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Medically Reviewed by Samuel Mackenzie, MD, PhD
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A noninvasive, complementary technique, Reiki helps some people with MS relax and feel better.
Reiki aims to alter the flow of energy in and around the body.Getty Images
When Lisa S., 55, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2016, after decades of symptoms, she began taking a disease-modifying medication, which helped. But other medications prescribed for symptoms created new problems, and Lisa, a resident of Long Island, New York, decided to explore a more holistic approach to managing them.
She found yoga, meditation, physical therapy, and a “clean” diet helpful, and when a yoga instructor introduced her to Reiki — a Japanese energy healing technique — she was intrigued by the idea of a natural, noninvasive therapy that involved only touch and had no side effects.
Her first Reiki session was relaxing and gave her a feeling of peace and serenity — so much so that Lisa took a level 1 Reiki class so she could perform it on herself.
She now credits Reiki, in combination with other modalities, with helping her feel significantly better.
What Is Reiki?
Like acupuncture, tai chi, and qigong, Reiki — which means “universal life force energy” — aims to alter the flow of energy in and around the body, and is believed to facilitate relaxation, improve sleep, reduce anxiety and fatigue, and, perhaps, address more specific symptoms such as pain and spasticity.
The ability to perform Reiki is transferred from a master to a student in a process known as an attunement.
Beth Kane, a licensed clinical social worker and life coach in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, works frequently with people with chronic illnesses such as multiple sclerosis. Several years ago she began to explore Reiki. After taking the required classes and receiving the attunements, Kane became a Reiki master teacher and has been practicing for the past three years.
How Is Reiki Done for MS?
Reiki treatments, which typically last 45 to 60 minutes, “are administered through the healing hands of a certified practitioner with the client lying fully clothed on a massage table,” says Kane. There’s no manipulation of bones or tissues, she adds. The practitioner merely holds her hands on, above, or around the client’s body to channel energy. Some clients, she says, will fall asleep during a session, and most report a sense of “warmth, peace, and relaxation.”
Reiki, she explains, “can also be sent distantly, as it is an energy and therefore is not bound to one geographic location.” In addition, patients can become attuned so they can provide Reiki therapy to themselves, and caregivers can also learn to practice.
Are Reiki’s Effects on MS Real?
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