I think people should be careful doing Reiki

[lottieandmia22]

This post assumes a belief in spirituality so I'm not interested in debating that specifically. If you want to please start your own thread.

From what I can see, reiki is channeling occult energy through people's bodies and is therefore potentially risky. It seems to me that new age practitioners will repeatedly say they don't believe in malevolent entities but I think this is naive.

One of my friends told me that his dad was never the same after he became involved with reiki.

And also nearly everyone I've met who has done it was told by the reiki practitioner that they are 'special' have a 'gift' or could easily become a reiki master.

Scientists who believe in anti-science, which most woo is,

I don't think most 'woo' or the supernatural is anti science. It is just stuff that is unexplained. I think it is quite possible that humans partially process some phenomenon which could result in some things being described as 'woo' or supernatural. Human perception is an amazing thing.

Regarding 'Reiki', I'm really not sure. As it is unexplained. I'd have to be really convinced somehow to pick an alternative therapy as a primary source of medical treatment for something serious. Although I think some might work, herbalism for example, I think in terms of diagnoses methodology and choosing the right treatment regimens it can be like finding a needle in a haystack.

Regarding any 'spiritual element' of 'Reiki', that is unsure as well. If there is a scientific explanation that is merely currently unknown then the only bad thing concerning using it would be regarding bad practice and wrong motives. If it is actually harnessing a unexplainable 'spiritual energy' it again would depend on motives IMO as to whether it is a bad thing or not. Dabbling, though, I think may well be dangerous if there is anything in it.

Religion is the occult! Believing in mystical beings and the power of incantations (prayers). So here's a

However, calling people 'idiots' doesn't do you any favours

I don't need any favours. I can call them idiots because they are obviously idiots.

I don't think most 'woo' or the supernatural is anti science. It is just stuff that is unexplained

Whether you think it or not, a lot of it is totally anti-science. Anything that requires you to ignore the basic principles of the universe is anti-science.
Would you believe me if I told you I could fly? No, because you know for a fact that humans cannot fly, don't you? Just as scientists know for an absolute fact that water does not have a memory and substances do not get stronger the less you use of them. This is the most basic of scientific facts.

The orthodontist recommended that she takes Arnica ( a homeopathic treatment) to assist with healing and prevent bruising.I questioned this and he said " Don't ask me to explain- I admit it makes no rational sense" He said that in 30 years of dentistry he had seen so many patients taking Arnica who healed faster and better

ACTUAL ARNICA. The herbal remedy. Using actual arnica can have real effects. Using "homeopthic arnica" which is WATER or SUGAR PILLS cannot do anything.

Bloody hell.

tbh metacrisis you sound like a bit of an idiot, and a humourless one into the bargain.
I bet you read the Guardian.

speakout arnica is used in herbalism to treat bruising, reduce swelling etc. It is only a homeopathic remedy if very diluted, that is, using the homeopathic method. Usually substances which cause a reaction the same as the ailment's symptoms are the substances which are diluted using the homeopathic method. Treating like with like.

No- he recommended homeopathic arnica.

Well then he's another total idiot. He recommends water or sugar. What a tit.

Poisonous religion is not the occult as it is not hidden. It is practiced in full view of society. Occult means hidden.

tbh metacrisis you sound like a bit of an idiot, and a humourless one into the bargain.I bet you read the Guardian

Good insult, guardian reader. Saving that one up were we?

I read the homeopathic Guardian, in that I stare at a blank piece of paper that has been hit with a leather belt. It's so much more powerful that way.

metacrisis OK I take it back about you being humourless

Oh right, speakout. Interesting. Sounds strange, I'll have to look that one up. I know arnica very commonly is used in herbalism to treat bruising and swelling amongst other things. You can even get it in cream/gel form from Boots for that purpose.

The only good reiki practitioners are those who don't blow their own trumpets and who don't offer to do reiki until they've been practicing for years, and who follow a personal spiritual path, I.e. meditate and or pray every day morning and evening.

anyway Arnica cream is not homeopathic, it's herbal.

metacrisis - please stop calling people idiots!

Science is ever changing. Old truths are being replaced by new ones, with new discoveries and understandings of the world around us.

Text books are constantly being re-witten. Most things are not black and white.

Science is ever changing. Old truths are being replaced by new ones, with new discoveries and understandings of the world around us

Absolute and utter bollocks. This is what woo mongerers would have you believe, but its obvious bullshit. What old truths are replaced with new ones? Gravity not true anymore, is it? The periodic table old hat, replaced with what exactly?

NO. We build on what we know, we learn more all the time and adapt and further our understanding. We do not believe in bullshit that the ancient greeks could have told you was bunkum. The fundamental laws of physics have never changed.

Arnica is indeed homeopathic.

www.britishhomeopathic.org/charity/how-we-can-help/articles/homeopathic-medicines/a/arnica-montana/

Scientists have been surprised by new scientific discoveries, though, meta. There has been controversies throughout the history of science.

If people are partially processing phenomenon or processing phenomenon in an individual manner then there may be a scientific explanation for a lot of what is considered supernatural. People's perceptions vary from individual to individual and across societies.

Arnica is herbal.

Homeopathic arnica is water or sugar that supposedly has the memory of arnica in it.

You work out which one might have an effect on the human body and which one won't.

Scientists have been surprised by new scientific discoveries, though, meta. There has been controversies throughout the history of science

Not that surprised. None have actually controverted the basic facts of the universe have they? Name one.

Of course science doesn’t know everything. That’s why scientists say “We don’t know about that yet”

But science does know lots of things. And when something flies in the face of what we ^do* know, and then proves to be ineffective when properly tested (like reiki, homeopathy and acupuncture) then it’s reasonable to believe that it is nonsense.

And saying “I know this incredibly clever person who believes in it” means nothing. It’s a logical fallacy called the Argument from Authority. You can be incredibly clever in one area of your life and an idiot in others.

Arnica can be used homoeopathically but is used in herbalism too. I'm not sure why Arnica is used in homeopathic remedies for bruising, though. I thought the core principle of homeopathy was to treat like with like, albeit in diluted form.

meta I'm thinking of the early days of discovering quantum physics. Einstein's initial reservations.

there are people on this thread falling over themselves in their anxiety to prove how clever they are and how stupid other people are.
The thing is, if something works for somebody, then fine, it works if they say it did.
Scoffing at them from on high just makes you sound arrogant and thick tbh.

meta I'm thinking of the early days of discovering quantum physics. Einstein's initial reservations

that doesn't answer the question at all.