A Japanese monk and scholar, Mr. Mikao Usui, rediscovered the use of Reiki to heal and promote good health. He discovered Reiki in the late 1800s through his meditation practices and his life-long study of ancient healing techniques and Sanskrit documents. Mr. Usui called this form of energy healing “a natural healing system”. Although Usui was a Japanese monk, Reiki is not affiliated with any religious practice or belief system.

The practice spread over the past century and has grown throughout the world. In western societies, Reiki is considered a non-invasive, complementary therapy that is used for stress reduction and symptom relief. In recent years, there has been an increasing trend of utilizing Reiki therapy in health care facilities including a few leading medical centers in the US. Several hospitals now offer Reiki therapy, especially in the cancer or oncology departments, as an adjunct treatment or integrative therapy in patient care.