Reiki for anxiety and stress.

Anxiety is a very common problem.

This is especially true at the moment with us all having more and more demands made on our time.

With all the bad news on TV and rising prices many of us feel some form of anxiety on a daily basis.

This can range from feeling a little nervous, but able to go on with our day-to-day lives, to feeling massively overloaded, which is it is a little more serious.

Although Anxiety is a normal human emotion, it can massively disrupt your everyday life, and may sometimes even be crippling.

Most of us have probably experienced Anxiety at one time or another.

Most commonly stressful thoughts about the past or the future are two of the biggest contributors to feeling anxiety, so let reiki help you practice staying in the present moment, which will allow you to calm down significantly.

How can Reiki help me?

Reiki is an ancient energy-based healing practice that uses touch and/or visualization to channel universal energy through your body.

Although some of the mechanisms by which Reiki may be working are unknown, research has suggested that it may be linked to changes in brain activity and heart rate, as well as the release of endorphins.

Either way Reiki is popularly used for relaxation and stress relief.

It can also help to boost your mood and support a healthy immune system.

There are more and more people seeking out reiki for anxiety relief because of it’s benefits such as being drug-free, non-invasive and doesn’t require any special equipment.

Here’s how to get relief with Reiki.

Take a look at where you are – and your levels of anxiety – right now.

Reiki can help you learn how to clear your mind and become more present.
Reiki will not only help with stress, but will also positively affect your physical health.
Reiki is an incredible tool for overcoming or managing anxiety.
There are many benefits to Reiki, including reduction of anxiety symptoms.

So what exactly happens?

In a full Reiki session, you’re usually lying down on a massage table fully clothed or sometimes sat in a chair.

The practitioner will gently rest their hands on or just above different areas of your body for a few minutes at a time.
A full treatment can last anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour.

Some practitioners will perform a full hands-on session while others simply place their hands in the air above your body.

It is important to note that not everyone who practices Reiki applies it in the same way.

Based on my search, here are credible resources and studies on reiki for anxiety disorders:

Peer-Reviewed Research Studies

Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses

Meta-analysis on Reiki for Anxiety (2024)

A systematic review analyzed 13 controlled experimental studies with 824 participants and found that Reiki therapy had a significant effect on anxiety intervention (SMD=-0.82, P = 0.001)
URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11170819/
Also available at: https://bmcpalliatcare.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12904-024-01439-x

Cochrane Review on Reiki for Depression and Anxiety

- While concluding that evidence is insufficient for definitive comments, this review acknowledged some evidence that Reiki has an effect on depression and anxiety
- URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11088458/

Individual Studies

Older Adults Study (2010)

1. - A randomized controlled trial with 20 community-dwelling older adults found significant differences between experimental and treatment groups on measures of pain, depression, and anxiety
  - URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20635803/
  - Full text: https://journals.healio.com/doi/10.3928/19404921-20100601-01

Mental Health Patients Study (2025)

- Among 91 patients with mental health diagnoses (43% with generalized anxiety disorder), Reiki showed improvement in symptoms with reduction in negative emotions and increase in positive emotions after sessions
- URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/27536130251323581

Literature Review

Effectiveness of Treating Anxiety with Reiki
- A comprehensive critique examining ten studies found that Reiki affected anxiety subscales, pain, and physiological manifestations of anxiety, though noted that only two studies focused specifically on individuals with diagnosed anxiety disorders
- URL: https://openaccesspub.org/behavior-therapy-and-mental-health/article/2001

UK-Specific Resources

Cancer Research UK – Reiki Information
- Provides evidence-based information noting that studies suggest relaxation after reiki, with a 2014 literature review looking at reiki for pain and anxiety, though emphasizing the need for more research
- URL: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/treatment/complementary-alternative-therapies/individual-therapies/reiki
UK NHS Hospital Use of Reiki
- A PubMed study documented benefits of relaxation, decreased perception of pain, and reduced anxiety through Reiki in NHS palliative care settings
- URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15944500/