Estimated read: 6 minutes
This post is part of the Reiki series on the Wellness path at The Gracewell Studio. For more, visit the Reiki page here.
Can Reiki help with cancer?
I am a registered nurse and a Usui Reiki Master. That means I have training in both the science and the energy. It also means my answer is not a simple yes or no.
Here is what I know to be true from the evidence. And what I have come to know through practice.
First Things First
Reiki does not cure cancer. Cancer treatment belongs with your oncology team, your treatment plan, and your medicines.
What Reiki can offer, alongside medical treatment, is time. Time to rest. Time to relax. Time to feel cared for. A precious pause in the middle of a heavy season.
What I Learned at the Komen Conference
In 2017, I was a Reiki exhibitor at the Komen New York Metastatic Breast Cancer Conference.
That day, I offered Reiki to ten women living with metastatic breast cancer. What I remember most is their gratitude. Gratitude for thirty minutes of deep relaxation, held with intention and care.
They spoke about feeling a deep peace. A quiet moment of connection. Feeling grounded and balanced. Some felt the grip of overwhelm, and at times fear, begin to loosen. They could breathe. They felt alive, in that moment.
That experience is one that is very personal, for each of them and for me.
For me, it was an honor to connect with these women in such an intimate and positive way. I left that day full of gratitude and peace. Energized. Hopeful. Alive.
We are on this earth for a short time. We will face adversity, grief, and illness. We will be tested, and we will be drained. And we also have chances to rest and recharge.
What Happens in a Session
Reiki is a hands off energy practice passed down through different lineages. Mine is the Usui lineage, which uses sacred symbols to help energy flow through me to the person receiving. In my practice, Reiki is mostly hands off.
I am not a magician or a psychic. When I give Reiki, I clear my mind and enter a meditative state. I allow energy to flow through me and through my hands. Often I feel warmth. I feel called to certain areas of the body. At times, I see images or scenes. That is part of the meditative state a practitioner enters, and I share what I experienced after the session.
At the Komen conference, something happened that I still think about. In session after session, my hands were drawn to certain areas of the body. Only afterward, when we talked, did I learn those were the places where each person’s cancer had spread.
This is not a science. It was something that happened during each session, and I share it as my own lived experience. Reiki is a practice of rest and care. Diagnosis and treatment belong with your medical team.
What the Research Says, Honestly
I love the research, so here it is, plainly.
- The evidence is still weak. A 2022 systematic review looked at eight randomized trials of Reiki in people with cancer. None showed Reiki working better than comparison treatments like rest or relaxation, and none of the trials were rated high quality (Hauptmann et al., 2022).
- Some people reported feeling better in the short term, including in their quality of life, compared with standard care alone. The reviewers believe much of that may come from the attention and care itself (Hauptmann et al., 2022).
- Fatigue: The Oncology Nursing Society lists Reiki for cancer fatigue as “effectiveness not established” (Oncology Nursing Society, n.d.).
- Safety: No harmful effects have been shown (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health [NCCIH], 2018).
So here is how I hold it. Reiki is not a cure. But being cared for matters. Feeling calm matters. Rest matters. And those are real gifts during a hard time.
If You Are Thinking About Reiki During Treatment
- Tell your oncology team. They should know everything you are doing to care for yourself.
- Keep every appointment and treatment. Reiki sits beside your medical care.
- Choose an honest practitioner. Look for someone who speaks plainly about what Reiki is: time for rest, relaxation, and care.
An October Invitation
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I share this as a reflection, and as an invitation to experience peace and relaxation as a companion to your medical care.
And one loving nurse nudge. Current national guidance recommends screening mammograms every two years for women ages 40 to 74 (U.S. Preventive Services Task Force [USPSTF], 2024). Your doctor may recommend something different based on your history. Breast cancer can affect anyone, so if you notice a change in your chest or breast, call your doctor.
Reiki is for you. It is time set aside for self care, in a space that holds you in care. I offer distance Reiki sessions, so you can receive from home, wherever home is.
Book a distance Reiki session · Visit the Reiki page
This post is for education only and is not medical advice. Reiki is a complementary practice and does not diagnose, treat, or cure any illness. Always talk with your care team about your treatment.
A Blessing for Anyone in the Middle of Treatment
May your body be held with tenderness. May your days have small, soft places to land. May the people caring for you be wise and kind. And may you never forget that you are whole, even now.
Go gracefully. 🤍
References
Hauptmann, M., Kutschan, S., Hübner, J., & Dörfler, J. (2022). Bioenergy therapies as a complementary treatment: A systematic review to evaluate the efficacy of bioenergy therapies in relieving treatment toxicities in patients with cancer. Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology, 149(6), 2607-2619. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-022-04362-x
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2018). Reiki. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/reiki
Oncology Nursing Society. (n.d.). Reiki for fatigue. https://www.ons.org/clinical-tools/pep/fatigue/reiki
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. (2024). Breast cancer: Screening. https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/breast-cancer-screening
