Millions of people all around the world are living with asthma. Most patients are able to control their symptoms with various treatments, such as inhalers or oral medications. However, integrative treatments are also available to help improve quality of life. Adding Reiki to an asthma treatment regimen offers a variety of different benefits, making it a popular choice among patients.
About Asthma
Asthma is a chronic condition that affects the respiratory system. If you have this condition, you may experience a variety of different symptoms, including:
- Chest tightness
- Chest pain
- Coughing
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath
The severity of asthma symptoms can vary considerably. For some people, asthma is only an occasional nuisance. For other people, symptoms can become life-threatening at times. In most cases, these symptoms will be worse in certain circumstances, such as when you are sick, experiencing high levels of stress, exposed to allergenic substances, exercising or exposed to extreme cold. The symptoms of asthma can also change over time.
Standard Asthma Treatment Options
With the right treatment options, patients with asthma will experience fewer symptoms and enjoy a better quality of life. These treatments may focus on reducing the number of asthma symptoms and attacks a patient experiences, or they may focus on helping the patient during asthma attacks.
Most patients will continue to experience some symptoms of asthma even when they are taking all of their prescribed medications as recommended by the doctor. For this reason, many patients with asthma look for complementary treatment options like Reiki to help them deal with these symptoms.
What Is Reiki?
Reiki is a wellness treatment option that originated in Japan and focuses on harnessing the power of spiritual energy. The goal of treatment is to promote healing in the body and improve the balance of energy by dealing with any blockages or disturbances in the flow of the client’s “chi” or “ki” energy.
During the typical Reiki session, clients remain still while a trained practitioner assists to restore a normal flow of spiritual energy. To resolve issues with energy flow, the practitioner holds his or her hands over the client’s body or in gentle contact with the client’s body. As many as 15 specific hand positions may be used during the session, and each hand position will be held for up to five minutes. The client is fully clothed relaxing on a chair or reclining on a massage table.
Benefits of Reiki for Asthma Patients
Regular Reiki treatments may provide several benefits to people with asthma. Some of the specific benefits of Reiki can include:
Less anxiety
Many patients with asthma notice that their symptoms are worse when they are feeling stressed or anxious. Studies have shown that Reiki may reduce the number of anxiety patients with asthma experience, which can in turn improve their symptoms. Specifically, a literature review published in the Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that Reiki improves physical relaxation measurably.
Less pain
Patients with asthma often experience pain, especially in the chest. According to the Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine’s literature review, Reiki can reduce pain sensations and shows promise as a pain-relieving treatment.
Improved immune function
Scientists believe that the immune system plays an important role in the development and maintenance of asthma. Thus, improving immune system function could reduce symptoms for patients with this condition. Reiki potentially may help boost immune function, which could be beneficial for people with asthma.
Reiki also offers other advantages that are beneficial to anyone undergoing these treatments, regardless of whether they have asthma. For example, a study published in Research in Gerontological Nursing shows that Reiki treatments can improve mood, even among people who struggle with depression. Reiki treatments also pose no risk of complications, and they cause no side effects. The treatment is non-invasive, and patients will not experience any discomfort during or after treatment sessions.
More Support for Reiki’s Effectiveness
Multiple studies have supported the effectiveness of Reiki in the treatment of many different symptoms. For example, a study published in Cancer Prevention and Control found that patients who underwent Reiki showed a significant reduction in pain sensations on two different types of pain measurement tests. Likewise, another study published in Research in Gerontological Nursing shows that Reiki can improve the sensations of pain, as well as symptoms of depression and anxiety.