Reiki is a Japanese practice based primarily on the laying on of hands. It is used to encourage a state of relaxation, calm and well-being, and can also be practised as a discipline for personal growth and self-care.
Its apparent simplicity — one person lies down or sits while another gently places their hands on different areas of the body — may make it seem as though there is little more to it. However, Reiki also encompasses a personal practice, a philosophy, and a particular way of relating to ourselves and to others.
Although Reiki is now practised in many countries, its origins can be traced back to Japan in the early 20th century and are primarily associated with Mikao Usui (1865–1926).
The word Reiki is usually written in Japanese with two kanji: 霊気 (reiki).
Its translation is not entirely straightforward. The second character, 気 (ki), appears in many Japanese words and, depending on the context, refers to concepts related to energy, mood, inner state or vitality.
霊 (rei) also carries different meanings and nuances associated with the spiritual, the sacred, or that which transcends the purely material.
For this reason, Reiki is often translated in the West as “universal energy” or “spiritual energy.” These translations are useful as an approximation of the concept, although, as is often the case when Japanese terms are translated into Western languages, neither fully conveys all of its nuances.
The method we know today as Reiki developed in Japan from the teachings of Mikao Usui and later spread beyond Japan through different teachers and lineages.
Perhaps the best-known form of Reiki is a session in which a practitioner gives Reiki to another person.
During a session, the person usually remains fully clothed and lies comfortably on a treatment table, although Reiki can also be received while sitting. The practitioner gently places their hands on different areas of the body or holds them a short distance above it.
There are no physical manipulations, massages or sudden movements.
A session generally takes place in silence and in a calm environment. Some people experience a deep sense of relaxation; others may notice warmth, cold, tingling, heaviness or lightness. Emotions or memories may also arise. And some people simply do not feel anything particularly unusual.
All of these experiences are normal.
There is no particular sensation that must occur during a Reiki session.
This question can be answered from different perspectives.
According to the traditional understanding of Reiki, the practice involves an interaction related to ki, or vital energy. The practitioner does not use their own energy or consciously try to control what happens, but rather allows Reiki to work through the laying on of hands.
This is the explanation that belongs to the tradition and practice of Reiki.
From a scientific perspective, however, we need to be more cautious.
To date, there is no scientific evidence demonstrating the existence of a specific energy field associated with Reiki, nor has a biological mechanism been established that could explain Reiki in the energetic terms traditionally used. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), part of the US National Institutes of Health, explicitly states this.
This does not necessarily mean that the experiences of people who practise or receive Reiki are false. It means something much simpler: science has not demonstrated the energetic mechanism traditionally used to explain Reiki.
These are two different statements, and we believe it is important not to confuse them.
Reiki has been the subject of a number of scientific studies, particularly in relation to relaxation, anxiety, pain and quality of life.
The results are not conclusive.
The NCCIH states that Reiki has not been clearly shown to be effective for any health-related purpose and notes that many of the available studies have methodological limitations or inconsistent results.
Research, however, continues.
A systematic review and meta-analysis published in 2025, which analysed randomised controlled trials involving a total of 661 participants, found a small but statistically significant improvement in quality of life among people who received Reiki. These findings are interesting, but they should be interpreted with caution and do not demonstrate the existence of the energetic mechanism traditionally proposed to explain Reiki.
A systematic review published in 2026 on Reiki and Therapeutic Touch in palliative care also found some positive results related to pain, anxiety, fatigue, relaxation and emotional well-being, but concluded that the available evidence remains limited and heterogeneous.
Therefore, perhaps the most rigorous answer at present is this: there are promising findings in certain areas related to well-being and quality of life, but we do not yet have sufficiently strong scientific evidence to draw definitive conclusions about the specific effectiveness of Reiki or its mechanism of action.
Many people turn to Reiki primarily to relax, reduce their subjective sense of stress, or simply have a space for calm and stillness.
It can also be used as a form of support during emotionally difficult periods or alongside conventional medical treatments.
In fact, some healthcare institutions and palliative care centres offer Reiki as a complementary therapy, precisely within this context of well-being and support. Cancer Research UK, for example, explains that some people with cancer use Reiki alongside their treatments and may find it helpful for relaxation and emotional support, while clearly stating that Reiki does not treat cancer.
This distinction is fundamental.
Complementary does not mean alternative.
Reiki should not be used to replace a diagnosis, medication or necessary medical treatment. When a health problem exists, diagnosis and appropriate treatment should be provided by qualified healthcare professionals. Healthcare guidance on complementary therapies likewise emphasises that they should be used alongside conventional medicine, not instead of it.
An important aspect of Reiki often remains hidden when we speak only about sessions and treatments.
Traditionally, learning Reiki also means practising Reiki on oneself.
Self-treatment, meditation, certain Japanese exercises and the Gokai — the principles or precepts associated with Usui’s teachings — are all part of this personal dimension of the practice.
From this perspective, Reiki is not simply about “doing something” to another person.
It can become a daily space in which to stop, pay attention to the body, remain in silence for a few minutes and observe how we are.
Perhaps this is one of the reasons why such an apparently simple practice can accompany some people for many years.
No.
Reiki is not a religion, and practising it does not require adopting any particular faith or belief system.
A person can approach Reiki from a spiritual perspective, out of curiosity, as a well-being practice, or simply because they would like to experience for themselves what happens during a session.
Nor do we believe there is any need to convince anyone.
The experience of Reiki is fundamentally personal and, as with many contemplative practices, it may be more interesting to experience it than to build too many ideas around it.
What does Reiki mean?
Reiki (霊気) is a Japanese term commonly translated as “spiritual energy” or “universal energy.” The translation is approximate, as both characters carry different meanings and nuances in Japanese.
Who created Reiki?
The Reiki method we know today originated in the teachings of Mikao Usui in Japan in the early 20th century. After his death in 1926, his teachings continued to be transmitted and eventually spread to other countries.
Do I have to remove my clothes during a Reiki session?
No. Reiki sessions are normally carried out with the person fully clothed. The practitioner gently places their hands on the body or holds them a short distance above it.
Do I have to feel something for the session to work?
No. Some people experience warmth, tingling, relaxation or other physical sensations, while others notice nothing in particular. There is no “correct” experience that needs to occur during a session.
Do I have to believe in Reiki?
No. Reiki does not require any particular religious or spiritual belief.
Can Reiki replace medical treatment?
No. Reiki is a complementary practice and should never be used to replace medical care, diagnosis or necessary medical treatment.
Reiki is a Japanese practice that is simple in form: silence, presence and the laying on of hands.
Traditionally, it is understood through the Japanese concept of ki and through a spiritual dimension of the practice. Current science has not demonstrated the existence of the energy field proposed by this traditional explanation and does not yet allow us to draw definitive conclusions about its mechanisms or specific effectiveness, although some research has found positive results related to well-being and quality of life.
Perhaps we do not need to turn this uncertainty into a problem.
We can respect a tradition without attributing to it what we do not know. We can acknowledge the experiences of those who practise Reiki without automatically turning them into scientific evidence. And we can allow research to continue doing its work.
In the meantime, Reiki can continue to be what it has been for many people over the years: a simple practice of care, attention and presence.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), Reiki. National Institutes of Health.
NCCIH — Reiki
Liu K. et al. (2025), Effects of Reiki therapy on quality of life: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, Systematic Reviews, 14(1), 72.
View the study on PubMed
Pontes-Gomes R., Reis-Pina P. (2026), Reiki and Therapeutic Touch for symptom burden and quality of life in palliative settings: A systematic review.
View the systematic review on PubMed
Cancer Research UK, Reiki — Complementary and alternative therapy.
Cancer Research UK — Reiki
NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service, Advising on complementary products and conventional medicines (updated 2025).
NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service
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