Is Reiki Healing Legitimate?

Is Reiki healing legitimate? The short answer is "yes", iffee structure alone were enough to draw criticism.
the practitioner has been trained in the art. Just as withReiki healers are sometimes compared to faith healers
any other type of therapy, the "therapist" can make alland most of us have heard the stories about faith
the difference. Here's a little general information abouthealers like Peter Popoff, whose so-called miracles
Reiki and those who practice it.were proven to be fraudulent. But, Reiki is a legitimate
Reiki is considered a form of "complementary"form of energy medicine or "healing touch therapy". It is
medicine. People who are seriously ill and have othernot practiced by ministers or preachers, but by licensed
treatment options should not choose Reiki instead ofmassage therapists, nurses and anyone who is
conventional treatment, but as a complementary orinterested in learning to tap into the "universal life force".
adjunctive therapy, it can be very helpful in manyReiki is actually more closely related to Ayurvedic and
conditions.traditional Chinese medicine than to faith healing.
Skeptics generally say that people who practice ReikiAyurvedic medicine is widely practiced throughout India
and other forms of non-conventional medicine areand is recognized as a legitimate form of medicine.
playing on the desperation of those who are seriouslyTraditional Chinese medicine, while considered a form
ill. But, no reputable therapist would advise patients toof alternative medicine in the West, is an integral part
stop other forms of treatment, to stop seeing theirof the health care system in China and Taiwan.
doctors or to keep "secrets" from their doctors aboutIn the United States, the National Center for
what complementary treatments they are using.Complementary and Alternative Medicine is currently
Whether it be Reiki, herbal remedies or any thing else,sponsoring scientific research to answer is Reiki
in order to receive the most effective treatment,healing legitimate, to learn how it may work and to
patients need to be able to openly discuss all of theiridentify conditions in which it may be most beneficial.
options with their doctors.With research of this nature, it is difficult to be sure
It is no surprise that people wonder is Reiki healingthat everything is conducted scientifically. In other
legitimate. At one time, the fundamentals of this typewords, it may be hard to "prove". As yet, we have
of medicine were kept secret. High fees werebeen unable to "prove" that the life energy or "Ki" that
charged for training and for healing. The secrecy andis used in Reiki healing exists, but maybe, with time.