Clients and students often ask what issues or conditions may benefit from Reiki, and theoretically I would say "anything" since everything about us is shaped by vibrational energy and Reiki is a simple, powerful way to balance energy patterns.  For those who want to hear about specific case reports from Reiki recipients and practitioners there is a nice chart shared at the www.reikimedresearch.org website.  I'm printing that chart here:

Health conditions in alphabetical order (linked to details and references)	Number of Reiki treatments, received over certain time period	Other therapies, received simultaneously with Reiki	Results
addictions (drugs and alcohol)	not specified	detoxification	reduction and elimination of shaking, pains and emotional stress
addictions and suicidal behavior	not specified	not specified	recovered (teenager)
anxiety (ref. J.W.)	4 treatments over 10 days	none	totally renewed
appendicitis attack (ref. J.W.)	1 treatment, 45 min.	none	surgery canceled
arthritis (osteo-, rheumatoid)	daily treatments for 10 months	none	full remission
arthritis (ref. M.L.)	bi-monthly treatments, ongoing	not specified	less pain, joints are more aligned
arthritis, several cases (ref. S.S.)	15-20 min. Reiki treatments, once-twice a month	Reiki treatments were followed by massage	decrease of symptoms
arthritis	10 min. treatments every day for 5 months	not specified	cessation of symptoms
arthritis, mild (ref. L.P.)	3 treatments (40 min) every third day + 3 treatments once a week	not specified	pain free
arthritis, severe (ref. L.P.)	9 treatments (40 min) every third day	not specified	pain free
ADD/ADHD (ref. M.F.)	45 min. treatments, twice a week for 3 weeks	vitamins and herbs (no Ritalin)	patient is well and going to college
AIDS/HIV (4 patients, ref. L.P.)	3 full-body 40-50 min. treatments (every 3rd day), followed by once a week for 2 months, then once every two weeks for 2 months, then once a month	different combination of meditation, diet, yoga, exercise, aromatherapy, acupuncture, homeopathy. Currently all patients stopped medication.	The viral load decreases after 2 treatments, T-cells count increases after 4-5 treatments. Currently all patients have undetectable viral load, T-cell count 425-790. Two patients are working full-time, one - part-time.
burns (chemical, 2nd & 3rd degrees, face and neck)	self-treatments several times a day during one week	cold compresses and antibiotics in emergency room	healed with no scars or discoloration
burn, arm (2nd degree, ref. S.S.)	1 hour treatment	not specified	healed without a scar
cancer (few cases)	treatments given before and after surgery	chemotherapy, radiation	less pain & faster healing after surgery, less side effects from chemotherapy and radiation
cancer (breast)	self-treatments for 2 weeks before surgery, before each chemotherapy session, during each radiation session	chemotherapy, affirmations, visualizations	less pain & fast healing after surgery, improved immune function during chemotherapy, cancer free as a result
cancer (breast, metastasized to abdomen, ref. L.W.)	1 hour treatments 3 times a week, ongoing	chemotherapy	lessening of chemotherapy side effects, positive emotional outlook
cancer (colon)	1-2 hour treatments several times a week during last 2 weeks of life	non specified	aroused from semi-coma, peace and pain reduction, peaceful passing
cancer (endometrical)	daily treatments for one week	none	tests came negative
cancer (lung, ref. T.R.)	weekly 30 min treatments and daily 30 min distance treatments, ongoing	chemotherapy, radiation	patient is feeling more realxed and calm after hands- on treatments; requires less pain medication after distance treatments
cancer (lung, ref. L.P.)	8 daily treatments (60 min.) + distant healing for 14 days	not specified	masses gone, patient tested negative
cancer (terminal, ref. K.K.)	treatments every 2-3 days for about two months	not specified	less pain, less emotional turmoil, easier transition
cancer (lung, terminal, ref. R.L., J.W.)	vary	not specified	easing of anxiety, facilitating peaceful passing
cancer (melanoma, ref. L.P.)	2 treatments (45 min.) spaced 3 days	not specified	biopsy negative
cancer [Bullock 1997]  (poor prognosis)	not specified	palliative radiation	stabilization
cancer (terminal)	not specified	chemotherapy	remission
cancer (mouth and throat)	total of 2 hours 20 minutes of distant treatments over 2 weeks	conventional (unspecified)	cancer-free
cervical dysplasia	distant treatments over 3 weeks period	vitamins	tests came negative
cervical dysplasia (HPV, 11 cases, ref. A.B.)	self-treatments for 1 month after Reiki Ist degree attunement	not specified	82% cure rate by DNA testing (PCR), compared to 22% cure in control group
childbirth	treatments during labor	none	baby turning into proper birth position
chronic fatigue syndrome & fibromyalgia	1 hour treatments every 2 weeks for 2 months, followed by self treatments every day for 6 months	diet	recovered
coma (ref. M.F.)	1 treatment, 20 min.	none	came out of come during Reiki treatment
chronic fatigue (ref. J.W.)	6 treatments in 9 days	none	more energy available
Crohn's disease & grief over death of a husband (insomnia and significant weight loss, ref. P.S.)	1-2 treatments per week for 2 months, ongoing	not specified	calming down, sleeping better, gaining some weight and having less stomach cramping
Crohn's disease (ref. C.A.)	1 hour weekly treatments over a month	not specified	responding well
depression (ref. L.P)	3 treatments (40 min.) every third day, 2 treatments once a week, monthly treatments	not specified	depression gone
depression (ref. S.S.)	2 x 1-hour sessions	none	significant improvement, feeling much better emotionally
depression	1-2 h. table treatments, 4 times a week for 2 weeks	non specified	no longer depressed, discontinued medication, feeling renewed and happy
depression , anxiety, fatigue, back pain (ref. R.N.)	2 table treatments, 1 hour each, over 5 weeks	acupuncture, massage	immediate intensive relief of oppressiveness, ability to face and resolve emotional issues
diabetes (ref. L.P.)	3 treatments (50 min.) every 3rd day, weekly treatments for 1 month, monthly treatments for 3 months	not specified	sugar level dropped from 460 to 110
dyslexia (ref. J.W.)	three 8-min. sessions on the head	another person reading and pointing the words during treatments	normal reading ability
eye sight (ref. J.W.)	self-treatments over 6 months	none	required glasses one dyoptry less
endometriosis (ref. R.L)	non specified	non specified	pain relief
fibromyalgia [Whitsitt 1998]	1 hour sessions, total of 11, over 10 weeks	none	reduction in pain, increase in mobility, improvement in nervous system, adrenal and spleen health
fibromyalgia (ref. K.K.)	daily self-treatments (30 min.) for 9 months	not specified	symptom free
fibromyalgia (ref. C.A.)	1 hour weekly sessions for 6 weeks	not specified	responding well
heart condition (damaged tissue, ref. D.M.)	daily treatments for 1 week, distant treatments from a group of practitioners for 2 weeks	not specified	previously damaged tissue appeared normal on X-ray, no surgery was required for 70 year old patient
hypothyroidism (ref. S.S.)	monthly treatments of 1h &15 min (Reiki followed by massage) for 1 year	massage	patient noticed improvements after 2 treatments; after a year thyroid medication was decreased due to the improvement of thyroid function
insomnia, stress-related, 2cases (ref. J.W.)	4-5 daily treatments	none	sleeping all night through
irritable bowel syndrome & diverticulosis for 12 years	1 x 1hour session	none	all pain gone since then
leukemia (blood): diagnosed one month of life left (ref. J.W.)	treatments twice a day for three months	not specified	recovered, got married and had 2 children after recovery
leukemia, acute lymphatic in 7-year-old patient (ref. K.A.)	hours of constant Reiki from mother- practitioner, 3 weeks of daily distant group Reiki treatments, Reiki applied to  chemotherapy solutions	conventional chemotherapy, totally for 2 years	remission after 3 weeks, increased creativity, good tolerance to chemotherapy, spinal injections and bone marrow tests
Lou Gherigs disease (ref. M.L.)	two treatments a month, plus distance treatments in between	not specified	patient was calmer, less stressed and depressed, peaceful passing
lupus [Whitsitt 1998]	1 hour sessions, total of 11, over 10 weeks	none	reduction in pain, increase in mobility, improvement in nervous system, adrenal and spleen health
mole (ref. S.S.)	several treatments of the head	none	mole "fell off"
migraine (ref. L.P.)	2 treatments (40 min.) spaced 3 days	not specified	pain free
migraine (ref. M.F.)	30 min. treatment	none	gone
multiple sclerosis	self-treatments over 1 year	reflexology	recovered
multiple sclerosis (2 cases [Whitsitt 1998])	1 hour sessions, total of 11, over 10 weeks	none	reduction in pain, increase in mobility, improvement in nervous system, adrenal and spleen health
neck pain (ref. R.S.)	1 hour table treatments, total of 10, every 3-5 days	massage, hot pads	decrease in pain, life style changes and insights
neuropathy (leg, ref. M.F.)	40 min. treatment	none	gone
Paget's disease (2 cases, ref. D.W.)	1 session	none	relief from pain and stiffness, increase in flexibility and mobility
pain [Olson 1997]	not specified	opioid therapy	significant reduction of pain
pain, back, lumbar area (ref. J.W.)	7 daily 1-hour treatments, followed by weekly treatments	none	improvement after 10 days, no more pain after 8 months
pain (upper back, acute, compressed vertebrae, ref. P.W.)	daily self-treatments 15-20 min. for 1 week	none	after first treatment pain disappeared, no pain later on
pain (from kidney stones, emergency room, ref. D.B.)	1 treatment (20 min.)	morphine	morphine effects gone, pain disappeared, nausea disappeared, released from emergency room upon request
pain (shoulders, neck and hip, ref. M.S.)	1 table treatment a week (45 min.)	none	emotional release, gradual decrease of pain
pain (back, ref. D.B., S.G.)	1 treatment (1 hour)	none	muscle relaxation and pain decrease
pain (from 2 herniated discs, L4-L5, L5-S1, ref. P.M.)	self treatments 3-5 times a week, 5-45 min. each, for 4 years)	pain medication, chiropractor	relief from pain, no need for pain medication and chiropractor, jogging 3 times a day for 15 min.
pain (severe, leg, due to back injury, pitting edema in both lower legs)	two table 15-30 min. treatments over 2-3 weeks	full body massage	less incidents of severe pain and decrease of edema
pain (liver, ref. L.P.)	1 treatment (30 min.)	none	pain gone
pain (toothache, ref. L.P.)	1 treatment (15 min.)	none	pain gone
paralysis (Guillian-Barre syndrome)	treatments 1-2 times a week during 6 months	not specified	recovered
polyps (uterus, ref. J.W.)	one 30-min. session	none	surgery canceled
prenatal condition	several treatments before birth	none	baby born healthy
psoriasis (severe, back, arms, ref. S.S.)	3 x 1-hour treatments, 2 days apart	none	got 60-70% cleared
seizure, grand mal (ref. M.L.)	emergency treatment on site to the crown and the back of the head	oxygen given after the person started to calm down	treatment calmed and rebalanced the patient and assisted his exit from the seizure
shingles (ref. M.F.)	1 h. treatments twice a week for 4 weeks	acyclovir	patient in remission
stone in ureter (ref. J.W.)	10 min. distant treatments for 4 days	diet, drinking 2L of water daily, hot bath on the 4th day	1.5 cm stone passed out and was no longer detected by by ultrasound
stress (ref. C.A.)	1 treatment (1 hour)	none	relief of stress and worry
stroke (1 year old, ref. L.P.)	3 treatments (50 min.) every third day, weekly treatments for 2 months	not specified	improvement of movements
surgery (hysterectomy)	one treatment before and one after the surgery	not specified	less anxiety before surgery, disappearance of pain & nausea after surgery
surgery (hysterectomy)	15 treatments before surgery	none before surgery	accelerated recovery
surgery (laparoscopy [Sawyer 1998])	treatments in operating room and after surgery	no pain medication	no pain after surgery, accelerated recovery
surgery (gall bladder removal, laparoscopy, ref. A.B.)	daily distant treatments for 1 week	no pain medication	no pain after surgery, fast recovery
surgery (face, ref.A.B.)	daily self-treatments over few weeks	no pain medication	fast painless recovery
thyroid goiter [Whitsitt 1998]	1 hour sessions, total of 11, over 10 weeks	none	reduction in pain, increase in mobility, improvement in nervous system, adrenal and spleen health
thyroid (Hashimotos Thyroiditis)	daily 1 hour self-treatments for 4 months	elimination of food allergens, self-imagery	no evidence of disease from blood test
thyroid nodule (1.2x1.6x1.3 cm in right lobule, ref. J.W.)	daily 1-hour treatments, with 15 min. over throat area, for 6 months	none	radiology exam showed baseness of solid nodule and no structural alterations in the right lobule
thyroid (underactive, ref. L.L.)	daily self-treatments for 30 min. for 3 mo.	none	thyroid function normalized
TMJ, tinnitis, mastoiditis, ref. L.S.	30 min treatments twice a week for 3 months	massage, muscule relaxants, splint, electrostimulation	dizziness significantly decreased, complete recovery from tinnitis in right ear and decrease in left ear, decreased myofacial and joint pains
trauma (brain, left hemisphere, ref. R.L)	treatments following the traumas	not specified	improvement in right side motor function
trauma (hand tendon injury, ref. R.L.)	treatments following the traumas	none	dramatic and rapid improvement in symptoms, fast healing
traumas (ref. A.B.)	treatments following the traumas	none	no swelling, little pain, fast recovery
traumas, small: burns, small cuts, sprains, headaches (ref. S.G., C.A.)	treatments following the traumas	none	decrease in pain and discomfort, faster rate of healing
wound (deep cut, ref. L.L.)	treatment immediately after the accident	not specified	little blood loss, little pain, no swelling, fast healing
wound reepithelization rate [Wirth 1996]	not specified	none	acceleration of wound healing

Now, in addition to clinical reports, there are controlled studies of Reiki that have been completed as well as studies done with sizeable clinical samples that are more likely to impress scientists than individual case reports.

The Reiki Med Research site mentioned above also lists information on studies where Reiki was shown to reduce pain, lower blood pressure, increase hemoglobin levels, decrease depression and anxiety, and lower stress levels.  So far Reiki research is limited yet the results are generally positive for a variety of health concerns.  Reiki is safe and non-invasive - it doesn't even require any physical contact with the recipient as it is an energy field/biofield therapy.  We are exposed to many different types of energy fields, such as sound, color, UV light, IR radiation, x-rays, microwaves, radio frequencies, ultrasonic frequencies, and more.  It is known that our body and energy system respond to these energies.  Reiki is a very natural source of radiant energy that restores harmony to our energy field, helping us recover from the many physical, energetic, emotional, and mental stresses of modern life.  It would seem unwise to discount or ignore the benefits of getting our energy tuned up with Reiki treatments.  Dozens of hospitals now offer Reiki treatments to complement other forms of care and a variety of health care practitioners are discovering the benefits of Reiki and sharing it with their patients and clients.  I've trained many health care practitioners to use Reiki for themselves and others and I receive numerous reports of the amazing benefits of receiving Reiki, including for those who had skepticism or no pre-existing belief in Reiki or energy healing.

I invite readers to find a local practitioner (I am available myself for those in the Miami/S. Florida area) and experience for themselves what Reiki is like and how it can enhance your health and well-being.  In many place there are occasional free or donation-based healing circles and demonstrations so you don't even have to pay to get a taste of Reiki!  Compare that to what it may cost for many other therapies and you'll see why receiving Reiki sessions is one of the best self-care health care decisions you can make.

Jed Shlackman, LMHC is a Reiki Master in Miami FL and offers healing sessions and Reiki Instructional Courses on a regular basis.  Jed can be reached at 305-259-0013 - his WWW site is www.phinsights.com