More and more branches of alternative medicine are coming into fruition, paving the way for natural forms of therapy. Both complementary and alternative therapies offer different approaches to conventional or mainstream healthcare.
Acupuncture, herbal medicine, massage, reflexology and relaxation are examples of complementary therapies that can be used alongside conventional medical treatments, whereas alternative therapies are used instead of them.
One particular form of energy healing that aims to support and enhance your quality of life and wellbeing is reiki. This practice, used together with CBD (for example CBD gummies) can help control symptoms such as pain and fatigue.
We’re here to deepen your understanding of what reiki entails, the health benefits it may provide, and how the addition of CBD can go above and beyond to channel positive results for the mind and body.
What is reiki?
Reiki (pronounced ‘ray-kee’) is considered a Japanese form of energy healing art and a subcategory of alternative medicine. It’s been practised for roughly 2,500 years, yet Mikao Usui developed the most current form of reiki in the early 20th century. The word itself means ‘mysterious atmosphere, miraculous sign‘, combining ‘rei’ meaning ‘soul, spirit’ and ‘ki’ meaning ‘vital energy’.
Considered to be a pseudoscience, reiki is based on ‘qi’, pronounced ‘chi’, which is the central underlying principle of traditional Chinese medicine and martial arts. Practitioners describe this as a universal life force; they believe its flow must not be obstructed or hindered for health. However, there is no empirical evidence that such a life force exists as it has never been directly observed.
Reiki’s teachings claim that ‘qi’ is physiological and can be manipulated to treat a disease or condition. This has not, in fact, been established by clinical or medical research; therefore, reiki is purely a complementary therapy and should not replace conventional medical treatment. Ultimately, it’s a theory based on metaphysical concepts.
Health benefits of reiki
According to practitioners, energy blocks can stagnate in the body where there’s been physical or emotional pain. Over time, this build-up of negative energy can cause illness. Reiki is thought to improve the flow of energy around the body, enabling you to deeply relax, lower stress and tension, and help your overall emotional, mental, and spiritual wellbeing. The process of removing energy blocks is intended to relieve pain, speed natural healing, and reduce other symptoms of illness.
High-quality research into the effectiveness of reiki is lacking, but limited studies have drawn links between reiki and a reduction in feelings of anxiety, pain, and stress. A review in the Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine found ‘reasonably strong support’ for reiki being more effective than a placebo in people with chronic health conditions.
Reiki is especially good for producing a feeling of calmness for those who suffer from anxiety, anger, depression, headaches, insomnia, migraines, and stress. It could help if you feel overwhelmed with thoughts, have broken bones, burned skin, or experience overactive heart problems. While you’re unlikely to encounter negative side effects when using reiki alongside other treatments, please note that it’s always a great idea to consult your doctor before trying it.
Reiki sessions and techniques
People often refer to reiki as palm healing or hands-on healing due to the nature of the practice; a reiki practitioner lightly places their hands on or near your body, employing a sense of therapeutic touch. This is said to change and balance the energy fields in and around the body by transferring universal energy through the practitioner’s palms to the patient as a way of encouraging emotional or physical healing.
Reiki sessions can take place anywhere, typically in a peaceful, private setting, and can last between 45 and 90 minutes. You’ll be asked to sit/lie comfortably before the practitioner moves their hands around your head, limbs, and torso, holding their hands on or above specific areas for three to ten minutes. The length of time depends on how long the practitioner feels it takes for their potentially warm, tingling hands to transfer heat or energy. Some clients may even report feeling cooling hands or pulsating waves. As there’s little to no contact, the reiki process isn’t harmful.
Certain reiki techniques are called beaming, centring, clearing, extracting harmful energies, infusing, and smoothing and raking the aura. No other instruments beyond the practitioner need to be relied on, but sometimes crystals and chakra healing wands are used to assist the energy vibrations in distance healing or to protect a home from negative energy.
What is CBD?
CBD, short for Cannabidiol, is a non-psychoactive component of the cannabis Sativa plant that has many potential benefits and can help reduce anxiety, depression, chronic pain, inflammation and stress. It may also improve your sleep. How you benefit depends on what your system needs.
It’s very common to use CBD internally by dropping CBD oil https://alphagreen.io/collections/high-strength-cbd-oil.html under the tongue and allowing it to be absorbed into the bloodstream sublingually. This method is quick and effective. Another way of using CBD is topically, applying it directly to the skin. It’s best to start small and work through the differing strengths of CBD to determine if it’s well-suited to you.
CBD and reiki
Incorporating CBD in a reiki session could pose wider benefits than reiki alone. While there’s currently not sufficient research on this duo, client observations report that applying CBD ointment topically to discomfort areas or pressure points on the body helps to further facilitate pain relief and relax the muscles. People have noticed improvements in mood and anxiety as CBD has the ability to interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system, calming your nervous system.
Benefits of CBD-infused products for reiki
Infusing CBD into products for reiki could be very complimentary, helping people slip into a more relaxed state with a higher vibration. You can use them during practice or explore their healing possibilities after your reiki session.
Here are some valuable ways CBD and reiki could benefit:
- Assists in spiritual and emotional healing
- Dissolves blocked energy, enhancing a natural balance between your body, mind, and spirit
- Encourages better sleep
- Helps to detoxify specific toxins in the body, supporting the immune system
- Improves your focus and concentration
- Promotes harmony and balance
- Provides a sense of deep relaxation, releasing body stress and tension
- Relieves pain-related issues
Final thoughts
On the whole, reiki as a therapeutic experience can be incredibly soothing for people. The pain-relieving benefits of reiki combined with the broad benefits of CBD appear to go hand-in-hand. To us, it seems like a mix that makes sense.
Adam Mulligan did his degree in psychology at the University of Hertfordshire. He is interested in mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.
