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Original poster

A serious question around 'healing' ie reiki, spiritual, anything like that

73 replies

IndigoBarbie · 03/04/2013 20:44

Now, believe me when I say I know how controversial the whole energy healing/spiritual healing/reiki etc is - But I seriously would like to know if those who have tried it, found it beneficial?
OK, I know there will be lots who either don't believe in it, or wish to call people scammers, or those who perhaps didn't feel that reiki or equivalent helped them - but I have a genuine and very serious interest in this.
I am not writing a paper, or anything like that - I am just keenly interested as I would be interested in knowing what might attract you to going to receive a session, and what might put you off. I'm personally not into the whole marketing side where people make very big claims of cures, but I do know of some folks who have been helped whilst receiving energy work treatments.
Just thought I'd ask on here.
Also - for you lovely scientist folks - what do you know about getting tested for energy levels whilst activating the vibes?
Much love my fellow mumsnetters xx

OP posts:
hiddenhome · 03/04/2013 21:01

I had Reiki once as I was suffering from a bad back. It was a pile of shite and nothing happened.

Twosugarsplease · 03/04/2013 21:04

Hi indigo I had reiki some years ago, and haven't had it since, but I wish I had have been able to have it weekly, at the time I was going through a marriage break up, a huge shock to me and emotionally hard.
I kid you not, the next day I felt like a weight had been lifted, i felt so relaxed and at ease within myself.
People go for this I assume for anything or nothing in particular at all, but she picked up on the area of my heart and how the colour of the chakra was clear this needed help, after 12 yrs of marriage, it was pretty broken, and she helped me for sure.

RememberingMyPFEs · 03/04/2013 21:08

I learned Reiki to help my sister. It changed my life - it's simple and effective IMHO but complimentary not a replacement for traditional medicine.

SolidGoldBrass · 04/04/2013 01:19

This stuff is all woobollocks, and 'works' for non-specific or going-to-get-better-anyway illnesses. Sometimes all a person needs is a bit of indulgence and patience and to be taken 'seriously' and listened to, and whether the woo comes in the form of massage, sacred tapwater or a magical kick up the twinkle, the effect is the same.

But don't waste money you can't afford on this sort of crap.

RememberingMyPFEs · 04/04/2013 07:17

In your opinion.

CoteDAzur · 04/04/2013 07:29

If Reiki, spiritual healing etc are actually effective, they wouldn't need to be "complementary" and could easily replace medicine.

Wouldn't that be great? Instant and predictable effects, no side-effects, no messing with your body's chemistry.

Sadly, They Don't Work, which is why they can only ever be "complementary" - i.e. do it if it makes you feel good as placebo, but don't forget to take your medicine as well, because that is what will really help you heal.

Selks · 04/04/2013 07:38

Placebo effect.

Twosugarsplease · 04/04/2013 07:42

I agree cote I don't think anyone should rely on reiki for a medical condition, but would reccomend it for more of a healing of the soul, emotions etc.

Smudging · 04/04/2013 08:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RememberingMyPFEs · 04/04/2013 08:00

twosugars well put Thanks

usedtobesize8 · 04/04/2013 08:05

Definitely the power of belief. By which I mean, if you believe in it, it may help you feel better. But if it was proven to make any physical ailment better, it would be on the NHS as must be a lot cheaper than conventional treatments in some instances.

My MIL is spiritual healer & I wouldn't let her help me, even for free, when I had various problems while pregnant. Suspicious of it as she has failed to help many people in the past, they felt better but it didn't last.

seeker · 04/04/2013 08:05

When properly tested none of the complementary therapies have any effect at all.

Bear this in mind when you choose what to spend your money on- a massage or a facial or whatever will give you space and time to relax and focus on yourself if that's something you find hard to do in your normal life. And that will make you feel better. And neither are making false/misleading claims.

goodjambadjar · 04/04/2013 08:20

Can I suggest you try and find a course rather than just a treatment if funds allow? It will teach you the basics as well as how and why it is a common healing practice.

As with anything "woo" you need to approach it with an open mind. I find it more effective when dealing with emotional issues than physical.

If you have a session, I would advise just relaxing and going with it. Kind of like a hands off massage!

seeker · 04/04/2013 08:30

"As with anything "woo" you need to approach it with an open mind. I find it more effective when dealing with emotional issues than physical."

No, you need to approach it with a clear thinking, critical mind. And yes, of course it's mor effective with emotional issues than physical ones!

goodjambadjar · 04/04/2013 09:30

Sorry Seeker I didn't realise I'd forgotten to put IMO or IME at the end of my post.Hmm

OP, you'll always have for and against on a thread like this. I'm sure you know your own mind enough to decide for yourself after reading the differing opinions here.

If you did have an underlying issue that has made you consider complementary therapy I hope you can get the help you need, regardless of the treatment you choose. I say that as someone who relies heavily on prescription painkillers for osteoarthritis but still likes to use alternative therapies. that's why they're called complementary. IMO.

SolidGoldBrass · 04/04/2013 16:03

Oh, all the kinds of woobollockery that involves touching the patient tends to promote a feeling of wellbeing, but that's because friendly touch is generally beneficial to people who are unhappy or a bit off colour. So aromatherapy etc is a reasonable complementary therapy to conventional medicine.
But you might be better off booking a straightforward massage instead of paying a lot more to have it served up with extra woo.

TheAccidentalEgghibitionist · 04/04/2013 16:28

I had spiritual healing once. I'm not religious and I have a science degree.

I was deeply skeptical but the experience has stayed with me my whole life. It was deeply calming and balancing. I felt like I'd had a two week holiday, I felt utterly refreshed. An amazing experience.

I can't explain it, nor have I tried to.

TheAccidentalEgghibitionist · 04/04/2013 16:30

BTW I wasn't touched at all.

PedroPonyLikesCrisps · 04/04/2013 18:15

Reiki has been shown to have a positive effect on cancer patients in as much as that they 'feel better', which is a little dubious but could be taken as a positive thing. However, the same studies have also shown that fake reiki had exactly the same effect. So, it could be worth having, but not worth paying an 'expert' for. Plus, you are far better off having a massage or similar which has genuine health benefits as well as the relaxation effect.

Either way, it doesn't have any real, tangible benefits. Any benefits are entirely psychological as with most (all) complimentary practices. It's all just a way for woobollockers to make cash off the gullible.

seeker · 04/04/2013 18:36

The focussed, non judgemental, loving attention of another person is hugely beneficial. Touch is hugely beneficial. Having time for yourself is hugely beneficial. Rest is hugely beneficial.

The garden is beautiful- why do we need fairies at the bottoms of it?

CoteDAzur · 04/04/2013 19:25

Prayer has also been shown to have positive effects on cancer patients. And it doesn't cost anything.

TondelayoSchwarzkopf · 04/04/2013 19:28

The garden is beautiful- why do we need fairies at the bottoms of it?

Love this and plan to steal it.

PedroPonyLikesCrisps · 04/04/2013 19:31

We don't need the fairies at all, but sometimes the little buggers just refuse to leave Grin

CoteDAzur · 04/04/2013 19:53

There is no spoon, Neo Smile

Original poster
IndigoBarbie · 04/04/2013 21:30

Thank you to everyone who has responded; I will do my best to update this thread.

hiddenhome have you come to this conclusion because someone claimed that reiki could or would take away your back pain? Do you mean nothing happened: during the session, ie that you didn't feel anything happen or that your back pain still remained afterwards, and you thought it would be helped?

Twosugarsplease I'm glad you felt it helped you, and what you said re the soul and emotions

RememberingMyPFEs How beautiful that you learned this to help your sister, and the effect it has had on you

SolidGoldBrass From your comments I am unsure if you have tried any energy healing before, but you obviously have your opinions based on experience, I surmise that they were not positive then? Also, I am not limiting my question to the actual physical touch experience of energy therapies

CoteDAzur I note you are saying 'they don't work' - is this because they are advertised in a certain way that gives expectation to an outcome?

smudging So you enjoyed it then? I like the way you said 'for general well being'

usedtobesize8 Why would you not let your MIL help you? You said she has failed to help people in the past - They felt better (this is good ?) but it didn't last - how long should feeling good last for? Or, is it a case of it has to be permanent to be seen as effective?

seeker How is the testing done? I understand re the false and misleading claims, but what would make you choose one therapy over another? would it be the idea of time to yourself or, some other feedback and claim from those who might have already tried it, bearing in mind that each of us perceives and values our own experiences in different ways....I don't recall fairies were ever purported to have anything to do with reiki or spiritual energy, but having read more into your analogy my take upon it is that you feel that it's just a bit too woo? Or, if it was just said that you might like to try it for time for yourself, and might make you feel better, would that be more acceptable?

goodjambadjar Has it been the case that you have found emotions are assisted in some way by reiki/energy/whatever that this has perhaps assisted in dealing with the physical? I understand what you are saying re the mainstream medicines alongside the 'complimentary'

TheAccidentalEgghibitionist Would this then prompt you to have another one, or might this experience lead you to an expectation of what might happen should you do it again? I mean, you were doubtful - but yet had a meaningful experience nonetheless. What if the next time you didn't have such a meaningful experience, would it be deemed a waste of time? How could it be measured? But, then, as you say - you haven't tried to explain it, and sometimes there are things we just can't.

PedroPonyLikesCrisps from what you have said, it has been shown to have a positive effect on cancer patients in as much as 'they feel better' but - that sounds good then? Why wouldn't it be worth paying someone? OR should these energies ie reiki be dished out for free for those who might take the chance at feeling good. Is this not a tangible benefit? Does this also mean you haven't tried an energy session for yourself?

Many Thanks all xxx

OP posts: