Can Reiki Help Lower Blood Pressure?

Can Reiki Help Lower High Blood Pressure?

High blood pressure, also known as Hypertension, is a serious medical condition that affect people all over the world. The World Health Organization reports that an estimated 1.28 billion adults aged 30-79 worldwide suffer from hypertension. Many different treatments are used to deal with this condition, including medications, dietary changes, and exercise. In addition, some patients have also found that they may improve their symptoms by adding Reiki treatments to support their traditional therapeutic regimen.

How High Blood Pressure Affects You

High blood pressure occurs when the pressure exerted by your blood flow is too strong, causing damage to the walls of your blood vessels. Some of the symptoms of high blood pressure include headaches, nosebleeds, and shortness of breath, but many people with this condition don’t have any symptoms until their blood pressure reaches a dangerous level. When blood pressure gets extremely high or high blood pressure remains untreated for a long period of time, a number of complications may result. Some of the possible complications of high blood pressure include memory problems, heart failure, heart attack, stroke, and aneurysm. Some people may also experience problems with their eyes and/or kidneys because of this condition.

Blood pressure is usually treated with medications, including diuretics and beta-blockers. People with high blood pressure are also encouraged to watch their sodium intake, maintain a healthy weight, and exercise regularly. In addition, most physicians instruct patients with high blood pressure to avoid stress as much as they can.

What Can Reiki Do for People with Hypertension?

Reiki is a Japanese origin therapy that focuses on the natural flow of energy within each individual. The idea behind this therapy is that blockages or disruptions in energy pathways within the body can result from illness or imbalance and this includes stress which can be a factor in high blood pressure. If these pathways are repaired and/or unblocked, energy may be helped to flow freely and the body’s natural balance will be helped to be restored.

Several of the effects of Reiki may be beneficial to people who suffer from high blood pressure. Specifically, Reiki may be able to:

Induce feelings of relaxation.

Being stressed, anxious or nervous can raise blood pressure. Participating in Reiki sessions may help people to relax, thus lowering their blood pressure indirectly.

Lead to better sleep.

Poor sleep habits have been connected to high blood pressure. Reiki may help improve sleep habits and the quality of sleep, due to the relaxation response, and stress reduction may also help contribute to lower blood pressure and/or reduce the likelihood of complications related to high blood pressure.

Reduce sensations of pain.

Pain causes people to feel stressed, which raises blood pressure. Reiki treatments may help reduce people’s perceptions of pain, which prevents blood pressure increases related to pain sensation.

Improve the mood.

Another potential effect of Reiki treatment may be the elevation of mood and alleviation assistance of symptoms of depression. When people with high blood pressure are feeling better about life and about themselves, they are more likely to be proactive in making lifestyle changes and following doctors’ recommendations with regard to the management of high blood pressure.

Reiki is non-invasive and requires no painful manipulation or pressure. Instead, the practitioner simply places his or her hands above the patient in a specific position. Alternatively, the practitioner may touch the patient lightly during treatment. Reiki is meant as a complement in stress reduction to support your physician’s instructions and plan for hypertension treatment.

Relevant Research

Reiki’s potential benefits for people with high blood pressure are supported by recent research. Some of the studies that have explored the relationship between Reiki and blood pressure are detailed below.

Changes to the Autonomic Nervous System During Reiki

A study conducted by researchers at South Glasgow University Hospital investigated the effect of Reiki treatments on the autonomic nervous systems of a group of healthy participants. The study found that Reiki treatments decreased both heart rate and diastolic blood pressure significantly.

Biochemical and Physiological Changes Related to Reiki

Another study conducted by researchers at the University of Texas Houston Health Science Center found that a 30 minute Reiki treatment produced lower perceptions of anxiety and lower systolic blood pressure. The study also found that Reiki treatment increased salivary IgA levels and skin temperature.

Effect of Reiki on Blood Hypertension

A third study completed in Brazil further solidifies the evidence that Reiki can lower blood pressure. In this study, a total of 66 participants were divided into three groups: one group that received Reiki treatment, one group that received a placebo, and one group that acted as a control. Although all three groups experienced a drop in blood pressure, the effect was greatest among the people in the group that received Reiki treatments.

Finding a Reiki Practitioner Near You

Based on the scientific evidence and the positive reports from people who have undergone Reiki treatment, the potential of Reiki as a supportive treatment to benefit people with high blood pressure is clear. If you are interested in beginning Reiki treatments as a part of your healing or general wellness plan, in conjunction with traditional medicine, or if you would like to learn more, please feel free to search for a Reiki practitioner near you right here on our website.

Please note that Reiki is a supportive therapy and is not meant as a substitute for traditional medical care, but as an enhancement to support your treatment plan and also for general wellness and stress reduction.

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