The Power of Reiki Kotodama
March 5, 2026
Research: Reiki Treatments Beyond the Placebo Effect
April 8, 2026
This study is about:
Reiki treatments — hands-on sessions using Reiki, given by nurses and health professionals as a care strategy for people in mental suffering.
Study overview
10
studies in final sample
4
databases searched
3
languages included
0
year restriction applied
An integrative review across PubMed, Scielo, Web of Science and BVS, asking: “What are the scientific evidences on the use of Reiki as a care strategy for people in mental suffering?” Reiki treatments were studied both as a standalone therapy and alongside other treatments — with benefits found in both cases.
Level II
Randomised Controlled Trials
7 of the 10 studies
The gold standard in clinical research. Participants were randomly assigned to receive Reiki treatments or not, allowing a reliable comparison of outcomes.
Level III
Quasi-Experimental
3 of the 10 studies
Controlled studies without random assignment — still rigorous, measuring outcomes before and after Reiki treatments within the same group.
What Reiki treatments helped with
Stress
Reduced in every study that measured it
Anxiety
Significant reduction, especially in clinical levels
Depressive symptoms
Improved mood and emotional state
Pain relief
Reduced physical pain in chronic illness
Quality of life
Better sleep, wellbeing and daily functioning
Who received Reiki treatments
Adults with anxiety
Adults with depression
People living with HIV
University students
Nurses with work-related stress
People with chronic illness
People in oncology care
All ten studies focused on adults experiencing some degree of mental or psychic suffering — across occupational, community and chronic illness settings, where physical and emotional suffering are often deeply intertwined.
Key conclusion
“The development of the competence of nurses and other health professionals in the use of Reiki can contribute to improve the quality standards of care.”
Santos, Crispim, Silva, Souza, Frazão & Frazão · Rev Bras Enferm · 2021
What this means for Reiki practitioners
Offering Reiki treatments in nursing care contexts
- Your Reiki treatments have real evidence behind them. This review confirms they support stress, anxiety, depression, pain and quality of life — whether given alone or alongside other care.
- Reiki treatments are safe and gentle. No side effects were reported across the studies, making them well-suited as a complement to existing treatment plans.
- Collaboration with nursing teams is well-supported. The research conclusion actively encourages health professionals to develop Reiki competence — an opening for practitioners to work alongside nursing and multidisciplinary teams.
- People managing chronic illness benefit too. Reiki treatments helped those with HIV, cancer and other long-term conditions where mental and physical suffering overlap.
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!
