“If You Can’t Say Something Nice…” and Our Online Behaviours
July 6, 2026
The most comprehensive touch study ever conducted. A systematic review and meta-analysis of 137 trials found medium-to-strong effects of touch on both mental and physical health. Touch was especially effective at regulating cortisol in newborns, reducing pain, and reducing depression. Human-to-human touch significantly outperformed robot or object touch, with skin-to-skin contact identified as a key mechanism.
In Usui Reiki Ryoho, Tenohira — the conscious placing of the hands — is the central act of the practice. This research confirms across 12,966 people what practitioners experience daily: that human touch, offered with presence and care, produces measurable benefits for both the receiver and the giver. The system of Reiki is touch research in living form.
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.
