There's no doubt that addiction is a serious problem. Many people struggle with various forms of addiction every day and it can be tough to break the cycle. Some people turn to rehab or therapy in an attempt to get clean, but is Reiki healing therapy worth trying? Can it really help substance abusers overcome their addictions?
You might have heard of the term Reiki healing therapy or even done extensive research on it. On the other hand, you might not know a single thing in regards to Reiki. You’ve probably never even heard or seen the word. Either way, worry not, for I am here to discuss Reiki with you extensively. Reiki has been a subject of interest for me for a lot of years because I am passionate about finding a variety of healthy practice that can help people overcome their substance use disorder. I first interacted with Reiki as a college student many years ago. It intrigued and captivated me instantly. Today I am a certified Master Reiki Practitioner and use it routinely to help those with substance use disorders heal. Judging by your presence here I’m guessing it is a subject of interest to you too, so let’s get on with it.
What is Reiki treatment?
Whether or not you know about the term with the definition of Reiki or otherwise, have faith that you are in the right place. Energy is all around us including within our own biofield. Reiki uses this energy. Reiki is a form of energy healing where practitioners use the palm of their hands to transfer energy to and from the vital life force energy into a client’s body. Reiki is derived from two Japanese words. These words are ‘Rei’, meaning universal, and ‘Ki' which means vital life force energy. Ki, the vital life force energy, flows in all living things. Reiki was first developed by a Japanese man called Mikao Usui in the early 1900s. The version of Reiki he developed was known as Usui Reiki. Over the years and as times changed Usui Reiki evolved into the modern Reiki that is widely known. Reiki is performed for reasons such as cleansing, unblocking, and clarifying energy flow within a person’s body. This free flow of energy that Reiki brings about has a lot of benefits which I will explain later in the article.
Before we go any further, let me just clarify that Reiki is not a standard medical procedure or instead is a alternative or complimentary way of healing. There isn’t a lot of scientific research and evidence to show that Reiki produces results but the evidence is coming in and the skepticism is going down. Excitingly enough, there is a multitude of people, specialists, nurses, and hospitals that swear by it. How To Use Reiki Treatment for Substance Abuse Disorders.
Before I expound on how to use Reiki treatment for substance abuse disorders, I would like to share how Reiki therapy is performed and the types of diseases that it has been found to treat.
During a Reiki therapy session, the client is instructed to sit in a comfortable chair or lie on a massage table when fully clothed. The practitioner then proceeds to lay their hands on or above the client’s body in various positions. These hand positions are meant to channel energy from the vital life force energy into the client’s body. The practitioner and client have to set the intent of healing in their minds for the clients greater good. A session of Reiki healing therapy can last anywhere from 50 to 90 minutes.
Reiki has been said to help treat several diseases ranging from cancer, heart disease, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and memory. Reiki has also been said to relieve pain, speed up the natural healing of the body, decrease stress, and help in developing emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being.
You’re probably wondering when I’ll get to the part of how Reiki treatment can be used for substance abuse disorders. Well, here we are. In the initial stages of treating a substance abuse disorder, Reiki can be treated to complement the medical and psychological procedures that the clients are undertaking. You are probably aware that stress, anxiety, depression, unresolved trauma, and other mental disorders are some of the leading causes of drug addiction. Using this logic, the use of Reiki can help treat drug addiction by treating these disorders. If these triggers are routinely treated by the use of Reiki healing therapy, the clients desire to use drugs or alcohol will decrease.
You are probably aware that during the initial stages of treating a substance abuse disorder, a person undergoes withdrawal symptoms. These withdrawal symptoms can include physical pain and feelings of depression and anxiety. Reiki healing therapy is an excellent tool to treat or minimize the withdrawal symptoms that accompany treating a substance abuse disorder.
Pros Of Using Reiki Treatment
1. By now, you are probably aware that Reiki is a non-invasive treatment. This is a pro as it reduces the risk of any damage being caused to the client.
2. Reiki treatment helps in developing the emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being of the person being treated.
3. Reiki treatment helps with coping with difficulties and relieving of stress.
4. It also speeds up the body’s natural healing, which, as you have probably guessed, helps with the substance users recovery.
5. People who have received Reiki treatment have been said to experience having purposeful lives after. This would help in minimizing the risk of the substance user slipping back into addiction.
Cons of using Reiki treatment
1.If one just uses Reiki treatment alone or without a clear motivation to change, they might not recover. Therefore, I would advise you or anyone you recommend for Reiki to use it as a complementary treatment for counseling.
2.Reiki has sometimes been confused as a religion. Let me clarify by saying that Reiki is in no way a religion but a holistic energy healing technique.
Final Take Away
There is some debate surrounding the use of Reiki healing therapy as an addiction treatment. Some people swear by its effectiveness especially hospitals, while others claim that it's nothing more than a placebo effect. So, is it worth giving it a try? That's something only you can answer but one thing for sure, you will not leave a session without feeling the incredible powerful effects of Reiki therapy energies that can be used to transform your mindset and life.