Reiki
for Palliative Care
Introduction
The World Health
Organization defines palliative care as "active total care of patients
whose disease is not responsive to curative treatment. Control of pain, of other
symptoms, and of psychological, social and spiritual problems, is paramount. The
goal of palliative care is achievement of the best quality of life for patients
and their families. Many aspects of palliative care are also applicable in the
course of the illness in conjunction with anti-cancer treatment." [i]
In addition to coping with the illness that is causing the imminent death,
patients are psychologically and spiritually challenged at this point in their
lives. This article examines some of the measures of effective palliative care
and how a hands-on therapeutic modality called Reiki can augment a care
regimen.
According
to the classification of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative
Medicine at the US National Institute of Health (NIH), Reiki belongs to "Biofield
Medicine, which involves systems that use subtle energy fields in and around the
body for medical purposes"[ii].
Reiki is a 2,500-year-old hands on system of healing which was introduced
to Western cultures in the mid 1900s, and more recently has been adopted by a
number of hospitals, and other health care settings, given increased attention
in those settings to alternative health care strategies[iii].
Nurses often practice Reiki as an
adjunct to conventional Western Medical treatment. As of 2001[iv],
47% of US state nursing boards recognized providing alternative therapies
including Reiki as being within the scope of nursing practice (if the nurse is
qualified in that therapy).
Reiki is a complement to treatment
by a physician. It does not provide services in lieu of a doctor, nor is it
a medical diagnostic tool. However, we perceive that integrative medicine that
takes advantage of all parts of the care spectrum as appropriate is much more
effective (and cost-effective) than allopathic treatment alone. Additionally,
quality of life includes mental, physical, and spiritual aspects, not only the
physical aspects that are often the focus of allopathic medical treatment.
Reiki therapy is safe and
non-invasive. It is proving useful in hospices, nursing homes, emergency rooms,
operating rooms, organ transplantation care units, pediatric, neonatal and OB/GYN
units; facilitating relaxation and recovery and decreasing anxiety and pain[v].
It has been found to be a helpful addition to conventional therapy for HIV/AIDS
and cancer patients[vi],
[vii].
The Institute of Palliative Care says
that Palliative Care[viii]:
- Affirms life and regards dying as a normal process
- Neither hastens nor postpones death
- Provides relief from pain and other distressing
symptoms
- Integrates the psychological and spiritual aspects
of care
- Offers a support system to help patients live as
actively as possible until death
- Offers a support system to help the family cope
during the patient's illness and in their own bereavement
Accepting these as qualities of a
desirable program, Reiki must support and augment the delivery of care according
to these themes.
Affirms
life and regards dying as a normal process
The
“Ki” in Reiki is universal life energy, and a long study of Ki/Qi/Prana and
associated practices can certainly bring one to a Zen-like worldview. However,
the most likely life-affirming aspect of the Reiki will be the caring touch of
the practitioner when someone other than the patient performs Reiki.[ix]
Neither
hastens nor postpones death
Reiki
has been anecdotally associated with significant healing in contexts that were
considered hopeless or untreatable. That said, Reiki practitioners generally
intend that the energy being used be “for [the client’s] greatest good”.
Unlike other forms of therapy, there is no attempt to control or direct how the
healing is used, be it physical, mental, or spiritual; Reiki may (for instance)
help the client with acceptance, reduce pain, and/or reduce depression,
depending on the client’s need. The practitioner does not direct the energy.
Provides relief
from pain and other distressing symptoms
Reiki
has been found to be effective for dealing with pain. “We use probably
50-80 percent of nonpharmacologic methods in our NIH pain clinic, meaning
non-medication. The things we use include massage, relaxation, hypnosis, and
Reiki therapy, which is also very helpful in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue
syndromes.” [x]
- Ann Berger, R.N., M.S.N., M.D., Medical oncologist specializing in pain
treatment, Chief of the Pain and Palliative Care Service at the National
Institute of Health in Washington, D.C.
Medical studies using sham
practitioners have been carried out with Reiki, and it has been shown to be
effective for pain management. For example: one
double-blind study[xi]
found that “Reiki is an effective modality for reducing pain,
depression, and anxiety”; Hartford hospital reports that Reiki provides
significant pain relief for surgery patients[xii];
Edmonton’s Cross Cancer Institute concluded that Reiki showed a highly
significant reduction in pain in a pain management study including cancer.
In a study of Reiki for treating
HIV-related pain and anxiety[xiii],
Pamela Miles found that newly trained Reiki practitioners perceived reductions
in pain and anxiety when they performed Reiki on themselves or classmates.
palliative patients can, similarly, be taught first-level Reiki (which only
takes about a day, and has no significant age or ability barriers). Miles found
no significant differences between improvements whether oneself or a classmate
did the treatments. The argument for Level 1 Reiki training for palliative
patients (and their family caregivers) is compelling, both for pain management
and empowerment.
What
constitutes “Other distressing symptoms” is naturally specific to the
condition and the subjective perception of “distressing”. However, as above,
Reiki provides a reduction in anxiety – hence distress – and therefore Reiki
treatment is consistent with the intent of this theme.
Integrates
the psychological and spiritual aspects of care
Reiki has no religious affiliation,
nor is an enhanced religiosity per se an intended outcome of Reiki,
however Reiki practice is commonly associated with spiritual growth. This may be
due to the fact that Reiki practitioners are more often interested in a
spiritual path than not.
One
of the early studies[xiv]
found that not only is Reiki “an effective modality for reducing pain,
depression, and anxiety”, but that it is also “effective in enhancing
desirable changes in personality and strengthening the faith in God.”
Reducing depression and anxiety, and strengthening spirituality
effectively integrates the psychological and spiritual aspects of care.
There is also the matter of
empowerment for those who have the capacity to perform their own Reiki. Reiki
requires very little in terms of physical or mental prowess to perform, and can
be taught for self-application very easily. What is needed is that the patient
not be in so much pain that they are incapable of focusing on anything other
than the pain, nor is (s)he always medicated to such an extent that they cannot
form the intention to perform Reiki. Palliative care patients lose a sense of
control, due to the illness, to their dependence on other people for help, and
to their dependence on the doctors and hospitals for relief of pain. Learning to
relieve symptoms on their own provides patients with a renewed sense of having
some input and control over their lives.
Offers a
support system to help patients live as actively as possible until death
Reiki
(and other forms of energy therapy [xv])
have been associated with improved quality of life in palliative situations. “Some
general trends seen with Reiki include: periods of stabilization in which there
is time to enjoy the last days of one's life; a peaceful and calm passing if
death is imminent; and relief from pain, anxiety, dyspnea and edema. Reiki is a
valuable complement in supporting patients in their end-of-life journey,
enhancing the quality of their remaining days.” [xvi]
Offers a
support system to help the family cope during the patient's illness and in their
own bereavement
Caring family members
can learn Reiki as easily as the palliative patient can. Caregivers experience
stress and the first thing taught in Reiki Level 1 is self-care. This ability
can be used to care for the palliative patient, thereby making the family member
“feel useful”, as (s)he is materially contributing to the patient’s
well-being (as above). Additionally, the self-care is immediately available to
the caregiver when Level1 is taught [xvii]
and the reduced anxiety and spiritual growth are thereby available to the family
member who has learned this practice (and to any other family members to whom (s)he
provides Reiki).
