Can Reiki be used in pregnancy?
The simple answer is yes. Reiki is safe for mother and baby. Pregnancy is exciting and joyful but it also comes with body changes, nausea, fatigue, mood swings and for some the process of giving birth can be scary.
Reiki is widely used in hospitals as a primary care component in a number of health areas. It’s not commonly used in New Zealand, which is a shame. Hopefully this will change in time.
A 2019 study with over a 1000 participants was conducted to measure the effect of a single session of Reiki on physical and psychological health. Statistical improvements were seen with pain, drowsiness, tiredness, nausea, appetite, shortness of breath, anxiety, depression and overall well-being. The study concluded that a single session of Reiki improved multiple variables relating to physical and psychological wellness. Although there are no current studies specifically in Reiki and pregnancy, this study indicates that Reiki could be a valuable tool to manage pregnancy symptoms.
A review of Reiki studies completed in 2017, proved that Reik was safe, gentle and profoundly relaxing. These findings demonstrated strong evidence for Reiki being more effective than placebo. Reiki is about balance and the research shows that Reiki activates the parasympathetic nervous system, your relax and digest mode. The findings show that those who received Reiki had beneficial effects on their heart rate and blood pressure. Reiki has been found to be more effective than placebo in decreasing pain, anxiety and depression. Improvements have also been shown in self-esteem and quality of life. Reiki can be viewed as a complementary therapy to be used alongside conventional medicine.
So how can Reiki help in pregnancy?
Reiki can help to ease pregnancy symptoms such as nausea, morning sickness, stress and anxiety. Juggling other children, work and relationships, can be challenging anytime but even more so during pregnancy. Reiki promotes relaxation and balance, which can make preparing for childbirth a smoother journey. Reiki can help to calm the nervous system and support your body’s relax and digest mode.
In summary, Reiki has proven to be safe and effective. It’s deeply relaxing and can help to support you and your baby during your pregnancy. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us directly.
