Benefits of Integrating Reiki With Traditional Medicine: Holistic Healing in Honolulu
Natural medicine has a long history in the Hawaiian Islands, finding its roots in cultural healing practices like herbal treatments and lomilomi massages, and this field continues to grow in popularity today, expanding beyond Hawaii’s traditional methods.
You’ll find everything from hypnotherapy to energy healing in Honolulu, and it’s no surprise given Hawaii's rich tradition of spiritual healing. The islands have become a hub for holistic health, but…
How do these practices really help people?
Shouldn’t I just stick to what I’m familiar with?
Is Reiki the real deal?
Here at Manawa Energy, we pride ourselves on our transformative Reiki treatments. We want to answer your questions about energy healing and what makes it so effective.
Why do more and more healthcare providers offer Reiki to complement the traditional medicine they provide patients? We’ll start by breaking down how Reiki works and what you can expect from your sessions.
What is Reiki Healing?
Click here to find our “What is Reiki?” page, although we’ll briefly define it here for you as well. Reiki is a Japanese technique for promoting healing by channeling universal life force energy. Through the practitioner’s hands, using gentle touch and hovering, it serves as a conduit for this energy, allowing the client to receive its healing benefits.
Key Terms:
Rei: Universal
Ki: Life Force Energy
Since it relies on such an esoteric concept it can require a leap of faith for some, but many today have come to accept such ideas. Especially as they are iterated upon in so many different cultures.
This is the same vital energy concept referred to as “chi” in Chinese tradition and “prana” in Indian tradition. Mikao Usui rediscovered the use of energy and founded the practice of Reiki around 1922 as an alternative therapy for treating mental, emotional, and physical diseases.
A form of energy medicine and spiritual practice, Reiki was brought to Hawai’i by Hawayo Takata in 1937. She attended a clinic in Tokyo which helped her overcome several medical conditions, including asthma, inspiring her to take the practice abroad [1].
Although the practice is not religious and purely spiritual, people of all denominations and faiths can reap its benefits. It works strictly with the energies already present in our environment and ourselves, allowing Reiki as an option for anyone.
Closely tied to the ancient science of the body’s Chakra network, Reiki can help clients understand where blockages might be present and where trauma may live in the body, offering relief and healing for those areas.
After the session, this information can help clients to continue addressing these issues, compounding the benefits of their experience. When coupled with other therapies such as Hypnotherapy or Mindfulness, individuals can experience profound improvements.
The Benefits of Integrative Medicine
At Manawa Energy, we don’t believe in replacing practical, science-backed medicine with alternative therapies. Instead, we support the growing movement toward Integrative Medicine, which combines the two.
A Growing Trend in Healthcare
This is in line with the general trend in the medical field toward complementing traditional healing methods with holistic practices. Queen’s North Hawai’i Community Hospital is one such example, which has begun introducing methods like aromatherapy and Oshibori (hot towel treatments) to help personalize their patient’s experiences [2].
This innovative approach is not an isolated effort, but the result of years of research and understanding that has led many similar clinics to offer comprehensive ranges of alternative therapies. People are unique, and their healing journeys ought to reflect that.
By allowing people to take a more holistic approach to their healing journeys, whether they’re dealing with addiction, chronic illnesses, or disease, they compound the benefits of all the treatments they receive. Encouraging them to seek deeper peace and calm allows the effects of traditional medicine to work uninhibited by stress and anxiety, which are proven to damage the body’s healing processes.
Addressing the healing process with the whole person in mind, rather than just the condition being suffered, makes a world of difference for patients and the medical field itself. Considering the emotional states individuals experience as they navigate their conditions can allow a deeper insight into what makes for healthy living. Is it really healthy living if the body is in pristine condition, but the mind is in shambles?
Patient-Centered Care for Better Outcomes
We take a more wholesome approach to healthcare that allows us to impact clients in profound ways. Patient-centered care that emphasizes the relationship between the individual and their practitioner has improved health outcomes for countless people.
One of the best parts is that each of the most popular and doctor-recommended alternative therapies comes with little to no risk on the part of the patient. There are no adverse effects to a Reiki or Hypnotherapy session. These practices exist in a non-invasive, complementary way to the care you receive traditionally, and are now often provided by hospitals and health clinics themselves. Studies show that the benefits of integrative medicine are too great to ignore, becoming only more widely accepted as we learn more.
The Benefits of Combining Reiki With Traditional Medicine
Medically, Reiki is defined as a biofield energy therapy, and despite its growth as a method, it is still drawn into question. This is a good thing though, as that speculation has led to numerous studies that have only affirmed why people continue to seek Reiki practitioner’s services.
According to one such study published in the National Library of Medicine, Reiki has proven benefits for relieving pain, anxiety, depression, and stress, and for generally improving quality of life with several conditions.
Although it’s difficult to measure just how beneficial Reiki is and for which conditions people should receive it, it is safe to say that this modality is a reliable alternative therapy for people dealing with mental, emotional, or physical pain.
There are no guarantees that Reiki will cure an illness, but it certainly helps in managing their symptoms [3]. From an integrative medicine standpoint, this is exactly what people need Reiki to do.
For serious concerns, it is greatly encouraged that they seek conventional medical avenues for addressing their condition. However, by supplementing those treatments with a practice like Reiki, we can help them with the chronic pain they’re experiencing daily and can bring a sense of calm and peace to living with their condition.
Stress as a Barrier to Healing
Studies show that “chronic stress has a significant effect on the immune system that ultimately manifest an illness.” [4] In many ways, stress is mankind’s natural enemy, impeding upon natural processes and at its worst, introducing disease and illness to the body.
Holistic practices like Reiki aimed at reducing stress, anxiety, and fear can be considered preventative medicine in this way, and removing these negative states can open the way for natural healing. This is being recognized more and more as we learn and study the positive effects of Reiki, especially when combined with traditional medical treatments [5].
Stress and anxiety reduction alone make the practice valuable for many, and people suffering from chronic pain often swear by it. However, one of the unsung benefits is the improvement in the quality of sleep [6]. Sleep is the body's natural device for recovery, and so much of our healing happens during restful slumber.
This coupled with the depths of relaxation achieved during Reiki can help us understand why the practice is such a great complement to traditional medicine, supporting the body’s ability to integrate the healing offered from all avenues.
Reiki as a Supplement, Not a Cure
While Reiki encourages and fortifies your energy system to aid in healing, It’s important to emphasize again that alternative therapies are NOT a substitute for regular medical care from your physician. What Reiki offers is relaxation and calm which can lead to greater overall health. When dealing with serious illnesses, you must take the proper steps in receiving care.
However, given the stressful nature of dealing with such conditions, Reiki can bring much-needed ease to your healing process. Integrative medical practices are about regaining control of your well-being, helping you achieve optimal health, and empowering you to make positive lifestyle changes.
Manawa Energy’s Unique Approach
Now, with a comprehensive understanding of Reiki and its benefits, I hope you better understand whether it’s right for you.
Seeking deeper, truer relaxation?
Looking to better manage chronic pain?
On the hunt for a method that compounds the benefit of your regular healthcare?
Reiki may be your ticket.
At Manawa Energy, we’re pleased to offer you our intuitive services including Reiki. With Reiki Master Teacher certification, we can help whether you seek to experience healing or become a certified practitioner. If you’re ready to feel the soothing power of Reiki for yourself, consider checking out Our Services. You’ll get to see firsthand how you could make the practice your own.
Thank you for taking the time to read, and remember, the journey to healing begins with an open heart and mind. May your path be filled with peace and balance.
Sources:
[1] https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/where-reiki-from
[2] https://www.queens.org/locations/hospitals/north-hawaii/services/holistic-care/
[3] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30948444
[4] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3341916/
[5] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21683-integrative-medicine
