Effects of Reiki on Stress

Effects of Reiki on Physiological Consequences of Acute Stress

Complementary therapies such as Reiki are becoming popular. Reiki is a practice used for relaxation and pain management that involves physical touch and social contact with a trained, empathetic practitioner. Unlike many relaxation therapies, Reiki requires no participation by the patient, a feature that makes Reiki particularly attractive in the hospital setting, where patients are often extremely anxious, depressed, in pain, or sedated. Our primary research questions are to determine whether physiological changes are induced during a Reiki session and whether a Reiki session affects responses to a subsequent acute stressor. Secondary research questions include assessing which benefits result from placebo or unique abilities of "attuned" Reiki practitioners and assessing background characteristics of recipients that are associated with acceptance and responsiveness. Based on its use to reduce pain and anxiety, we will study potential mechanisms by which Reiki decreases activity of the sympathetic nervous system and other stress pathways. Comparison of the responses in a Reiki group with those in supine-control and sham groups will allow us to gain insights into mechanisms by which Reiki effects are mediated. Information obtained from the proposed studies will provide detailed information on physiological pathways affected by Reiki. Should Reiki decrease stress pathways or reduce physiological responses to stressful situations, it could be a useful adjunct to traditional medicine and have significant health and economic benefits.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Stress
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Rest; Other: Sham; Other: Reiki

Detailed Description

See Brief Summary

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 257
• Phase: Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Ohio
    • Cleveland, Ohio, United States, 44195
      • Cleveland Clinic Foundation

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 75 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy Individuals between the age of 18 and 75

Exclusion Criteria:

• Already involved in regular (one time a week or more) mind-body practices (yoga, meditation, Qi-gong, guided imagery, Taichi, biofeedback; attendance at religious services is not considered a mind-body practice) in the past three months OR has been doing intense spiritual practice for more than 6 months in the past (an average of 6hrs a week)
• Already received an energy therapy treatment (Reiki, therapeutic touch, healing touch, touch therapy) in the past. (note: acupuncture, massage Qi-gong are not considered energy therapies in the context of this study)
• Score on the DASS21 for Depression greater or equal to 21
• Score on the DASS21 for Anxiety greater or equal to 15
• In the last 3 months, has had a major stressful life-event that is likely to affect the outcomes of the study
• Medical condition, current illness or history of chronic illness that might affect the outcomes of the study such as those affecting stress response, cardiovascular, endocrine, or immune systems (Examples: cancer, lupus, multiple sclerosis, blood-clotting disorder, severe allergies or asthma that impairs breathing, diabetes mellitus, hyperglycemia, or hypoglycemia, cardiovascular disease, depression/anxiety etc.)
• In the past 3 months, has used or is chronically using over-the-counter, recreational or prescription drugs that might affect the outcomes of the study such as those affecting cardiovascular, platelets, central nervous system, endocrine, immune systems(Examples: steroid, blood pressure medication, depression/anxiety medication, antiplatelet drugs, etc.)
• Color Blind
• Consume 3 or more alcoholic drinks per day most days over the 3 months
• Pregnant
• Problems donating blood: Fear of hypodermic needles; has felt dizzy or was about to faint following a needle stick
• Incompatibility of energy healing with religious beliefs

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: Supine Rest; 30min supine rest listening to soft music	Other: Rest; 30 min supine rest
Sham Comparator: Sham Reiki; 30 min intervention by sham practitioner	Other: Sham; 30 min session with Sham practitioner; Other Names: Touch; Pretend Reiki; Placebo Reiki
Experimental: Reiki; 30 min session with Reiki practitioner	Other: Reiki; 30 min session with Reiki practitioner; Other Names: Energy Healing; Energy Therapy; Touch Therapy

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
1: To determine whether a Reiki session affects emotional states, ANS, or HPA activity	3 years
2. To determine whether a Reiki session affects responses to a subsequent acute stressor	3 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Assess which benefits result from placebo and which from unique abilities of Reiki practitioners	3 years
Obtain preliminary information on mechanisms needed for the rational design of a larger clinical trial	3 years
Assess the role of a variety of baseline variables on responses.	3 years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: The Cleveland Clinic
• Collaborators: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Joan E. Fox, PhD, The Cleveland Clinic

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: January 1, 2006
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 1, 2009
• Study Completion (Actual): June 1, 2010

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 29, 2006
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 29, 2006
• First Posted (Estimate): June 30, 2006

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): September 24, 2012
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 20, 2012
• Last Verified: September 1, 2012

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Stress; Reiki; CAM
• Other Study ID Numbers: R21AT001884-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No