Reiki Wellness Therapy

23/02/2026

PLEASE CHECK OUT THE ARTICLE BELOW REGARDING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STRESS AND CANCER

The Sun Newspaper - UK Edition
Sam Blanchard , Health Correspondent
Published: 09:21, 23 Feb 2026
Updated: 09:22, 23 Feb 2026

TEN OUT OF ZEN
THE SIMPLE 20 MINUTE ACTIVITY THAT EXPERTS SAY COULD SLASH CANCER DEATH RISK

STRESS could worsen cancer survival and patients should try simple ways to manage it, say scientists.
Research found that the stress hormone cortisol increases tumour cells’ ability to grow and spread around the body. it might also reduce the effectiveness of treatment.

Polls by YouGov suggest at least 40 per cent of Brits feel stressed at any given time.

This is nearly twice as high among cancer patients, with 72 per cent saying they struggle with emotional woes like anxiety or depression, according to Macmillan Cancer Support.

Experts suggest patients try meditation to keep their stress under control and potentially boost their recovery.
Levels of cortisol spike naturally before you wake up and then decrease through the day, but can also be triggered by pressure at work or at home, or by trauma.
Lab experiments at Midwestern University in Arizona, USA, found cancer cells were tougher and more able to grow and spread when exposed to higher levels of cortisol.

Study author Dr Kimberley Bussey said: “Our data suggests that psychosocial stress, particularly if it is chronic, is a contributing factor to both the development of cancer and the response to cancer therapy.
“There are things patients can do to help lower their stress.
“Patients should, as much as they can, do things to manage stress such as exercise, get outside in nature and engage in mindfulness practices like meditation. “Every action they take will help.”
The NHS says meditation is an effective form of mindfulness that helps people to make peace with their emotions and enjoy life more.
The health service says: “Mindfulness meditation involves sitting silently and paying attention to thoughts, sounds, the sensations of breathing or parts of the body, bringing your attention back whenever the mind starts to wander.”
It said people should work out a routine that works for them but recommends setting aside 20 minutes for a meditation session.
Dr Bussey’s research compared the effects of cortisol on cells taken from breast cancer or adrenal carcinoma with healthy cells.
She presented the results at the conference of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) this month.
Dr Bussey said the stress hormone caused changes that made the cells more adaptable, better at resisting drug treatment and more able to spread. She added: “Cortisol levels cycle during the day, being highest in the morning, but in cancer patients this rhythm is disrupted and their levels tend to not show the same highs and lows but stay more constant.
“I think there are arguments to be made for starting and ending the day with practices that reduce stress.
“In the morning, those practices can support a resilient mental state that helps us manage daily stress better.

THIS IS WHY AND HOW REIKI HELPS LOWER CORTISOL AND STRESS LEVELS.

Reiki helps lower cortisol levels by activating the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for relaxation and recovery. This process reduces the body's stress response, leading to lower cortisol levels and a more balanced state of mind and body. Reiki's ability to promote relaxation and emotional release makes it an effective tool for managing stress and improving overall well-being.

REIKI IS NOW BEING OFFERED IN MANY UK NHS HOSPITALS AND HOSPICES ACROSS THE UK AS A WELLNESS THERAPY.

27/10/2025

15/05/2025

Here is an extract taken from the FHT* Organisation International Therapist Magazine May 2025...

The Positive Effects of Reiki for Pain Management

"In a random prospective controlled study featured in Pain Management Nursing, researchers looked to determine the effects of reiki on pain and biochemical parameters in patients undergoing bone-marrow transplantation.
The study consisted of two group: there were 5 women and 16 men in the reiki group, with a mean age of 34, and 7 women and 14 men in the control group, with a mean age of 37. The study used a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) to measure participants' pain, and there was no statistically significant difference in pain scores between the groups before the intervention.
Patients in the reiki group were subjected to second-degree** reiki for 30 minutes. Before the treatment, the practitioner washed their hands and the patient was placed in a comfortable lying or reclining position.
After the procedure, patients were allowed to rest, and if there were no contraindications, they were given a glass of water. On the first two days, VAS and biochemical values were recorded, and on the third day, a 30-minute distant reiki application was performed. One week after the distant reiki treatment, the 10th day of the bone-marrow treatment, VAS and biochemical values were re-evaluated.

The study determined that the pain scores of those receiving reiki decreased compared to those in the control group. Researchers recommend replicating the study with other types of cancer, in many hospitals with more patients, to confirm these results."

What a revelation for those of us who believe in Reiki! So in short research is clearly showing that there is more to Reiki than meets the eye but then those of us who practice Reiki or who have received Reiki and feel the benefits know all too well it works. Just because we can't see it; it's not a physical pill, or a surgical procedure doesn't mean it doesn't work! We know a magnate works through a magnetic polarity, an invisible field that extends around an object even though we can't see it. Why not Reiki? Only through more research and scientific advancement will more be revealed about those areas in the energetic field inside and outside our human body. I for one can't wait! DeeDee

* Federation of Holistic Therapists

** Second degree Reiki is also known as Reiki II and is the level where the student learns more advanced aspects of Reiki practice where the three symbols (power, distance, and emotional/mental symbols) are introduced via attunement.