Reiki Treatment
In support of
providing Reiki sessions as an integral part of complementary therapies
provided to patients living with cancer diagnosis
By
Anna Jarecki
When someone you love is diagnosed with cancer, the first
reaction is one of disbelief and shock, followed by the need to know everything
you can, then the desire to find a cure and provide comfort to your loved
one. In the midst of all the confusion,
anger, grief and pain, you are constantly seeking any way possible to provide
your loved one with comfort…a way to relieve their pain, their anxiety, and
their own struggle to deal with a critical, often fatal disease.
When my mother was diagnosed with lung and liver cancer, 4th
stage, she and our family were devastated.
She did opt to receive chemotherapy, which at least temporarily has
stalled the progress of her lung cancer, but of course, the therapy diminished
her health in other ways, including hair loss, weight loss, lowered energy
levels and many physical changes that were noticeable and sometimes,
overwhelming. In the midst of all of
these negatives, a great positive occurred when we learned of a complementary
treatment known as Reiki. My mother, who
is 82, was willing to try Reiki, which was a bit startling in itself – my
mother has never had a massage, gone to a spa, tried meditation and hasn’t even
seen a doctor over the last 40 years, except for an occasional pap smear. Prior to this diagnosis, she took no
pharmaceutical drugs whatsoever and only on rare occasion would take an over-the-counter
medication for a cold or cough.
My mother is currently receiving home hospice care from
Rainbow Hospice of Watertown, which provides her with the most caring
practitioners, providing a variety of medications designed to ease breathing
issues, as well as to provide my mother with energy and a temporary abatement
of her symptoms to maintain a very good quality of life as her disease
progresses. One of the many
non-pharmaceutical therapies offered by her hospice providers is Reiki and is
the way that we were first introduced to Reiki as a complementary therapy. She is provided a Reiki session about twice a
month as part of her home hospice treatment, but after seeing the great benefit
derived from the sessions, we have engaged the services of a Reiki practitioner
for twice weekly visits for our mother.
Our primary Reiki provider, Carmen Tracey, provides in-home
treatment, twice a week and is also available
on an “as needed” basis. The connection
between my mother and Carmen is one of mutual trust and great respect and the
benefits derived are immeasurable, though often difficult to comprehend and
appreciate by non-recipients.
During her very first session, my mother was able to take
great comfort in the sense of relaxation and peace that she eased into during
her Reiki treatment. In each subsequent
session, she has found that she is able to relax even more deeply, to the point
of achieving an almost meditative state and after each session, she remarks how
balanced and grounded she feels. Her
twice a week, 30 minutes sessions are by far the most valuable and precious
treatment she is currently receiving. I
cannot emphasize enough how remarkable a Reiki session can be, whether an
individual’s health is compromised or not.
My mother’s response to the treatment has encouraged my entire family to
learn more about Reiki, receive treatment and in some instances, seek knowledge
to be able to provide Reiki to others.
It's important to understand that a Reiki treatment can
provide one with a sense of relief and tranquility, allowing the patient to at
least momentarily, be removed from the immediacy of their every day
struggles. Each practitioner has a unique style; while some practitioners
utilize a "hands-on" approach, others do not make any physical contact,
though the patient's preference is always respected. The patient remains
clothed and can receive treatment nearly anywhere in their home and in any
position. While my mother initially chose to lay down on her living room
sofa, she ultimately chose to receive treatment in her bedroom. For my
mother, Reiki has provided more than just a sense of tranquility and balance;
it has also provided pain relief - multiple times. This type of relief
may not be derived by all recipients, but for my mother, it has definitely
proven to allay many of her physical complaints which have been a part of her
life as continues to live with cancer.
There is another very important beneficial aspect of Reiki
that my mother has received that is very difficult to describe and define. The Reiki sessions have been of great
assistance to our mother in terms of accepting where she is on her journey and
allowing her to make the transition from her life here to what she believes
will be the “next step” in her journey, beyond life here on earth. My mother’s quality of life is still very
good, despite the fact that she has recently been “re-evaluated” having gone
beyond the time period predicted for her longevity following diagnosis. She is not considering nor desiring an
earlier time to depart from this life, but she has experienced moments in her
Reiki sessions that have given her insight, serenity and acceptance beyond
anything that we could have imagined.
She embraces and enjoys her life day to day, but is not facing constant
anxiety in anticipation of what lies ahead and we attribute that to her
positive outlook, but we know that Reiki had a tremendous influence on her
because of her frank and open discussions about her treatment.
I would highly recommend Reiki to any individual whose health
has been compromised, but would especially recommend it to those whose bodies
are weakened by the physical assaults of cancer and its treatments, whether
they must endure surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation as well as for their
spirits which can be devastated by the physical, mental and emotional anguish
that a cancer diagnosis can bring. It is non-invasive, unobtrusive and
most importantly, restorative. It can be
provided to any patient, in any environment; it does not require the removal or
addition of any special equipment, devices or apparatus. It can provide
relief from mental, physical, emotional and spiritual anguish and can provide
to patients, the "human touch" that may be the one component of care
that is overlooked when medical professionals are working diligently to cure
diseases, but may, perhaps inadvertently, be neglecting to provide
comfort to those who are desperately in need. Treatments may not provide
all of the restorative benefits that I have witnessed my mother and other
family and friends receive, but if a treatment provides even one of the many
gifts that Reiki has blessed my mother with, then the sessions will prove to be
an invaluable tool and resource for patients and their families.
