What is Reiki?
A Japanese word which means “universal life force energy,” Reiki is also a gentle, hands-on system of healing energy work. As a natural system of healing, Reiki restores balance and harmony through gentle, sacred touch. It cultivates a strong flow of “ki”, or energy, in the physical body and can also help nourish one’s emotional and spiritual states. It is a gentle, safe, and nourishing modality that offers profound healing for people in all stages of life.

 How can it help?
Reiki can help with breast cancer on a number of different levels. If you are undergoing conventional treatment such as chemo, surgery, or radiation, Reiki is a great modality for helping with side effects. The energy imparted by a Reiki practitioner is very gentle and can help reduce physical discomfort from nausea, pain, swelling, and radiation burns. Reiki healing energy is not limited to the physical body and can also be incredibly supportive and nurturing for emotional and spiritual challenges.

 What happens in an appointment?
Appointments will vary from one practitioner to another. Typically an appointment lasts 45 minutes to an hour. The recipient lies clothed on a massage table while the practitioner gently places his or her hands on different areas of the body. Reiki treatments are deeply relaxing and restorative.

 Number and length of appointments?
This will vary according to the needs of the patient and the style of the practitioner. Patients may receive one treatment a week for six weeks in order to manage a specific complaint like post-operative pain, or they may continue their treatments for longer periods of time in order to work on larger, more complex issues like why they developed cancer in the first place.