Why Reiki for Cancer Treatment?

For at least 10 years now, Reiki has been sought out and provided to people with cancer.  In my practice I have worked with a number of people with various forms of cancer. These are people who have embraced conventional treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, but who also believe that deepening their mind body connection will support their recovery.

Reiki is a gentle non-invasive form of treatment. The patient lies on a treatment table and is invited to make an intention for how they would like the energy of Reiki to support their healing. The practitioner then places hands on various part of the petient's body and gently creates a channel for the energy of reiki to pass through them into the body of the patient. Many recipients of Reiki report a sense of warmth; some describe a feeling of a healing presence in the room.

In my experience of giving Reiki to patients over the years, I believe that its calming nature sets a tome in the body that promotes healing. When the body is extremely stressed, as is the case when one receives a diagnosis of cancer, it releases stress hormones. These stress hormones can interfere with the effective functioning of the immune system. When the patient is able to lower their stress response and increase their relaxation response, they set the stage for healing. 

In working with patients, I ask them to visualize the flow of energy within and around them. I ask them to imagine that cancer cells are simply cells that appeared in their body, and I ask them to visualize the release of these cells from their body.  Conventional cancer treatment speaks of fighting, or battling cancer. I ask them to take a somewhat different approach, free of tension and constriction, by simply releasing unwanted cells into the universe for recycling. This is a different way to look at healing from cancer. It sets the stage for patients to be less stressed and feel more empowered.

For most patients, we schedule a Reiki session in between scheduled chemotherapy or radiation appointments.