Alternative Medicine Now

To find a workable definition of Reiki you can turn to Wikipedia.  In fact, we quoted a short excerpt from the Wikipedia article on Reiki to get the discussion started:

Reiki … is a spiritual practice[1] developed in 1922 by Mikao Usui. After three weeks of fasting and meditating on Mount Kurama, in Japan, Usui claimed to receive the ability of “healing without energy depletion”.[2] A portion of the practice, tenohira or palm healing, is used as a form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).[3][4] Tenohira is a technique whereby practitioners believe they are moving “healing energy” (a form of ki) through the palms.[5][6]

There is no scientific evidence for either the existence of ki or any mechanism for its manipulation, and a systematic review of randomized clinical trials conducted in 2008 did not support the efficacy of reiki or its recommendation for use in the treatment of any condition.[7][8]

– (Emphasis added is mine.)

The article further states that…

Reiki teachings claim that there is an inexhaustible, universal “life force” spiritual energy,[28][29] that can be used to induce a healing effect.[30] Believers say that anyone can gain access to this energy[31] by means of an attunement process[32] carried out by a Reiki Master.[33] Claims for such energy have no known theoretical or biophysical basis.[5][34][35]

– (Emphasis added is mine.)

So is that the last word on the subject.  After describing what Reiki is about, the article seems to debunk the entire subject in just a couple of well placed sentences.

Well, not so fast.

Let’s unpack some of the hidden (and not so hidden) assumptions at work in this article, and look behind the veil of “scientific evidence” and “no known theoretical or biophysical basis” shall we?

To do this, we’ll discuss Reiki and three prevalent MYTHS surrounding scientific investigation.  In this article we’ll discuss myth #1.  In upcoming articles we’ll tackle the other two myths.  Okay?

Reiki & Scientific Research Myth #1

The first myth surrounding science and scientific research is the claim that science involves the “facts” and is therefore neutral, i.e. “objective.”

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Now, this isn’t such a big deal.  But when you read or hear that something has no “basis in science” that could mean that:

1. A particular topic has not been researched
2. A particular topic has been researched, but no agreement within the community was reached.
3. A topic was researched and found to have no basis in science.

The term “no basis in science” should only mean that it the topic, phenomenon or whatever could not be verified with instrumentation.  That, and nothing more.

Since science requires instruments to measure and make observations, the fact that something couldn’t not be measured doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.  Only that it couldn’t be seen.

For example, in the early cited text from Wikipedia about the particle/wave duality of nature we find…

…”we can’t detect wave properties of macroscopic objects due to their small wavelengths.”

But when it comes to Reiki we read…

“There is no scientific evidence for either the existence of ki or any mechanism for its manipulation…”

Now, maybe it’s just me, but both statements are admissions to the fact that scientific instrumentation has FAILED to find something.

In one case, it’s assumed that the wave/particle dualism exists (primarily because some experimentation has verified it’s existence on the microscopic and sub-atomic level).  On the other hand, however, the failure to detect something leads the author to note the phenomenon doesn’t exist, rather than point out the limitations of scientific evaluation and measurement.

You can’t have it both ways.

A failure to detect or experimentally measure something means only ONE thing: that your instruments failed to measure something.  It does NOT mean that the phenomenon doesn’t exist.

One Final Note

Will you find any of this in the Reiki article on Wikipedia?  Hardly.

To best describe that website, understand that quantity wins out over quality.  Meaning, in an attempt to talk about everything (and to rank #1 on Google for everything) they don’t have the time (or inclination) to be as fair and detailed as possible.

Not to mention that their views are as culturally and socially influenced as anybody’s viewpoint.

To find a Reiki Master/Teacher near you, please visit our Reiki page and search under your specific state.

If you Google “Medicine” the first listing will be this article in Wikipedia.  For simplicity sake an excerpt is presented here:

“Medicine is the art and science of healing. It encompasses a range of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness.

Contemporary medicine applies health science, biomedical research, and medical technology to diagnose and treat injury and disease, typically through medication, surgery, or some other form of therapy. The word medicine is derived from the Latin ars medicina, meaning the art of healing.[1][2]

Though medical technology and clinical expertise are pivotal to contemporary medicine, successful face-to-face relief of actual suffering continues to require the application of ordinary human feeling and compassion, known in English as bedside manner.[3]“

Note the bold text (added by me) from the excerpt above.  We’ll elaborate on those points in this article.

A Range of Health Care Practices

Right away we’ll discuss probably the most important aspect of “alternative” medicine.  For the past 70+ years (more or less) “traditional” medicine has reigned supreme in this country.  With HMOs, PPOs and primary care physicians, it’s hard to imagine that things were ever any different.

But it used to be different.  Very different.

For example, my dad was born at his parent’s home.  That was in 1939.  Honestly, that’s not too long ago.  Rarely did people go to the hospital.  Births were handled by mid-wives.  Being born at home was not so uncommon.

Today?  Forget about it.

Medicine as we understand it today is largely a structure built by the insurance companies.  And it shouldn’t come as a surprise that THEY largely determine which range of health care practices “count” as medicine.

Meaning, which ones they are willing to pay for.

But nothing in the definition of medicine dictates which range of practices “count” as medicine.  One could easily say that to be counted as a health care practice, it must deal with health and/or the reliving of human suffering.

That certainly sounds good enough for me.

Restore Health by Prevention and Treatment of Illness

Here’s the next critical part of the definition of medicine.  And we’ve already hinted about it in the previous couple of sentences.

For a practice to count as “medicine” it must deal with the prevention and treatment of illness.

Ready for a shocker?  Pretty much the bulk of “traditional” health care practiced in this country has little or nothing to do with prevention.  The entire structure of the insurance company – health care facility relationship is predicated and built upon the treatment of illness.

And why is that?

Because once an illness has been diagnosed, a strategy for treatment can be outlined.  And that means outlined, codified, and sent to an insurance company for payment/reimbursement.

But how do you deal with prevention?  It’s a bit harder to pin down, at least from a “bean-counter’s” perspective.  And that’s precisely the problem with “traditional” medicine and the rise of “alternative” therapies.

Today, more than ever, people are focusing on “wellness” and “quality of life” and less on treating a particular illness.  And that, my friends, is the key to understanding so called alternative therapies.

We’ll continue this article in Part 2 of Understanding “Medicine” to discuss…

• the art of healing
• successful face to face relief of ACTUAL suffering
• and the role of compassion

Care to comment on the article?  Or share your viewpoint?  Simply click on the “comment” link just below.  And feel free to email this article to a friend.

We look forward to your feedback.

For other articles on alternative medicine, check out the article search feature or the “Categories” section of the website.