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The Power of Reiki for Children Fighting Cancer
๐ Groundbreaking Discovery
This pioneering pilot study demonstrated that Reiki treatment significantly reduced pain in children with cancer undergoing one of the most intensive treatments โ hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The research proved both the feasibility and efficacy of integrating Reiki Ryoho into pediatric oncology nursing practice, offering hope for reducing suffering in seriously ill children.
Study Overview
Each child served as their own control, with pain measured at multiple time points throughout the day. This powerful design eliminates individual differences and provides strong evidence of Reiki’s effects.
Morning โ Before Reiki Treatment
Baseline measurement showing natural pain progression without intervention
Before โ After Reiki Treatment
Measuring immediate effects of Reiki treatment session
After Reiki Treatment โ Next Morning
Assessing lasting effects overnight and into the next day
Pain Reduction Results
Repeated-measures ANOVA: F = 17.17, p < 0.0001 (highly statistically significant)
โ Short-Term Effect
Immediate pain reduction observed during and right after Reiki treatment session (experimental period)
โ Medium-Term Effect
Sustained pain relief continued into the evening and overnight after the session
โ Long-Term Stability
Pain levels remained stable in follow-up period, maintaining the therapeutic benefit
โ Day Comparison
Reiki treatment days showed better pain control compared to rest days without intervention
๐ Why This Matters for Children with Cancer
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is one of the most intensive and painful cancer treatments. Children undergoing HSCT experience severe pain from the conditioning regimen, mucositis, graft-versus-host disease, and other complications. This study demonstrates that Reiki treatment can provide meaningful pain relief without any side effects or medications, offering a safe, gentle complementary therapy during an extraordinarily difficult treatment process.
Clinical Practice Integration
Feasibility for Pediatric Oncology Nurses
- Trained oncology nurses can deliver Reiki treatments: The study demonstrated that with proper training, bedside nurses can integrate Reiki Ryoho into their clinical practice
- No special equipment needed: Reiki Ryoho requires no medications, devices, or technology โ just trained hands and compassionate presence
- Safe for immunocompromised children: Non-invasive approach is ideal for vulnerable patients who cannot tolerate additional medications or procedures
- Complements medical treatment: Works alongside standard pain management protocols without interference
- Reduces suffering in seriously ill children: Provides a valuable tool for diminishing pain and improving quality of life during intensive treatment
- Empowers nursing care: Gives nurses an additional therapeutic modality to support their young patients
โ Study Strengths
- Within-subject design eliminates individual differences
- Multiple pain measurements throughout day
- Substantial number of sessions (88 total)
- Real-world clinical setting
- Highly statistically significant results (p < 0.0001)
- Demonstrated both feasibility and efficacy
- Long-term follow-up included
- Trained oncology nurses delivered treatment
! Study Limitations
- Small sample size (n=9) – pilot study
- No separate control group
- Single center study
- Specific to HSCT patients
- Self-reported pain measures
- No blinding (children knew they received Reiki)
- Limited demographic diversity reported
Study Methodology
๐ Participants & Setting
Children with cancer undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation during the inpatient phase in the Stem Cell Transplantation Unit. All participants were in the acute treatment phase when pain is typically most severe.
๐ฌ Pain Assessment Protocol
Pain was measured at four specific time points each day: (1) Morning baseline, (2) Immediately before Reiki treatment session, (3) Immediately after Reiki treatment session, and (4) The following morning. This allowed researchers to track pain changes throughout the day and assess both immediate and lasting effects.
๐ Reiki Treatment Protocol
Reiki treatment was delivered by trained practitioners following standard hand positions. Sessions were provided at consistent times during the day to control for circadian variations in pain perception. The protocol was designed to be feasible within the constraints of intensive medical care.
๐ Statistical Analysis
Repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare pain changes across the three time periods (control, experimental, and follow-up). This sophisticated statistical approach accounts for the within-subject nature of the data and provides strong evidence of treatment effects.
๐ Full Citation
Zucchetti, G., Candela, F., Bottigelli, C., Campione, G., Parrinello, A., Piu, P., Vassallo, E., & Fagioli, F. (2019). The Power of Reiki: Feasibility and Efficacy of Reducing Pain in Children With Cancer Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, 36(5), 361-368.
DOI: 10.1177/1043454219845879
