Alternative therapies, like meditation and flower essences, are becoming more popular, especially with people who have tried everything for their chronic pain and illness to no avail. One type of therapy many people are turning toward is Reiki Therapy.

This type of therapy is quite old, but people keep bringing it to the forefront again and again because of the benefits that it provides to those who are suffering from chronic illness and fatigue. Let’s take a closer look at this unique and natural alternative therapy for pain relief.

What is Reiki?

Meaning “life” or “energy of life” in Japanese, Reiki is a holistic form of treatment. That means that it focuses on the wholeness of the entire person – instead of just focusing on problem areas, this treatment is more focused on helping the entire person to be healthy and whole. It involves moving the hands against the person’s body. The fingers are skimmed over certain areas of the body, and that touch is meant to help heal those certain areas. It’s kind of a gentle massage. If you’re uncomfortable with touch at all, there are alternatives – you can have the hands hovering over your body instead.

It’s about the energy that comes from the person doing the healing, and that energy is supposed to help relax the body and get rid of the pain that is going on in some regions of the body. It takes anywhere from half an hour to ninety minutes for an entire Reiki session to be performed, depending on the patient and the therapist.

That being said, it’s a bit more spiritual than other forms of alternative therapy that you may have been exposed to. There is a lot of talk about the connection with the universe, which in some cases, may make people feel a little uncomfortable.

That being said, it’s very safe and you aren’t in any danger – it’s a well-respected practice. There has been a lot of research behind it over the past few decades since it started being utilized as a part of other types of therapeutic practice.

If you feel uncomfortable with that end of it, you will want to talk to the therapist that you are working with to get a better idea of what is going on. They can answer whatever questions you may have and assure you if you feel unsure at all.

Can it help fibromyalgia?

So, where is Reiki massage used with fibromyalgia, and what can it do to help relieve the symptoms that you are dealing with? Here’s a quick overview of where it has been shown to help some fibro patients.

Alleviation of anxiety and relaxation issues. The sensations and the breathing exercises that are done during the therapy session help the mind and body to relax. When this happens, you will be less likely to have panic attacks and feel more comfortable interacting with the world around you.

Reduction of pain and muscle tension. Pain is at the core of everything that fibromyalgia patients have to worry about, and because of that, we want to find things that help reduce the pain and muscle tension. Relief is at the core, and Reiki has helped to provide that for some people. Because it is so focused, the therapist can focus on certain areas of the body to help reduce or eliminate the tension and pain in those regions.

Ease in sleeping and reduction in fatigue. You’re often exhausted as a part of fibromyalgia. Reiki, because it helps you to relax reduces the pain that you feel, helps you to sleep better and helps to reduce the amount of fatigue that you are dealing with during the daytime hours.

There may be other benefits as well, but these are the ones that are seen the most often by those who have been receiving therapy from a qualified therapist – someone who has undergone Reiki training – in their area.

Has Reiki Therapy Been Proven to Work?

This is always the big question with alternative therapies, isn’t it? We want to know if the therapies that we are going to try are going to work and if they will make a difference with the symptoms and the stress that we are experiencing.

And, as with many types of treatment that are out there, it’s important to say that it does work for some people, but it doesn’t work for everyone. Everyone’s a little different, so some things will work and other things will just fly by without any real difference happening in the person going through the therapy.

It is, however, important to note that Reiki (nor any other type of therapy that is out there) is not an instant cure for anything that is going on in your life. There is no “cure” for fibromyalgia. Can it help alleviate the symptoms that you are dealing with?

Absolutely, but it won’t make them go away forever. If you’re going to try it, just make sure that you go into it with an open mind and that you will be alright if it doesn’t seem to work for you.

Reiki therapy is unique, and it’s worth looking into if you are having a hard time fending off the symptoms of your fibromyalgia. Before you make any treatment changes or add any exercise or therapy to your treatment plan, make sure to have a conversation with your specialist. They can give you advice and guidance that will ensure that you can get the help and relief that you are looking for from your treatment plan.

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