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Holistic Nursing . In response to consumer demands, there is growing
interest among nurses and other healthcare providers in energy work. Nursing has been
dedicated throughout its history to addressing the physical, spiritual and psychological aspects of the
patient that influence the healing process. Current nursing
practice in acute care is focused increasingly on the more technical needs of the patient`s recovery.. . There
is less and less time for the deeper human that creates a healing trust between the
nurse and the one who is ill and suffering. Reiki provides a wonderful solution to this concern. Not only
does it facilitate nurse-patient relationship, but increasingly Nurses train in Reiki for self treatment. Working in a fast
paced, and yet people orientated environment leaves nurses wide open to stress. . When Nurses begin
their shift with 5 minutes of Reiki it centres them and so allowing Nurses to feel more resourceful and deliberate in their
interaction with patients. Reiki can be offered alongside settling a patient in for example. It takes no
more time and benefits the patient, benefits the Nurse … and has the added benefit of establishing a human element
to the hospital procedure that will be uppermost in the patients mind. . A
few minutes Reiki connection at this point is gives so much reassurance to the patient. The knock
on effect is tremendous. The Nurse patient relationship is established on a nurturing footing, and the recovery period is
reduced when the patient feels relaxed and acknowledged as a person rather than just a body.. . This gives added job satisfaction to Nurses – after
all it was a major reason for them choosing Nursing as a profession – to care for individuals.
Reiki for the Recovering Alcoholic and Addict
by Rev. Lynette Burkert Withdrawal from chemical dependency is extremely stressful, both physically and emotionally. Symptoms include muscle pain, bone aches, headaches, vomiting, the shakes, cravings, sleep disorders, loss of appetite and extreme moodiness. I quickly discovered that Reiki was very helpful in relieving the physical symptoms, and in calming the body and mind. New clients were often understandably reluctant to participate in the Reiki session, as they usually had trust issues. However, within a half an hour the calming effect of Reiki greatly reduced or eliminated their shakes. Furthermore, once the shakes stopped, they did not return. I would then continue to administer Reiki, focusing my consciousness on the client's sense of calmness, peace and safety. Once the body felt safe and supported, it seemed to release the sense of panic and trauma that accompanies withdrawal symptoms. I observed that these clients, who usually suffered from anger and shame issues, were beginning to behave more gently, openly and compassionately once they experienced Reiki. The staff also reported that clients who received Reiki appeared to become calmer and were less likely to have destructive emotional outbursts. The more Reiki they received, the more centered they became. Reiki and Unconditional Love . Many clients
claimed that the first time they ever felt unconditionally loved was during a Reiki session. Clients often cried during Reiki,
and this too helped release built-up stress in the body and psyche.
Clients also commented that their Reiki sessions were their first experience of being touched lovingly without someone wanting something from them. Many addicts have been physically and/or sexually abused. Experiencing such softness and care allowed them to release the tension that resulted from their desire to protect themselves from further abuse. Many of these clients experienced peace in their lives for the first time. Emotional healing was aided in another way. Occasionally, when placing my hands on the different Reiki positions, a client would remember past trauma. Because of the calming effect of Reiki, the client would remember an incident without experiencing the original pain. This allowed the client to become an observer instead of a participant in the trauma, which helped the client see more clearly how past behaviours or unresolved issues could lead to relapse, and helped the client to address such issues without being blocked by fear. Many of the clients I worked with had been through chemical dependency treatment a number of times. Their ability to stay clean and sober was inhibited, in part, by their carrying unresolved issues and repressed feelings. Clients were often seeking some way to access whatever it was that kept them in a state of denial. This process was a valuable tool in breaking through the walls that kept them from understanding themselves.  |
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