Pilot Study of Medical Reiki for Women Undergoing Surgery for Breast Cancer: Impact on Quality of Life, Medical Recovery Metrics, and Cortisol
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Summary
This pilot study will examine the impact of pre-operative Medical Reiki© on the psychosocial well-being and recovery of underserved women undergoing breast cancer surgery.
Description
Reiki is a form of energy therapy involving the facilitation of healing through the manipulation of biofields utilizing light touch. Practitioners lightly place their hands directly on or above the patient's body to transmit energy from the practitioner to the recipient. This process of targeting the energy fields around the patient's body is believed to stimulate the patient's natural ability to heal itself. Reiki is a safe treatment modality that emphasizes spirituality in healing and wellness whose origins are rooted in ancient Tibetan traditions. The prevalence of integrating complementary…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–99 years
- Sex
- Female
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Ages 18-99 * Breast Cancer Diagnosis Stage 0-III * Undergoing unilateral or bilateral mastectomy (with or without reconstruction) within 2 weeks of recruitment * English Speaking * From within 50 miles of Bronx County, NY Exclusion Criteria: * Current, uncontrolled psychiatric co-morbidities * Pregnant women
Interventions
- OtherMedical Reiki
Reiki is a form of energy therapy involving the facilitation of healing through the manipulation of biofields utilizing light touch. It is a process of targeting the energy fields around the patient's body is believed to stimulate the patient's natural ability to heal itself.
- OtherSham Reiki
Sham Reiki involves a non-Reiki healer who mimics the treatment of a Reiki healer. Sham Reiki providers will be medical students who are not interested and without prior knowledge or experience with Reiki Medicine.The medical students will not have any prior experience in Reiki healing or associated energy healing modalities. It is better for this project if the medical student has no interest so there is true placebo effect being monitored.
Location
- Montefiore Medical CenterThe Bronx, New York