what the research says about Reiki
As a creative, intuitive, and a tad impulsive Sagittarius, I am never going to be the one to rely on facts and figures when it comes to following my passions.
But I’m also a writer, and so, when I came across this systematic review of Reiki research as part of my day job, I had to take a peek.
And while I’m certainly no science buff, I do spent a lot of my day reviewing research to support the work I do at Happiful magazine, so let me take this chance to share some of the findings.
First up: I’m not here to convince you that Reiki is some magic cure-all modality, but I’m also not here to pretend that it’s meaningless.
The truth is somewhere in between. And the reality is that the field (like the majority of complementary therapies) requires further research, but in 2025, a major scientific review looked at what the research actually says about Reiki and quality of life.
Here’s what it found …
research findings on Reiki
Researchers analysed 11 randomised controlled trials (RCT) involving 661 people. These included cancer patients, surgical patients, people with chronic illness, as well as healthy adults and teenagers.
RCTs are the studies that science takes ‘seriously’ because, in theory, they’re designed to reduce bias, expectation, and wishful thinking. This particular analysis focused on how Reiki impacted the participants overall quality of life.
The findings suggested there are several mental benefits, with people who received Reiki reporting:
Stress reduction
Less anxiety
Less pain
Better sleep
Improved emotional wellbeing
The studies also pointed to measurable physical benefits:
Lower heart rate
Lower blood pressure
Increased parasympathetic (rest-and-repair) nervous system activity
Reduced inflammation markers
Improved immune markers
This does not surprise me in the slightest, as I’ve yet to meet someone who didn’t feel calm, soothed, and noticeably ‘safer’ in their body after a full session of Reiki. It really is an excellent modality if you’re feeling like your nervous system is working overdrive.
when Reiki works best
I found it interesting that consistent treatments can have a bigger impact, whilst short sessions are just as powerful. The researchers deduced that Reiki works best when:
People received eight or more sessions
Sessions lasted an hour or more
Or Reiki was used in short 20-minute acute sessions for immediate relief
the research (and Reiki itself) has limitations
Like all complementary therapies, researchers do tend to see them as an add-on to existing ‘traditional’ (??) medical treatment. They also noted that Reiki did not cure cancer, replace medical treatment, produce guaranteed results, or even work the same for everyone
In addition to this, some studies analysed showed weak or mixed outcomes, especially when Reiki was rushed or inconsistent, and many of the sample sizes were too small to be reliable. Plus, the concept of ‘quality of life’ is pretty vague, and is influenced by money, relationships, safety, trauma, and culture… not necessarily something that can be accurately tested in a lab setting.
in conclusion…
Reiki is a safe and accessible complementary practice that has a real, tangible impact on both mental and physical health.
Sure, it’s not miracle treatment or a guaranteed cure, but instead, a way of offering your nervous system a chance to slow down. In particular, researchers recommend Reiki as support for cancer care, surgery recovery, chronic illness, and general wellbeing.
👉🏻 If you’re thinking about trying Reiki, here’s what to expect from an online session.
