A to Z of MS Reiki
Reiki is a form of complementary therapy that was developed in Japan in the early twentieth century. Reiki is a Japanese word meaning 'universal life energy' - a concept of energy flows through the body that is also the basis for other therapies such as acupuncture, Tai Chi and yoga.
The principle of treatment with reiki is that a trained practitioner can alter the energy flows through the body by placing his/her hands in a series of positions, on or over the body. Each position may be held for several minutes and the process can last 1 to 1½ hours. The whole body is treated rather than a specific symptom.
As with many other complementary and alternative therapies, reiki is used by people with MS to help improve various MS related symptoms. There is no research evidence supporting the use of reiki in multiple sclerosis, though it has been shown to improve pain and depression symptomatic of other conditions.
A number of the MS Therapy Centres offers reiki amongst their available therapies.