Reiki

By Rachael Davies, InsideOut Wellness

Reiki is a safe and natural form of energy healing that brings balance and harmony to the mind, body and soul. It is a gentle yet powerful and effective complementary therapy. Translating as ‘life force energy’, it is a relaxing treatment that can help you navigate the symptoms of menopause. Experiencing Reiki can help to calm the mind, relax the body and bring about a sense of acceptance. Enjoying reiki during menopause can help with the physical and emotional symptoms women experience during this phase of life. It balances many systems in the body, including the endocrine system, which is responsible for hormones.

Reiki can be used alongside HRT and other medication as a complementary therapy. It is important to note that reiki practitioners do not diagnose or treat medical conditions and are not able to offer advice about menopause management. Reiki works on the basis that everything in the universe, including us, is energy. During a session, the client sits or lies, fully clothed, whilst the practitioner channels life force energy through their body and into the client’s energy field. The practitioner works to bring harmony to the entire being by balancing the chakra system, acting as a channel for universal energy. The chakras are where energy points in the human body meet; the seven primary chakras are located along the spine, running from the coccyx to the crown of the head. If these chakras get blocked or the energy is unbalanced, it can lead to various symptoms, including mood imbalances and sleep disturbance. When the chakras are aligned, the energy flows effectively, leading to more balance.

Many women start to experience joint pain during menopause, and regular reiki sessions can also help alleviate this. Although scientific research has been mixed to date, it is beginning to show that Reiki can be effective for pain relief and a relaxing, safe, and gentle treatment. According to one study (McManus, 2017), it is a “therapy that activates the parasympathetic nervous system to heal body and mind. It has potential for broader use in the management of chronic health conditions”.

Activating the parasympathetic (rest and digest) nervous system can invoke a deep sense of relaxation, assisting the body to release long-held tensions and stresses, aiding detoxification, and leading to a shift in mood. It is not uncommon for a client to release emotions during the session, and clients often leave saying that they feel ‘lighter’. Post-session, clients often report improved sleep, a sense of calm, and a feeling of groundedness. Because of the shifts that can occur during reiki, clients can sometimes experience a ‘healing crisis’ following a session; this is due to detoxification and can lead to headaches, nausea and other physical symptoms. It can feel unpleasant; however, it is a positive sign. Depending on your menopause symptoms, a reiki practitioner can concentrate on different chakras during treatment. For example, if headaches or migraines are a problem, the practitioner may spend more time balancing the crown chakra at the top of the head. Working on the third eye chakra can help with insomnia; many clients fall asleep during a reiki session as it can be so relaxing! The sacral chakra, located just below the navel, is one of the key chakras to balance during menopause. It is responsible for sensuality, sexuality, creativity and joy; the sacral chakra helps us process emotions and is the home of our inner child. It is linked to the sexual organs and kidneys from a physiological perspective. Therefore, it is understandable that if this chakra is unbalanced, symptoms of menopause could be exacerbated, resulting in a lack of libido, lack of motivation, urinary problems, and emotional imbalance. (Sound familiar?!) If energy healing appeals, you could even consider attending a level one reiki practitioner course where you will learn how to practice reiki on yourself. Reiki is a simple technique to learn and something you can use daily to induce relaxation, bring balance and help with pain, even if you only have 5 minutes to spare. It is a powerful addition to your self-care toolkit.