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Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem
2011 · Vol. 19(5) · pp. 1132–1138
Díaz-Rodríguez, Arroyo-Morales et al. · Universities of Granada & Westminster
Reiki Treatment · Double-Blind RCT
In this study:
Reiki Treatment = a 30-minute hands-on Reiki session
Reiki = the spiritual energy itself
What this study is about
The question
Up to 40% of nurses experience Burnout Syndrome — chronic occupational exhaustion that suppresses immune function and raises blood pressure. This study asked: can a single Reiki treatment produce measurable biological changes in burned-out nurses?
Why it’s significant
This study measured what happened inside the body — not just how nurses felt. Salivary immunoglobulin A (sIgA) is a first-line immune defence marker. Diastolic blood pressure reflects cardiovascular stress. Getting statistically significant results on both from a single Reiki treatment is a meaningful clinical finding.
How the study was designed
Study type
Randomised double-blind placebo-controlled crossover
The gold standard — comparing real vs sham Reiki treatments in the same participants on different days
Participants
18
Female nurses (aged 34–56) all diagnosed with Burnout Syndrome
Intervention
30-min Reiki treatment
vs identical-looking sham treatment. Each nurse received both in random order on separate days
What one Reiki treatment changed — biologically
Salivary IgA (immune marker)
↑ Improved
sIgA concentration increased significantly — a direct indicator of immune system activation and a first-line defence marker.
F=4.71, P=0.04 — statistically significant
Diastolic blood pressure
↓ Reduced
Diastolic blood pressure dropped significantly — a marker of chronic stress and cardiovascular risk in burned-out nurses.
F=4.92, P=0.04 — statistically significant
Sham Reiki produced no such changes Reiki Treatment
Because this was a crossover design, the same nurses received both real Reiki treatments and identical-looking sham treatments. Only the real Reiki treatment produced significant biological changes — meaning the effect is specifically attributed to Reiki energy Reiki, not simply being touched or cared for.
Results in just 30 minutes Reiki Treatment
A single 30-minute Reiki treatment produced immediate, statistically significant biological improvements in burned-out nurses — suggesting Reiki treatments could be a practical, low-cost intervention for supporting healthcare workers.
Be aware
- Small sample — 18 nurses. Results are promising but need replication
- Only immediate effects measured — no long-term follow-up
- Alpha-amylase (another stress marker) did not show significant change
- A single session confirms biological effect; long-term burnout recovery would need a sustained program
What the researchers concluded
A single 30-minute Reiki treatment can produce an immediate and statistically significant improvement in salivary IgA and diastolic blood pressure in nurses with Burnout Syndrome. The results suggest Reiki treatments activate the immune system and reduce cardiovascular stress — and that this effect is specifically produced by Reiki energy, not simply the placebo effect of receiving attention.
Díaz-Rodríguez, Arroyo-Morales et al. · Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem · 2011
What this means in practice
1
This study measured biology, not just feelings. sIgA and blood pressure are objective biological markers. Both changed significantly after a single Reiki treatment — hard evidence that is difficult to dismiss.
2
Healthcare workers are an underserved group for Reiki treatments. Up to 40% of nurses experience Burnout Syndrome. This research suggests Reiki treatments are biologically beneficial for this group.
3
Reiki treatments outperformed sham Reiki. The same nurses received both. Only real Reiki treatments changed the biology — directly addressing the “it’s just placebo” argument.
4
30 minutes is enough to make a measurable difference. Reiki energy Reiki produced significant biological change in a single half-hour session. Imagine what a regular Reiki treatment practice might achieve for healthcare workers over time.
Díaz-Rodríguez L, Arroyo-Morales M, Cantarero-Villanueva I, Férnandez-Lao C, Polley M, Fernández-de-las-Peñas C. The application of Reiki in nurses diagnosed with burnout syndrome has beneficial effects on concentration of salivary IgA and blood pressure. Rev Latino-Am Enfermagem. 2011;19(5):1132–1138.
If you would like to learn more about Reiki Treatments, how they work and what they can do for you, come and join my Shinpiden+ on-demand course.
Bronwen Logan
With over two decades of expertise, Bronwen Logan is one of the leading voices in the system of Reiki. A key founder in both the International House and Shibumi International Reiki Association, she's also penned multiple books on the system including The Reiki Sourcebook; The Japanese Art of Reiki, Beginning Reiki, Beginning Healing, The Art of Gratitude, The A-Z of Reiki, and Your Reiki Treatment as well developing many meditations to support students and teachers in this work. Apart from studying the Japanese aspects of the system, writing and working with animals is a core passion. Bronwen is also a co-founder of Reiki Women Podcast, a blog all about Reiki by women! You can find Bronwen teaching privately online or around the globe!
