How Can Reiki Help?
Reiki may be helpful to stroke patients in a variety of
ways. Some of the potential benefits of Reiki treatments for stroke patients
include:
Reduced Anxiety and Stress
Strokes are a life-changing experience. In the aftermath of
this distressing event, people often feel overwhelmed and anxious. Not only do
they worry that they may experience another stroke in the future, but they also
feel stressed and inpatient as they face months or even years of recovery.
Reiki can reduce these negative feelings, allowing the client to relax and
focus more energy on recovery.
Improved Balance of the Mind and Emotions
Stroke patients may experience strong emotions during
recovery, both as a result of the trauma they have experienced, as well as any
damage that was done to the brain’s limbic system during the stroke. Receiving
regular Reiki treatments can help to balance the patient’s emotions and reduce
mood swings.
Faster, More Complete Recovery
Reiki may boost the client’s immune system and natural
ability to heal. This may speed a stroke patient’s recovery and improve the
effectiveness of other treatments, such as physical therapy.
Decreased Sensations of Pain
Rehabilitation and physical therapy can be painful for
stroke patients. Muscles can become sore and tired, causing patients to feel
discouraged. Reiki may help to reduce the pain experienced by patients in
therapy, which leads to improved patient comfort and better compliance with the
physical therapist’s instructions.
Better Patient Outlook
As Reiki restores a client’s emotional balance, reduces
stress and boosts the immune system, the patient’s outlook on his or her future
may also improve.
Is Reiki Safe for Stroke Patients?
Reiki is a non-invasive treatment that involves no tissue
manipulation, tools or pressure on the client’s body. Because it can be
performed with only light touch or no physical contact at all, Reiki is
generally considered safe for stroke patients, even immediately after the
stroke has occurred. In fact, some Reiki practitioners believe that Reiki will
be more effective for clients who have suffered strokes if they begin treatment
as soon as possible after the event. Nonetheless, stroke patients should talk
to their doctor before beginning Reiki treatments to discuss if they should or
can be included in their healing plan.
Patient Stories
At the time of publication, there haven’t been many research
studies conducted with the goal of exploring the relationship between Reiki and
stroke patient recovery. However, many stroke patients who have undergone Reiki
sessions have reported that they found the treatment helpful. For example, one
stroke patient reported that, after a stroke left her paralyzed on the left
side of her body, a single Reiki treatment administered in the hospital helped
her to move the fingers on her left hand for the first time since coming to the
emergency room. The patient was impressed with the results of the treatment, so
she continued Reiki sessions after returning home. She believes that these
sessions, along with traditional rehab, led to a complete physical recovery.
Another stroke patient reported that Reiki was a helpful
addition to her treatment regimen even years after her stroke. Prior to beginning
Reiki sessions, the patient had participated in many other types of therapy,
but she had never fully recovered from the effects of her stroke. After
participating in only a few Reiki sessions, the patient reported feeling more
balanced, energized and coordinated than she had since the event occurred.
Reiki and Stroke Prevention
In addition to helping stroke patients recover, Reiki may
also be helpful in preventing strokes among people who are at high risk for
developing blood clots. According to the CDC, the blood clots that cause
strokes are more likely to occur among patients with heart disease, high
cholesterol or diabetes. Because Reiki promotes the body’s own ability to heal
itself, it may aid in the treatment of some of the conditions that can lead to
a stroke. Furthermore, since high blood pressure is another known contributor
to the development of strokes, Reiki may also help prevent this condition by
reducing stress levels and lowering a client’s blood pressure.
