Reiki is one of the leading safe Energy Medicine approaches. The study summaries provided by the Center for Reiki Research are the best source for information on Reiki Research. - C. Norman Shealy, M.D. Ph.D.

Founder, American Holistic Medical Association



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New Article - Reiki Research—It’s Time to Shift Gears

by Ann Linda Baldwin, PhD and Ann Thompson

Ann discusses how the next step in Reiki research is to move beyond pilot

studies into large scale clinical trials. She shares information about a planned

clinical trial using Reiki on patients who undergo knee replacement surgery.



A Large-Scale Effectiveness Trial of Reiki for Physical and Psychological Healths

The Reiki study conducted at Harvard University by members of the Center for Reiki Research (Dr. Natalie Dyer, Dr. Ann Baldwin, and William Rand) in 2015 and 2016 has now been published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine! This is the largest prospective Reiki study to date and hopefully will lead to much more research. We extend our thank you to all the Reiki practitioners who participated in this study. Reiki is a method of stress reduction that also promotes healing. It is administered by laying-on hands. Lay practitioners have used it for more than 90 years, and its popularity is growing. A study done in 2007 by the National Health Interview Survey indicates that 1.2 million adults and 161,000 children received one or more sessions of energy healing therapy such as Reiki in the previous year. According to the American Hospital Association, in 2007, 15% or over 800 American hospitals offered Reiki as part of hospital services. Read more about Reiki The purpose of this web site is to promote the scientific awareness of Reiki by providing a current list of evidence based research published in peer reviewed journals along with summaries of each of these studies. We also offer guidance and direction for those wanting to produce future studies. Also included on this web site is a list of hospitals, medical clinics, and hospice programs where Reiki sessions are offered. Reiki Research

An important aspect of this web site is The Touchstone Process. This process is a method of analyzing all studies within a specific field of scientific research. It was developed as part of a project to determine the current state of Reiki research. In this project, every Reiki research study, ever published in the U.S. in a peer reviewed journal, was put through a rigorous critique. Initially, the studies were evaluated to determine whether they meet the criteria necessary to be included in the project. If the criteria was met, the study then entered The Touchstone Project’s peer review process where two independent critiques of the study was conducted; each critique being done by a different doctorally prepared researcher. A standardized form, developed and piloted by our research team, was used for the evaluation process. If there were discrepancies found between the two critiques, whether it be in the scoring or verbiage, a third critique was required and conducted by a third doctorally qualified researcher. Once the evaluation was complete and without discrepancies it went to the summarization team. The summarization team used the two peer reviewed critiques and a standardized summarization form, developed and piloted by our research team, to create a summary of the evaluation. The completed summary was then sent to the Editor-In-Chief, for final editing, prior to publication on the web site. While the process incorporates existing best practices for scientific review and no one step is unique to Touchstone, the scope of included practices is unprecedented in the field of complementary and alternative medicine. See Research Studies | See Touchstone Process | Research Conclusion | Consultation Service Reiki In Hospitals

This web site also includes a list of 76 hospitals, medical clinic and hospice programs where Reiki is offered as a standard part of care. The information in the hospital list has been provided by individuals who are part of the Reiki program listed. A detailed description of the program including organization, number of practitioners and contact person(s) is provided. The basic facts of each program have been verified and approved by the hospital before they are listed. In addition, the initial program listing date and date of last update are also indicated. See Hospital List Membership is free

To gain access to site resources, you need to become a member by filling out a simple form. Membership is free. Become a Member Sample of a research summary and hospital listings Membership Benefits Provides a current list of evidence based research in the U.S. listed in peer reviewed journals along with summaries of each study.

Provides a guide to the basics of creating a quality Reiki research study.

Provides information on how to create case reports.

A Reiki Research consultation service is available.

Provides a list of hospitals, clinics, and hospice programs where Reiki sessions are offered including a program description and contact information. Information listed has been verified and approved by each hospital or clinic.

Provides a way to Email program organizers/administrators to request more information. The hospital/clinic web site is also listed.

Allows Reiki practitioners wanting to volunteer a way to contact program administrators.

Allows hospital or clinic administrators or others an easy way to research Reiki in hospitals so they can more easily set up a program in their hospital or clinic.

Allows patients to find hospitals where Reiki sessions are offered.

Provides a list of articles on Reiki research and Reiki in hospitals.