Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care
Volume 27, Issue 5, September–October 2016, Pages 635-647
Effects of Reiki With Music Compared to Music Only Among People Living
With HIV
Marie N.BremnerPhD, RNBarbara J.BlakePhD, RN, ACRN, FAANV.
DoreenWagnerPhD, RN, CNORSharon M.PearceyPhD
Marie N. Bremner, PhD, RN, is a Professor of Nursing, Kennesaw State
University, Kennesaw, Georgia, USA.
Barbara J. Blake, PhD, RN, ACRN, FAAN, is a Professor of Nursing, Kennesaw
State University, Kennesaw, Georgia, USA.
V. Doreen Wagner, PhD, RN, CNOR, is an Associate Professor of Nursing,
Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, Georgia, USA.
Sharon M. Pearcey, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Psychology, Kennesaw
State University, Kennesaw, Georgia, USA.
Abstract:
Persons living with HIV (PLWH) often seek complementary treatments to
improve their overall health and well-being. Reiki, an ancient healing
practice, has been found to be effective in reducing symptoms of stress,
anxiety, pain, and depression. The purpose of this pilot study was to
evaluate the effectiveness of Reiki as a complementary treatment for PLWH .
Using a two-group mixed-methods experimental design, 37 participants were
randomized to either a 6-week Reiki with Music Group or a Music Only Group.
Self-reported and physiologic measures were obtained at baseline, 6 weeks,
and 10 weeks. Significant improvements in relief of pain and stress in
those receiving RMG were found. At the 6-week assessment, semi-structured
interviews were conducted with all participants. Qualitative findings
indicated that Reiki and music therapy helped reduce stress, anxiety, and
depression. Evidence-based data regarding the effectiveness of Reiki will
help nurses help patients better manage HIV-related symptoms.
http://www.nursesinaidscarejournal.org/article/S1055-3290(16)30033-4/ fulltext
Excerpts:
"Reiki touch therapy is centered on the holistic view of promoting whole
person (mind, body, and spirit) health. Reiki is based on Tibetan Buddhist
healing methods, which were rediscovered by Japanese minister Mikao Usui in
the 1900s. The word Reiki means universal life energy and is composed of
two Japanese words. The word rei means 'hidden force' or 'spiritual' and ki
means 'life energy' (Rand, 2005).
"As a complementary therapy, Reiki has several benefits, including
promoting deep relaxation, breaking up energy blockages, and detoxifying
the system. When Reiki is performed, the Reiki practitioner acts as a
conduit of universal healing energy by placing his or her hands lightly on
or just above the person. As a part of Reiki therapy, it is customary to
play meditative music to enhance the healing environment...Studies have
found that Reiki can positively impact an individual's physiological health
such as serum hemoglobin, hematocrit, and immunological function (Wardell &
Engebretson, 2001), as well as psychological health such as pain, anxiety,
and depression (Pierce, 2009)."
"Several studies have shown the benefits of symptom management from touch
therapy in general, and Reiki specifically, in wide populations. In a
Cochrane Database Systematic Review of touch therapies for pain relief, So,
Jiang, and Qin (2008) concluded that no adverse effects were associated
with touch therapy. Although the findings were inconclusive for
significantly positive effects, evidence supported the use of touch
therapies for pain relief in adults. Ringdahl (2014) analyzed five
systematic reviews on Reiki research representing 24 studies to include 9
randomized controlled trials and reported the following significant
findings: four studies demonstrated pain reduction, two studies showed
decreased anxiety and depression, and one study indicated decreased fatigue
and improved quality of life for cancer patients. Joyce and Herbison (2015)
performed a systematic review to assess the effectiveness of Reiki on
anxiety and depression. Following stringent criteria for inclusion, only 3
of 31 possible studies were included in the review. Due to small sample
sizes and lack of definitive diagnoses of anxiety and/or depression at the
onset of the studies, there was inconclusive evidence to determine the
effectiveness of Reiki on either anxiety or depression.
"Studies have shown that single Reiki sessions decrease stress, increase
relaxation, enhance serum hemoglobin and hematocrit, and improve
immunological functions (Wardell & Engebretson, 2001)."
"Eighteen people were randomized to the RMG [Reiki with music group] as
the experimental group and were scheduled for 6 weekly, 30-minute Reiki
sessions and 6- and 10-week follow-up assessments. Nineteen people were
randomized to the MOG [music only group] as the control group and were also
scheduled for 6- and 10-week follow-up assessments...One Reiki master
conducted all of the sessions with traditional Reiki hand placements along
with meditative music."
"An interesting note is that two participants became employed during the
course of the study. This was consistent with the findings of Mehl-Madrona
et al. (2011), who reported that participants felt a positive sense of
ability to move in the world following a program of Reiki, leading them to
be gainfully employed. Thus, offering Reiki programs may be profitable in
terms of employment, as well as promoting healthy behaviors (life styles)
and attitudes."
Comments: as with my previous post, the study design guarantees that
favorable results will be obtained due to the added placebo effect of the
Reiki group. Also as with my previous post, there is no discussion of the
fact that the therapy is inconsistent with scientific knowledge.
Comment 1:
Sadly, the* Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care *must now be
added to the ever-lengthening list of journals prepared to publish tripe,
piffle, poppycock, balderdash, codswallop, twaddle and tosh. And by
claiming to provide readers with worthwhile information, to defraud them.
The authors of this paper claim: “Reiki, an ancient healing practice, has
been found to be effective in reducing symptoms of stress, anxiety, pain,
and depression…. Reiki is based on Tibetan Buddhist healing methods, which
were rediscovered by Japanese minister Mikao Usui in the 1900s.”
Plan false.
Usui was a Buddhist, but not a ‘minister’, he may have been influenced by
his Buddhist studies, but Reiki is not ‘ancient’ – it was a totally
imaginary concept, invented by Usui.
If the authors do not know that the ‘channels’ and ‘energy’ of which they
write are but imaginary, they have been fooled.
If they do know, they are trying to fool their readers.
If they are nurses, they should be ashamed.
AIDs patients deserve better.
Author
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