Editing Reiki (section)

==Conceptual basis==

{{Further|Vitalism|Qi}}
Reiki's teachings and adherents claim that qi is a [[physiological]] force that can be manipulated to treat a disease or condition. There is no evidence that qi exists as an observable phenomenon.<ref name="Lee_Pittler_Ernst_2008">{{cite journal |last1=Lee |first1=MS |last2=Pittler |first2=MH |last3=Ernst |first3=E |author-link3=Edzard Ernst |title=Effects of reiki in clinical practice: A systematic review of randomised clinical trials |journal=International Journal of Clinical Practice |volume=62 |issue=6 |pages=947–54 |year=2008 |pmid=18410352 |doi=10.1111/j.1742-1241.2008.01729.x |s2cid=25832830 |type=Systematic Review |quote=Most trials suffered from methodological flaws such as small sample size, inadequate study design and poor reporting....In conclusion, the evidence is insufficient to suggest that reiki is an effective treatment for any condition. Therefore the value of reiki remains unproven.|doi-access=free }}</ref> Reiki is thus classified as a pseudoscientific practice based on metaphysical, rather than physiological, concepts.<ref name="psych" />

Most research on reiki is poorly designed and prone to bias. There is no reliable empirical evidence that reiki is helpful for treating any medical condition,<ref name="Lee_Pittler_Ernst_2008" /><ref name="ACS">{{cite book |publisher=[[American Cancer Society]] |title=American Cancer Society Complete Guide to Complementary and Alternative Cancer Therapies |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/americancancerso0000unse |chapter-url-access=registration |edition=2nd |year=2009 |isbn=9780944235713 |editor1=Russell J |editor2=Rovere A |pages=[https://archive.org/details/americancancerso0000unse/page/243 243–45] |chapter=Reiki}}</ref><ref name="Cancer Research UK">{{Cite web |url=https://about-cancer.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancer-in-general/treatment/complementary-alternative-therapies/individual-therapies/reiki?_ga=2.85017947.370597969.1581541069-1068809649.1580330016 |title=Reiki {{!}} Complementary and alternative therapy {{!}} Cancer Research UK |website=about-cancer.cancerresearchuk.org |access-date=2020-02-12 |archive-date=2021-05-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510083939/https://about-cancer.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancer-in-general/treatment/complementary-alternative-therapies/individual-therapies/reiki?_ga=2.85017947.370597969.1581541069-1068809649.1580330016 |url-status=live}}</ref> although some physicians have said it might help promote feelings of general [[well-being]].<ref name="Cancer Research UK" /> In 2011, [[William T. Jarvis]] of [[The National Council Against Health Fraud]] stated there "is no evidence that clinical reiki's effects are due to anything other than suggestion" or the [[placebo effect]].<ref name="Jarvis">{{cite web |last=Jarvis |first=William T. |url=http://www.ncahf.org/articles/o-r/reiki.html |publisher=[[National Council Against Health Fraud]] |title=Reiki |access-date=31 March 2011 |archive-date=23 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090823055036/http://www.ncahf.org/articles/o-r/reiki.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The 22 April 2014 [[Brian Dunning (author)#Skeptoid podcasts|''Skeptoid'' podcast]] episode entitled "Your Body's Alleged Energy Fields" relates a reiki practitioner's report of what was happening as she passed her hands over a subject's body:
{{blockquote|text=What we'll be looking for here, within John's auric field, is any areas of intense heat, unusual coldness, a repelling energy, a dense energy, a magnetizing energy, tingling sensations, or actually the body attracting the hands into that area where it needs the reiki energy, and balancing of John's qi.<ref name="Dunning">{{Skeptoid|id=4411|number=411|title=Your Body's Alleged Energy Fields|access-date=3 September 2016}}</ref>}}