Reiki – Mechanisms of Healing – Part 1
In the past series on Reiki I discussed whether Reiki was a placebo, and cited a variety of scientific experiments to demonstrate it is not.
Now I would like to discuss the mechanisms of healing. Like all other aspects of healing, the mechanism is little understood. So I would like to discuss the range of ideas concerning such mechanisms.
At one end of this range, is the belief, held by many healers, that they are channelling a higher spiritual energy that ultimately derives from God. This energy is often referred to as “divine love” or “unconditional love” by healers.
At the other end of the range there are many theories which are based on our knowledge of science, particular physics. The possibility that any conventional electromagnetic energy may be a candidate for “healing energy” seems unlikely as healing has been shown, at times to operate outside the dimensions of space & time. For example there are a wide variety of scientific experiments were healing procedures were partly or wholly undertaken at a distance1.
Between these ‘spiritual’ and ‘material’ poles there is a middle ground of ideas concerning healing mechanisms based on the concepts of subtle energies, the subtle energy bodies of all living organisms and the universal energy known by names such as prana and chi. . I personally believe that I act as a channel for universal energy that comes from the natural world.
References
Dossey, L. (1993). Healing Words. The Power of Prayer and the Practice of Medicine. Harper Collins; New York.
Related Posts
The low down on natural sugars – part 2, thumbs down list
There are lots of "natural" sugars, and as I said before how do you know the ones to avoid? Here is my guide to the ones I try to avoid and why. Evaporated Cane Juice The new kid on the block of "natural" sugars. It is a sugar syrup from partially refined sugar which is very similar to ordinary sugar. The FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) has warned of mislabelling with this product. Fructose This no longer has the goodness and fibre of fruit. Unlike sucrose and glucose it won't spike your insulin levels, but it will cause weight gain around the middle. It also interferes with the production of hormones related to hunger and satiety (feeling full) and hence increases appetite. On top of this it gets converted to unhealthy fats e.g. LDL ("bad" cholesterol) and triglycerides. Remember fructose is fine when naturally occuring withing fruit but I recommend avoiding it when its a white powder added to food. Agave This is essentially up to 90% refined fructose (see above). There is no way of distinguishing between commercially and traditionally produced produced products. Molasses This has the least amount of sugar and the highest level of vitamins and minerals. Half its sugar content is fructose and glucose in equal amounts while the other half is sucrose. So it will spike your insulin levels which causes the body to create fat. It may contain high levels of pesticides and other chemicals use in the processing. Xylitol Sold as a white powder considered natural as it occurs in plants but needs a lot of refining. Low in calories, it doesn't spike insulin levels so useful for diabetics. It is on my avoid list because it requires a lot of processing to produce and because it ferments in the gut causing diarrhoea and bloating. Sorbitol Used in foods for diabetics at it triggers little or no insulin production. I would avoid it as it is heavily processed as it is hard on the digestive system just like Xylitol. Honey A simple sugar up to 40% glucose and fructose so it affects your blood sugar levels very quickly. If you must use it, I mix it with lemon and ginger when I have a sore throat, cold or flu then by organic and I perfer manuka for its healing properties. References Natural Alternatives to Sugar by Dr M Glenville (Lifestyle Press 2016)
Does massage help tense muscles or muscle soreness?
A lot of clients visit it us in clinic with tense muscles, which over time can lead to achy muscles and this in turn can then lead to episodes of muscle pain. Muscle tension refers to the condition in which muscles of the body remain semi-contracted for an extended period. Muscle tension is frequently caused by the physiological effects of stress. Massage is well documented to reduce muscle tension (see top two references). In addition what is also known to help are
- hot baths
- yoga
- stretching
Natural ways to boost fertility through diet
In my previous post, I shared tips on how to change your lifestyle to boost your fertility. In this post, I wanted to share some tips on nutrition to boost your fertility based on scientific evidence. 1. Take a multivitamin Women who take a daily multivitamin take 5% less time to conceive than those taking a placebo. 2. Supplementation Take supplementation to correct any nutritional deficiencies. A study showed that magnesium deficiency is associated with female, infertility, increased miscarriage rates, and increased incidences of premature and low-birth-weight babies. When magnesium supplements were given for four months to six magnesium deficient women with unexplained infertility, all six conceived within the following eight month and produced healthy babies. In men, low levels of zinc have been linked to poor sperm quality and infertility. 3. Optimise your diet. Researchers found that an optimal diet for fertility was one with:
- a lower intake of trans fats with a greater intake of monounsaturated fats (found in olive oil, avocados and nuts)
- a lower intake of animal protein with a greater intake of vegatable protein (found in peas, lentils and beans)
- a greater intake of plant-based iron (from sources like whole grains, leafy green vegatables, nuts and seeds)
- a preference for high-fat diary products (like full-fat cheese and milk)
