Today is World AIDS Day, where we acknowledge and send our love to the millions of people living with HIV/AIDS, while also remembering those who remain with us only in spirit.  While we are so fortunate that advances in medical treatment have allowed many to deal with HIV as a manageable chronic health condition, there are still far too many people without adequate access to HIV medication and health care, especially in developing countries.  Those of us with a friend or loved one with HIV remember the dark fear in the pit of our stomachs at the announcement of the diagnosis.  Twenty or so years ago, those announcements were met with terror, because the vast majority of those infected with the HIV virus succumbed to the disease within months or a couple of years.  I am so grateful that the development of HIV medications and treatment have made it possible for so many people, including beloved family and friends of mine, to live with dignity, vitality and a good measure of health. 

I came across a good case study on the efficacy of Reiki for the treatment of HIV/AIDS symptoms that I wanted to share.  The first is a report by Robert Schmehr, CSW entitled, Enhancing the Treatment of HIV/AIDS With Reiki Training and Treatment, published in the peer-reviewed journal Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine.  He is the Director of Complementary Therapy at the HIV Center of St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital in New York City and a Reiki II practitioner.  The report discusses a person living with HIV who received Reiki treatment and also was trained to do Reiki self-treatments to help overcome substance abuse and psychological distress.  Schmehr states that the ”patient’s physician and former psychotherapist have repeatedly described the patient’s belief that Reiki self-treatment as the single greatest factor contributing to his successful behavior change.”   Those of us who practice Reiki also know that once a person is no longer dependent on drugs, and experiences reduced anxiety and psychological stress, significant healing can occur.  Indeed, Schmehr mentions that the patient’s viral load and CD4 count, while still detectable, was much improved, an indication he is thriving and experiencing greater quality of life.

Another study I wanted to share with you was conducted by Pamela Miles, Founding director Institute for the Advancement of Complementary Therapies (I*ACT) and a well-known Reiki Master Teacher.  The report, Preliminary Report on the Use of Reiki for HIV-related Pain and Anxiety, also published in the journal Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, focuses on the use of Reiki for treatment of HIV-related pain, anxiety and depression.  Like the previous study, the study also focuses on teaching the patients how to do Reiki self-treatments.  As with the previous study, the results were favorable:

In an evaluation of the program, it was noted there was a decline in reported pain after the Reiki treatment; on an 11-point scale, the average pain rating dropped from 2.73 to 1.83. Results were similar for the anxiety scale, with mean anxiety dropping from 32.6 to 22.8. There was no significant difference in pain or anxiety reduction as a function of whether the Reiki was self-administered or administered by another.

I have also read of similar success in the article, “Reiki for Veterans,” published in the Winter 2008 issue of Reiki News magazine, where returning war veterans suffering from PTSD were trained to administer Reiki self-treatments and experienced decreased pain, anxiety and other symptoms associated with PTSD.  It is very empowering for people to be able to literally put the responsibility for healing into their own hands and in conjunction with prescribed allopathic or therapeutic treatment, experience relief from chronic or debilitating symptoms and have improved quality of life. 

Please contact me if you would like to learn more about how you or a loved one can utilize Reiki as an adjunct, complementary therapy for relieving symptoms associated with many chronic health conditions.