The whole body reiki is used to treat the whole body to achieve relaxation. It facilitates the removal of blockages in energy flow and the dispersal of toxins.

Long-term practice of whole-body reiki will restore the general condition of the body. The energy channels are opened to allow the body to deal properly and naturally with both stress and the build-up of toxins. It will help you to cope with anxiety and depression.

Reiki therapy is also useful when you are recovering from an illness. Reiki will provide the additional energy required to recover from the illness. It will also reinforce the effects of any other method of natural healing. It can be used as a supplementary therapy as it is a truly complementary system of treatment.

Reiki therapy can be a very useful adjunct for anyone taking a course of drugs. It can help reduce some of the side effects of drug therapy. Reiki helps the body in the recovery after drug therapy, after surgery and after chemotherapy. In all these cases, reiki therapy supplies the body with extra life energy, enabling the body to bounce back more quickly from the burdens of surgery and chemicals.

In some cases, use of reiki therapy after an operation will lessen pain. It will accelerate the natural healing processes. The key to success is that the therapy be undertaken on a regular basis. When a person is enjoying good health, the regular therapy increases the body's built-in defences which manifests itself as a confidence and outward harmony in dealing with everyday events. It bestows a greater ability to deal with stressful situations. You will gain a positive outlook on life. Once the blockages and toxins have been removed from the system, the scope for personal advancement and growth becomes available. In general, the better metabolic functioning afforded by reiki therapy means that benefits and improvements may be experienced in many ways.

Reiki therapy works very well in combination with other holistic therapies. Virtually any treatment can be used. We will examine a few such combinations to illustrate the synergy that can be accomplished.

Crystal therapy involves the use of precious and semi-precious stones. The stones are believed to store positive energy and they act as a conduit for healing from the practitioner to the recipient. They also believed to generate a healing vibration that acts upon the body. In some cases the stone is placed on the body where treatment is focused, in others it may be positioned on the appropriate acupuncture point. Most therapists use quartz for physical healing, amethyst for spiritual healing and rose quartz to heal emotions. Fluorite may be used to develop awareness and knowledge of a spiritual nature.

In reiki, three varieties of quartz are commonly used-amethyst, rose quartz and ordinary quartz (or rock crystal). The crystal structure of quartz is often taken to be related to the six chakras and the tip of the crystal to the seventh chakra. Practitioners recommend using rock crystal to avoid feeling overpowered by changes, mounting pressures and the stress of everyday life. Carrying the crystal or wearing it is meant to bring light into your workaday routines.

Rock crystal, held in the hand or between the hands, can also be used in conjunction with reiki meditation. The energy emanating from the crystal is thought to go into the palms and then the rest of the body via the reflex zones. It is recommended by some in a variety of applications such as relaxation, wound-healing with other therapy and treating particular organs.

Rose quartz, with its soft pink coloration, is used for mending emotional problems. Examples are: shutting out certain desires or facing trauma and stress brought about by a separation.

The use of amethyst with reiki is varied. It is said to help promote the proper function of an organ that has been under treatment. Placed on the Third Eye (centre of the forehead), it facilitates clearer vision in one's path through life. It can also reduce tension and fear.

Reiki is said to assist in the concentration required for meditation, with the flow of energy aiding relaxation. There are some positions that can be adopted in reiki meditation to achieve particular goals. In the first position the legs are drawn up and the soles of the feet put together with the knees falling apart. This can be done while lying down or sitting against a wall or chair. The hands adopt a praying gesture. This is meant to complete the circuit of energy, allowing a flow around the body. The reiki energy removes any blockages and performed regularly, this becomes a powerful meditation exercise. It can be done for short periods initially, just a couple of minutes, and then built up in small increases.

Group meditation is also possible with reiki, in which the participants stand in a circle with hands joined.

Aromatherapy employs essential oils extracted from plants. The oils can be used in three ways: by direct application, bathing in water to which a few drops of the appropriate oil have been added, and inhalation.

When used in conjunction with reiki, some oils can be applied directly on particular areas of the body, or their aroma can be made to fill the room using an aroma lamp. Below a few oils are considered and their use compared to their therapeutic value in aromatherapy.

Lavender: In aromatherapy lavender is a tonic with relaxing effects. It is also an antiseptic, an antispasmodic and stimulates the appetite. It is also used for minor burns and wounds. Its soothing effects render it helpful for headaches, tension and similar conditions.

In reiki, lavender is associated primarily with recipients who are sensitive and easily hurt. In long sessions of reiki lavender helps to promote the calm and confidence necessary for a period of building and strengthening of the life force energy.

Sandalwood: In aromatherapy, sandalwood oil is prized for its relaxing and antiseptic effects. It forms a very effective oil for application to the skin (especially facial), particularly for dry or sensitive skin.

Sandalwood oil produces an ambience conducive to the reiki therapy because the oil is considered to elicit trust and confidence, between practitioner and recipient.

Clary sage: Clary sage is a tonic, antispasmodic, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, bactericidal and more. It is also used to treat colds, menstrual problems and its very low toxicity renders it suitable for general use.

In a session of reiki therapy, clary sage is used to open blocked channels and to enhance sensitivity.

Patchouli: Patchouli has some aphrodisiac qualities, and is also used to treat skin disorders and minor bums because of its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic qualities.

It is also used in reiki therapy for allergies and impurities of the skin; but the fundamental use and aim is to enhance the sensual qualities and aspects of life.

Many reiki therapists believe that reiki can readily affect the way in which drugs work in the body. Side effects of drugs can be lessened through the use of reiki, and in some cases it is reported that the process will be accelerated. In addition, reiki makes the body more receptive to drugs. Thus, it may be beneficial to undergo reiki therapy prior to the start of a course of drugs. The relaxed state rendered by reiki may also counter, to some extent, the efficacy of an anaesthetic. However, injections such as anaesthetics can more readily and easily be released from the body with the help of reiki.

Although minor pains can often be remedied through the use of reiki alone, stronger pain killers do not have their effect lessened by reiki. The interaction between reiki and drugs is neither well tested nor documented.

In conjunction with Homeopathy, reiki provides a reinforcing effect by rendering the treatment more effective. Reiki can help avoid strain, improve the removal of toxins and increase the body's sensitivity. After treatment, whole-body reiki will help recovery.

These are named after Edward Bach who studied plants with healing qualities. He identified 38 plants, the flowers of which he floated on clear spring water. This, he believed, transferred medicinal properties to the water which could be given to patients. His practice mimicked the drops of dew found on the plant which was used in the beginning. Stock solutions are diluted in water and a few drops taken.

Typical examples are:

• cherry plum for fear, tension, irrationality
• holly for envy, jealousy and hatred
• pine for guilt and constantly apologizing
• sweet chestnut for despair
• wild rose for apathy

As in the case of other alternative therapies, reiki improves the effectiveness of Bach remedies.

The vast majority of reports on the effectiveness of reiki appear in popular rather than scientific literature. Proponents of reiki cite the growing body of research in the field of Therapeutic Touch as evidence of the therapeutic transfer of energy through touch.

One California study showed that reiki can increase haemoglobin and haematocrit levels. The study compared 47 people participating in reiki training and a small control group of 9 healthy medical professionals. The study found a significant increase in haemoglobin and haematocrit levels among the reiki group and no significant change in the control group.