The Reiki Cafe 

Answering my own question to Firekeeper, the latest I can find is that National Institutes of Health lists a total of six double-blind clinical trials on the effectiveness of Reiki for specific conditions*. Three of those trials are recruiting patients, and three are complete. Of the completed trials, I've not figured out how to find results yet, but found positive comments by the principal investigators from two of the trials. I think they're still crunching data, so don't start cheering yet.

Last thread I found on the topic of studies was in 2002, so hopefully this is new news for some folks.

What I find encouraging is that NIH initially funded four studies a couple years ago, then saw fit to fund two more.

Anyone from outside the U.S. want to chime in if their countries are doing controlled studies?

Blessings,
Aronaya

* diabetic neuropathy and cardiovascular risk factors, fibromyalgia, AIDS, stress, and prostate cancer(2)

aronaya,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- I suspect a couple of things: we won't know the details of the designs and also the results (and interpretive conclusions or spin) until they are published

- we may get a summary on the internet if the researchers find it difficult to get the stuff published

- so, I will wait till I can read the gory details for myself

- having been involved in funded research it will be interesting to see how these folks managed a truely double-blind study with Reiki

>:-}}

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

I read one article in the Phila. Inquirer which quoted one of the investigators. She was very enthusiastic, and clearly expected to report significant results. As you say, that enthusiasm has to get through the peer review process. I personally have not been involved in funded research, just looked into the process enough to realize I'd need a lot of backing to even start a grant application.

Every few months I check in to see if there's new information around these studies, and I suspect I'm not the only one.

I have the same curiosity about what a double-blind Reiki study would look like -- we'll see, hopefully!

Blessings,
Aronaya

Dear Aronaya,

So, if I'm getting this right, would a double-blind study entail a two people not knowing if they're giving Reiki, and one is and one isn't? How the heck do you do that?

Hugs,
Roxy

Ms. Roxanne,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- in theory, it primarily means that the 'recipients' would not know whether they were getting Reiki, another 'treatment', or placebo

- and, the researchers would not know who was getting what either so that data interpretation would not be polluted in any way by such knowledge

- also, it would help keep any researcher interactions with the 'subjects' as neutral (and blind) as possible for subjects and researchers alike

- so, one way would be to have similar hands-on work done by more than one person without specifying which one was doing Reiki and which was not

- but the one doing Reiki would always do Reiki (but recipients would not, of course, be told that this was the Reiki person) and the ones doing 'something else' or placebo would also be the same folks for each subject (all of who would have to be very careful not to give away any information to recipients during sessions as to the nature of their participation) - the conversation would have to be kept neutral at all times and not refer to the research

- so, tricky? Yes!!

>:-}}

- will all these guidelines (and perhaps others) be followed?? Hard to say.

>:-}}

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

Thanks, Mr. Firekeeper,

Now I understand much better about the research being double-blind.

Blessings,
Ms. Roxy

That sheds light on why grants for these kind of studies seem to be into six figures!

Blessings,
Aronaya

aronaya,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- yes, Ph.D. researchers surely like the tariffs for their high end parking slots to be covered by their grants (grants often funded out of taxpayers' annual contributions - at least in the US of A)

bagl

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

You are tweaking my socialist sympathies, sir!

Blessings,
Aronaya

aronaya,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- well, I hope it is a pleasant experience

bagl

- if not?? A bit of Reiki might help

>:-}}

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

Yes, I agree the Reiki would help, but sometimes I just have to have my politics raw. Subtitle: if we all really wanted peace, we would have it!

Blessings,
Aronaya

me, too.....wow!!! Really appreciate your words, Firekeeper. Thank you. And thanks, Roxyheart, for asking.

Love your critters.....my husband likes to say....“Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons……for you are crunchy, and taste good with catsup.”

ponderings,

/\ Namaste :-}}

- yes, akin to the, perhaps, more general caveat: "If you call it up be sure you can put it back"

>:-#)

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper