe because Reiki has no scientific or physiologic basis? Also maybe because there is still no clear evidence that it works aside from the placebo effect? edit: Thanks for the thumbs down Alties! Can't face the truth? edit 2: Really Reiki Chick, you would claim that you know how the body works? Ok then, how does it work?

Posted by: Rhianna on 2010-07-28, 09:56:00

Just because NCCAM classify Reiki as a form of AltMed, does not mean it works. Alternative therapy, by definition, describes activities that haven't been scientifically validated and demonstrated to work or basically shown not to work. There is simply no evidence to support Reiki it and it's scientifically implausible. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = @ Reiki chick: Thats not really the case at all. And although regulation is a problem with regards to AltMed, regulated or unregulated, Reiki has still never been demonstrated to alter the course of any disease, neither is there any scientific evidence to support it. I notice you haven't addressed these issues in your answer.. And you're right, your answer IS just "your thoughts " Not necessarily fact.

Posted by: Jane D on 2010-07-28, 10:16:20

Ignore the other two answers because Massage Therapy HAS thousands of studies, books, history... basically tons of scientific evidence to back up the benefits of it and yet IT is still classified as "alternative ". Both that and Reiki are still in the catagory because most of the western world has not come to accept those practices as highly as most other countries have for centuries. It is sad, but true.

Posted by: Weise Ente on 2010-07-28, 11:59:22

NCCAM also repeatedly shows acupuncture is an elaborate placebo. Very, very little of the alternative "medicine " they test ever shows a better result than placebo. You might want to rethink your argument.

Posted by: Tink on 2010-07-28, 14:12:31

First off - what are you saying that it "works " for.... Yeah, sure, it can be relaxing, and as such, can be a 'suportive therapy " - however, its never going to cure cancer, help people lose weight, improve a person sex life, clean the house, or any other far fetched claim that is typically made for 'sketchy' treatments/ products... I mean I like it - and there are studies to support its use for relaxation....but then again....there are lots of things that are relaxing.... Be well all Tink