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This study was conducted to determine the effects of Reiki on pain and vital signs when applied for 15 minutes to the incision area of the body after cesarean section surgery. The study was single-blinded, randomized, and double-controlled (Reiki, sham Reiki, and control groups). Forty-five patients, equalized by age and number of births, were randomly assigned to the Reiki, sham Reiki, and control groups. The treatment, which was applied to the patients in these 3 groups, was applied for 15 minutes to the incision area of body in the first 24 and 48 hours after the operation within 4 to 8 hours of the application of standard analgesics. The study data were collected using a patient follow-up form and a visual analog scale. Mean visual analog scale measurement values were significantly different from each other according to groups and times (P < .05). A reduction in pain of 76.06% was determined in the Reiki group patients between day 1 pre-tx and after application on the second day (day 2 post-tx) measurements. Mean breathing rate and systolic blood pressure measurement values were significantly different from each other according to groups (P < .05). The Reiki group was observed to use fewer analgesics throughout the study and to need them after a longer time than the sham Reiki and control groups (P < .05). It was concluded that Reiki applied for 15 minutes to the incision area after a cesarean operation had the expected effects on pain and the need for the use of analgesics, but it had no effect on vital signs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess the impact of ethnicity, age, and ocular characteristics on ranibizumab efficacy in myopic choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Methods: In this post hoc subgroup analysis from the phase III RADIANCE study, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) outcomes and treatment exposure were analyzed in 105 patients treated with ranibizumab 0.5 mg. Baseline categories included ethnicity, age, baseline BCVA, lesion area, CNV lesion area, refraction sphere, axial length, subretinal fluid, and location of CNV. Results: At month 12, the mean change in BCVA was numerically higher in East-Asians than in Caucasians (17.0 vs. 14.1 letters). The median number of injections varied with ethnicity (East-Asians vs. Caucasians: 2 vs. 3), baseline BCVA (highest vs. lowest: 1 vs. 4), CNV lesion area and lesion area (largest vs. smallest: 5 vs. 1 and 5 vs. 2). Conclusions: East-Asians showed numerically higher BCVA gains than Caucasians. The number of injections varied across subgroups, emphasizing the need for individualized treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cancer resource centers offer patients a variety of therapeutic services. However, patients with cancer and cancer healthcare practitioners may not fully understand the specific objectives and benefits of each service. This research offers guidance to cancer healthcare practitioners on how they can best direct patients to partake in specific integrative therapies, depending on their expressed needs. Objectives: This article investigates the effects of yoga, massage, and Reiki services administered in a cancer resource center on patients' sense of personal well-being. The results show how program directors at a cancer resource center can customize therapies to meet the needs of patients' well-being. Methods: The experimental design measured whether engaging in yoga, massage, or Reiki services affects the selfperceived well-being of 150 patients at a cancer resource center at two times: before and after each service. Data were analyzed for each well-being outcome using mixed-model analysis of variance. Findings: All three services helped decrease stress and anxiety, improve mood, and enhance cancer center patrons' perceived overall health and quality of life in a similar manner. Reiki reduced the pain of patients with cancer to a greater extent than either massage or yoga. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the effects of authentic healing on healers and recipients. Topics covered include the improvements in relaxation, anxiety, and depression. Also mentioned are scientific studies that show how healing promotes relaxation and the lack of studies comparing a certain kind of healing treatment with another.

Given the current transformation of traditional health care to provide more integrative and complementary modalities, health systems are implementing new programs and services to meet consumer and provider needs. One such integrative modality, Healing Touch, with a foundation in holistic nursing, is a gentle therapy that uses touch to promote health and well-being by balancing the human energy system. This article describes the perceptions of registered nurses regarding the implementation of a Healing Touch training program at a multihospital health system. Five themes were identified: benefit to the patient, benefit to the nurse, holism beyond task orientation, integrating Healing Touch into acute care, and barriers and challenges. Nurses recognize the importance of creating caring-healing relationships and a holistic approach to care. Training in Healing Touch provides one avenue for nurses and health care providers to provide compassionate care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of two psychotherapeutic approaches, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and a complementary medicine method Reiki, in reducing depression scores in adolescents. We recruited 188 adolescent patients who were 12–17 years old. Participants were randomly assigned to CBT, Reiki or wait-list. Depression scores were assessed before and after the 12 week interventions or wait-list. CBT showed a significantly greater decrease in Child Depression Inventory (CDI) scores across treatment than both Reiki ( p <.001) and the wait-list control ( p <.001). Reiki also showed greater decreases in CDI scores across treatment relative to the wait-list control condition ( p =.031). The analyses indicated a significant interaction between gender, condition and change in CDI scores, such that male participants showed a smaller treatment effect for Reiki than did female participants. Both CBT and Reiki were effective in reducing the symptoms of depression over the treatment period, with effect for CBT greater than Reiki. These findings highlight the importance of early intervention for treatment of depression using both cognitive and complementary medicine approaches. However, research that tests complementary therapies over a follow-up period and against a placebo treatment is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this pilot study was to explore whether individualized Reiki given to cancer patients at a Brazilian hospital improved symptoms and well-being. Data from 36 patients who received 5 Reiki sessions were collected using the MYMOP and were compared before and after their treatment and also with 14 patients who did not receive Reiki and who acted as a comparison group. Twenty-one patients reported feeling better, 12 felt worse, and 3 reported no change. Of the comparison group, 6 patients reported feeling better and 8 felt worse. The Reiki practice delivered as part of the integrative care in oncology did produce clinically significant effects, although not statistically significant results, for more than half of the patients undergoing cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stress affects the well-being of both nursing students and the individuals with whom they work. With the theory of cognitive appraisal as a framework for this study, it is proposed that mind-body self-care strategies promote stress management by stabilization of emotions. Outcomes will be a perception of less stress and more mindful engagement with the environment. Objective of the study was to describe an evaluation of student perceived stress and mindfulness to 1-hour per week of class time dedicated to mind-body self-care (yoga, mindful breathing, Reiki, and essential oil therapy). It was a quasi-experimental study; data collection took place at 4 time points. Participants were entry-level accelerated nursing students from 3 US universities: 50 in the treatment group, 64 in the comparison group. Data included health-promoting practices using Health-Promoting Promotion Lifestyle Profile II as a control variable, stress and mindfulness (Perceived Stress Scale [PSS] and Mindful Attention Awareness Scale [MAAS]), and demographic information; analysis using mixed-design repeated-measures analysis of variances. There was a statistically significant interaction between intervention and time on PSS scores, F(3, 264) = 3.95, P= .009, partial η² = 0.043, with PSS scores of the intervention group decreasing from baseline to T3 when intervention ended whereas PSS scores of the comparison group increased from baseline. The average scores on the MAAS did not differ significantly. Evaluation of an embedded mind-body self-care module in the first nursing course demonstrated promising improvements in stress management. The findings support the appropriateness of integrating mind-body self-care content into nursing curricula to enhance students' ability to regulate stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To explore the perceptions and experiences of reiki for women who have cancer and identify outcome measures for an intervention study. Methods: A cross-sectional qualitative study of 10 women who had received reiki after cancer treatment was conducted. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed and coded using framework analysis. Results: Key themes identified were: limited understanding of reiki prior to receiving any reiki; release of emotional strain during reiki-feelings of a release of energy, a clearing of the mind from cancer, inner peace/relaxation, hope, a sense of being cared for; experience of physical sensations during reiki, such as pain relief and tingling; physical, emotional and cognitive improvements after reiki, such as improved sleep, a sense of calm and peace, reduced depression and improved self-confidence. Conclusion: Findings suggest that reiki could be a beneficial tool in the self-management of quality of life issues for women who have cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the immediate postoperative period, managing postsurgical pain with pain medication can contribute to complications. A more effective approach might include a combination of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic measures, such as Reiki therapy. Purpose: The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the impact of Reiki therapy on the pain perception of patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) following Reiki sessions, satisfaction with Reiki therapy, satisfaction with the hospital experience overall, and pain medication use following surgery. What is Reiki? Reiki is a technique for relaxation and stress reduction that also promotes healing. Literature review: Reiki has been studied in women undergoing abdominal hysterectomies and in patients with cancer who were receiving chemotherapy. A review of 66 biofield therapy studies, including Reiki, suggested, "strong evidence for the effects of biofield therapy in the reduction of pain intensity in pain populations and moderate evidence for decreased pain in hospitalized patients." Theoretical framework: Martha Rogers' s Theory of Unitary Human Beings formed the framework for this study. Methods: The sam- ple included 43 patients undergoing TKA, who were randomized into Reiki (N = 23) and non-Reiki (N = 20) groups. All subjects in this pilot study had unilateral TKA at the same hospital. Pain was assessed before and after Reiki therapy using the numeric rating scale in the preoperative area, postanesthesia care unit (PACU), and on each of 3 postoperative days. A questionnaire was distributed the day of discharge to measure satisfaction with Reiki and the hospital experience. Results: All Reiki therapy sessions resulted in statistically significant reductions in pain, except those sessions in the PACU. Subjects receiving Reiki responded positively to questionnaires completed on the day of discharge. No statistically significant differences were found in pain medication use. Discussion: Reiki may be an effective component in the management of surgical patients' postoperative pain. Limitations and implications: Subject numbers were limited due to the difficulty of meeting with the patients and obtaining informed consent. Due to the nature of Reiki therapy, the study was not blinded. Music played during Reiki therapy could have contributed to the effect experienced by the patients. Not all questionnaires were collected before patient discharge. Recommendations for further studies: Future studies should include more subjects, control for music use during the Reiki session, and measure the length of time pain is decreased following Reiki treatments. Unanticipated outcomes: As a result of positive feedback and decreased pain ratings following Reiki sessions, a Reiki program has been established at the hospital. Ten nurses became trained and certified in Reiki. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the effects of Reiki and hand massage on pain and fatigue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Topics include researchers conducted a randomized controlled trial that examined the effects of Reiki and massage on pain and fatigue in patients with RA; and nursing education curricula and comprehensive studies should be carried out on the effectiveness of rehabilitation of various patient groups.

The article explores alternative and complementary treatments for breast cancer. They include healthy diet plans, massage therapy, and mind-body practices such as art therapy, music therapy and aromatherapy. Also mentioned are the Chinese healing practice of Qigong combined with chemotherapy and radiation, and the Japanese healing practice of Reiki for relaxation and pain management.

Professional psychology is in apparent conflict about its relationship to "complementary" and "alternative" medicine (CAM)--some scholars envision a harmonious partnership, whereas others perceive irreconcilable differences. We propose that the field's ambivalence stems at least partly from the fact that inquiring psychologists can readily point to peer-reviewed empirical evidence (e.g., published reports of randomized controlled trials) to either substantiate or refute claims for the efficacy of most CAM modalities. Thankfully, recent intellectual developments in the fields of medicine and scientific psychology developments which we refer to collectively as the science-based perspective--have led to the identification of several principles that may be used to judge the relative validity of conflicting health intervention research findings, including the need to consider (a) the prior scientific plausibility of a treatment's putative mechanism-of-action; and, commensurateiy, (b) the degree of equivalence between treatment and control groups--except for the single active element of the treatment believed to cause a specific change, all else between the 2 groups should be identical. To illustrate the potential of this approach to resolve psychology's CAM controversy, we conducted a rereview of the research cited by Barnett and Shale (2012) regarding the efficacy of 11 types of CAM that psychologists might endorse. Fewer than 15% of the studies we reviewed (N = 240) employed research designs capable of ruling out nonspecific effects, and those that did tended to produce negative results. From a science-based perspective, psychologists should reject CAM in principle and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article argues that many forms of 'integrative' medicine (IM) offered in modern hospitals are both secular and religious. Practices such as yoga, t'ai chi, acupuncture, mindfulness meditation, biofeedback, chiropractic, homeopathy, aromatherapy, Reiki, Therapeutic Touch, and Healing Touch are premised on metaphysical assumptions about spiritual energy that are deeply informed by religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Daoism, and Western metaphysical spirituality. In the hospital setting, religious, spiritual, and secular language, goals, and techniques often bleed into one another-not accidentally, but through calculated marketing and rhetorical maneuvering. The case of 'energy medicine' illustrates tactics that IM promoters use to gain entrance to the hospital by relabeling metaphysics as medicine. Intentionally blurring the boundaries between medical and religious therapies creates biomedical ethical and legal dilemmas through a lack of informed consent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clinicians working in community mental health clinics are at high risk for burnout. Burnout is a problem involving emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment. Reiki is a holistic biofield energy therapy beneficial for reducing stress. The purpose of this study was to determine if 30 minutes of healing touch could reduce burnout in community mental health clinicians. Methods: We utilized a crossover design to explore the efficacy of Reiki versus sham Reiki, a pseudo treatment designed to mimic true Reiki, as a means to reduce symptoms of burnout. Subjects were randomized to whether they started with Reiki or sham. The Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) and the Measure Your Medical Outcome Profile Version 2 (MYMOP-2) were used as outcome measures. Multilevel modeling was used to represent the relations among variables. Results: Reiki was statistically significantly better than sham Reiki in reducing burnout among community mental health clinicians ( p=0.011). Reiki was significant in reducing depersonalization ( p<0.001), but only among single people. Reiki reduced the primary symptom on the MYMOP also only among single people ( p=0.03). Conclusions: The effects of Reiki were differentiated from sham Reiki. Reiki could be helpful in community mental health settings for the mental health of the practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is frequently used by Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. We sought to provide information on CAM use and efficacy in PD patients in the Denver metro area with particular attention to cannabis use given its recent change in legal status. Methods. Self-administered surveys on CAM use and efficacy were completed by PD patients identified in clinics and support groups across the Denver metro area between 2012 and 2013. Results. 207 patients (age 69±11; 60% male) completed the survey. Responses to individual CAM therapy items showed that 85% of respondents used at least one form of CAM. The most frequently reported CAMs were vitamins (66%), prayer (59%), massage (45%), and relaxation (32%). Self-reported improvement related to the use of CAM was highest for massage, art therapy, music therapy, and cannabis. While only 4.3% of our survey responders reported use of cannabis, it ranked among the most effective CAM therapies. Conclusions. Overall, our cross-sectional study was notable for a high rate of CAM utilization amongst PD patients and high rates of self-reported efficacy across most CAM modalities. Cannabis was rarely used in our population but users reported high efficacy, mainly for nonmotor symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This pilot study examined the effects of Reiki therapy and companionship on improvements in quality of life, mood, and symptom distress during chemotherapy. Thirty-six breast cancer patients received usual care, Reiki, or a companion during chemotherapy. First, data were collected from patients receiving usual care. Second, patients were randomized to either receive Reiki or a companion during chemotherapy. Questionnaires assessing quality of life, mood, symptom distress, and Reiki acceptability were completed at baseline and chemotherapy sessions 1, 2, and 4. Reiki was rated relaxing with no side effects. Reiki and companion groups reported improvements in quality of life and mood that were greater than those seen in the usual care group. Interventions during chemotherapy, such as Reiki or companionship, are feasible, acceptable, and may reduce side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]