As we age, our bodies struggle with everyday tasks and life isn’t always as good as we’d like it to be. Joint and muscle aches and pains, slow-healing cuts, and unsightly bruises detract to varying degrees from the enjoyment of our older years. It doesn’t have to be that way though. With regular Reiki treatments, these bothersome discomforts can be reduced, minimized and, in many cases, completely relieved.
People all over the world, young and old, have benefited from Reiki in relieving stress, painful injuries, relieving the ravages of disease and physical, emotional and mental conditions. Unfortunately, not all older people are aware of how much Reiki can help them.
What is Reiki?
Reiki is a gentle and practical ancient therapy that connects us to the universal life force energy that science confirms surrounds all people and all other living things. A Reiki practitioner is not a healer per se, but is trained to be able to channel this energy to those who need it through the use of their hands.
Most older people rely solely on traditional medicine. Reiki is not an alternative to this medicine. It works with doctors and other health care providers as a complementary treatment. Reiki is loving, gentle and practical. It is specifically designed to reduce stress and remove energy blockages from the system. We are, after all, mostly energy and, like other systems, we sometimes get ‘clogged’. Reiki calls this ‘energy blockage’, preventing the normal flow of energy in and out of our bodies.
Practical healing with Reiki
Increasingly, people of all ages are experiencing and benefiting from Reiki touch (or no touch, as Reiki is just as effective with the practitioner’s hands a few inches above the body as if they were placed directly on it). It often takes as little as one session to start feeling the difference. Even people who have undergone major surgery or chemotherapy often experience reduced recovery time and pain relief after Reiki therapy. Because Reiki is just as effective, people who are sensitive to the touch of others due to neurological or other disorders can also benefit from Reiki.
Reiki creates an atmosphere specifically designed to encourage relaxation through the use of soft music, lighting, and a comfortable environment. Older people find this especially attractive. Falling asleep during a session is quite normal and has no adverse effect on the result, quite the opposite in fact. If it helps you relax and accept the treatment, then by all means enjoy a nap.
Most seniors who receive Reiki treatments often experience immediate relief of their symptoms. In others, it could take a few days to manifest. Just as medicine doesn’t work the same way for everyone, a small percentage of people say they don’t see any change. However, many times, family and friends say that they have noticed positive physical or mental differences.
Reiki works best when the person receiving the treatment believes in the benefits of energy healing. Understanding how Reiki works and believing in its healing power goes a long way in accepting it and benefiting from the transfer of energy that is channeled through the Reiki practitioner. Seniors can sometimes be skeptical about Reiki because it is a new age treatment rather than the traditional treatments they are used to. Because of this, a shorter session may be recommended to start with. This would be followed by further Reiki education through reading about how Reiki has helped others and then lead to a full treatment an hour later.
Reiki, Seniors and Daily Life
Most older people I know have joint and muscle stiffness, aches and pains, circulation problems, and neurological disorders. Reiki can often alleviate these and help seniors enjoy their golden years a little longer. Older people generally take to Reiki quickly because it provides the relief they are seeking. It helps relieve pain and discomfort and gives you a better ability to use your joints and muscles without fear of pain…which in turn can help in situations as common as falls.
As I noted earlier, Reiki helps most people, especially older people, heal faster from surgery and injury. Do you remember when you were a child and you got hurt? The first thing your mom did was put her hand on the injured area and she probably kissed it better too. That’s Reiki!
Reiki treatment can also relieve other problems common among older people: breathing problems, decreased energy and activity levels; Reiki can correct them and can also usually bring about a generally rejuvenated mental capacity.
A common irritation for many older people is dry, itchy skin. This can be due to several causes. Reiki can also help provide relief here.
Insomnia is another common complaint of older people that Reiki can treat. Reiki is so calming and relaxing that with a little training in Reiki self-healing, anyone who suffers from insomnia can learn how to get a good night’s sleep.
Too many seniors are unable to enjoy their retirement years due to health problems, whether physical, chronic ailments or mental conditions, such as depression, memory loss and forgetfulness, Alzheimer’s or dementia. With Reiki care, older people are much more likely to enjoy their lives.
Dementia is a debilitating disease that robs people of their memories and, in advanced cases, they often don’t even recognize their own family. Sad! But very often, Reiki has the ability to reach these dementia sufferers through the gentle treatment of it.
A study conducted by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) reported that Reiki has the ability to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, all of which affect older people with dementia. In fact, Reiki is making such wonderful inroads into the world of Western medicine that it is now available in the US through some 900 hospitals.
Reiki improves the quality of life of the elderly
Older people often have to constantly deal with memory loss, decreased ability to function normally; muscle, joint and chronic pain, disabilities, uncomfortable and embarrassing conditions such as incontinence or the ability to do things for themselves; continuous doctor visits, morning and evening medications and so many other things that prevent you from enjoying what are supposed to be your happy retirement years. Thank goodness Reiki is available to help ease those pains and bring some relaxation and enjoyment to the lives of our seniors. Reiki can really make a difference by decreasing your level of pain, suffering and illness while increasing energy flow and in turn your ability to function better; bring enjoyment back to their lives and generally improve their health, safety and well-being.
Reiki as a pain reliever
In a research study conducted by the US government, it was concluded that Reiki can help reduce pain and the need for pain relievers in people undergoing a medical procedure.
Reiki as a complement to traditional medicine
Reiki does not replace traditional medicine and medical care. It acts as a complementary therapy and works with doctors and other health care providers. It has been shown to have beneficial effects on patients, speeding up the healing process and returning the patient to full health faster. Sometimes Reiki even works when other types of treatment don’t.
Reiki and the main diseases
Reiki is also proving useful in relieving pain for people with major illnesses, such as heart surgery and cancer. Chemotherapy patients often experience reduced levels of pain when they add Reiki therapy on top of their normal recovery routine.
The benefits of Reiki therapy for people in general, especially the elderly, are being recognized throughout the medical profession. As noted above, Reiki therapy is now available in 900 hospitals in the US and is growing rapidly as more and more people begin to understand how valuable Reiki can be in treating most illnesses and diseases. . Why? Because Reiki has proven to be an excellent adjunct or complement to traditional medical treatment. Reiki works, and it can work for you!