For several years, I practiced Reiki at the Light-Sound and Movement, a place for autistic children recovery in Culver City, California. Unfortunately, due to the lack of funds and moving further away from that area, I couldn’t give Reiki to those children anymore. The place has also unfortunately closed since for lack of funds to support it.
This is a compilation of articles and videos I found about Reiki and Autism:
From Autism Today:
Reiki – This Japanese healing art can make a tremendous difference in the health of your family“And suddenly, for the first time in a long while, I was able to forget my burden of fears, duties and commitments. Inexplicably the heat from Rachel’s hands had brought me peace in only half an hour.My only encounter with Rachel turned me into a Reiki junkie. From that moment on, I did everything to get as much Reiki as possible, and I found that Reiki had a powerful effect on me: it made me sleep better, increased my concentration, made me feel calmer, all around happier and more at peace with the world.”
[read more on Reiki and Autism]
From Sally K. O’brien, “Confidence and Life CoachReiki and Autism“
7 tips to relief the high stress, anxiety, sleepless nights, worry, fear, and doubt you experience daily as a loving person in the life of a child on the autism spectrumHelp special needs children develop self-esteem, self confidence, and the social awareness skills they need…Reiki is a low cost, effective therapy which can help your child deal with the challenges of sleep troubles, relaxation, anxiety, stress, tight muscles, and in addition, empower your child to be able to self sooth, gain confidence, and self esteem.”
In an article in Autism/Asperger’s Digest Magazine in 2000, Lewis Mehl-Madrona, MD, PH.D., Coordinator for Integrative Psychiatry and System Medicine, Program in Integrative Medicine, University of Arizona, College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona, said the following:
“We have done a pilot study of reiki massage for autistic children. The preliminary results are encouraging, especially when the parents are taught the reiki along with visualization in between formal appointments with the therapist. The use of reiki by parents and therapist appears to encourage communication; especially non-verbal communication children are calmer and have less self-stimulation.”
I want to share with you three significant quotes:
(1) “The next big frontier in medicine is energy medicine.”
Mehmet Oz, M.D. (one of the most respected surgeons in
the U.S. and the Director of the Cardiovascular Institute at the Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, speaking on Oprah)
(2) “In every culture and in every medical tradition before ours, healing was accomplished by moving energy.”
Albert Szent-Gydrgyl, Nobel Laureate in Medicine
(3) “Reiki is increasingly being incorporated into modern medicine because of one compelling reason. It works…”
Larry Dossey, M.D., author of The Extraordinary Healing Power of Ordinary Things, and New York Times Best Seller Healing Words
[read more on Reiki and Autism]
From “Touch of Spirit Healing“
“Reiki has been shown to lower levels of anxiety which individuals with autism will suffer from, and this can help these children deal with the daily stresses associated with having autism. Reiki can also help families that have suffered tremendous amounts of stress due to having a member who does have autism.”
[read more on Reiki and Autism]
Insights from an Autistic: Alternative Treatments & Cures
This video discusses alternative treatments for autism such as meditation, reiki, dieting and fasting, open-heart meditation, energy work, and the law of attraction.Arman Khodaei, 23 years autistic old young man, talks about energy healing and Reiki at 5:54:
“Reiki Mom” Helps Kids, Pamela Miles“
I have also seen good results training children with autism, Asperger’s, and other developmental syndromes. The causes of autism are unknown, and much controversy surrounds it. Because Reiki is balancing, it can be of benefit regardless of the cause, and can provide soothing moments for parents and kids alike. Children who learn Reiki benefit from empowerment as well as its centering effect.”
[read more on Reiki and Autism]
Pamela Miles, a Reiki Master practitioner since 1986, talks about her experiences with Reiki healing:
How can Reiki help Autism?
Reiki is form of energy medicine that uses the electromagnetic fields in and around the body to bring about relaxation and physical healing.
While it doesn’t cure autism, American Reiki Master Heather Long (who herself has an autistic child) believes that Reiki is beneficial. In her website (http://reikiautism.com/Home_Page.html), Long describes how reiki can:*Alleviate some of the major issues in very sensitive individuals;
*Produce an overall calming effect without drugs and without interfering with conventional or other alternative treatments.She has found that it also addresses:
* Sleep troubles
* Relaxation
* Anxieties and fears
* Stress
* Tight muscles
* Headaches
* Stomach pains
Using Reiki on Children
As Reiki is a natural therapy, it is safe to use on children. Often, a child will walk away when they have had enough. The maximum treatment time for a child is 20 minutes. It is especially good for children who are touch sensitive, stranger-shy or hyperactive- as it can be done without making physical contact with the child. Reiki can be performed in the auric space around the body and give identical therapeutic effects to those of hands-on treatment.
How Can Reiki Help with ASD?
Studies and anecdotal reports indicate that Reiki may provide a number of different benefits to people who participate in sessions on a regular basis (from the IARP: International Association of Reiki Practitioners).
Some of the benefits that may be helpful for people with ASD may include:
• A chance to connect with another person in a different way – One of the hallmarks of ASD is difficulty with social interaction. Children and adults with ASD may find it difficult to make a connection with the people around them, whether they are family members or classmates. During Reiki sessions, an individual with ASD will have the chance to connect with his or her practitioner in a unique way.
• Reduced stress and anxiety – People with ASD are often fidgety and hyperactive. Studies have shown that exposure to Reiki may reduce feelings of stress and anxiety, which may in turn have a calming effect on individuals with ASD.
• Healthier sleep patterns – ASD can disturb sleep patterns significantly, which leads to exacerbated symptoms and more stress. Reiki may improve these sleep patterns, allowing the client to get a more restful, restorative sleep.
• More control over the disorder – The parents of children with ASD, as well as the children themselves, often feel that they are at the mercy of a disorder they cannot control. Reiki sessions allow both children and their caregivers to be proactive about dealing with symptoms and improving quality of life.
Challenges
Although some studies and reports indicate that Reiki may be helpful for people with ASD, performing Reiki on a client with this condition can be challenging for the practitioner. Especially in the case of young children, ASD makes it difficult to remain still and calm for extended periods of time. Because Reiki sessions require the client to be still, this can present a problem. Some parents of children with ASD have found that Reiki sessions are more successful when the child is drowsy or asleep. Other parents report that beginning with a shorter Reiki session and gradually working up to a longer one is effective for children with ASD. Make sure that your practitioner is aware of the diagnosis and the potential challenges before the first session so that he or she can prepare properly. A short initial 15 to 30 minute session may be appropriate.
Reiki for Caregivers
The effects of Autism Spectrum Disorders aren’t restricted to the person with the diagnosis. Parents and other caregivers of children with ASD also deal with significant worry, fatigue and emotional turmoil as they attempt to care for the affected individual. In many cases, these caregivers even experience physical problems as a result of the ongoing stress. Reiki may help caregivers to deal with some of these issues so that they can provide better care for their child. Specifically, caregivers who participate in Reiki sessions may benefit from lower stress levels, less anxiety and better quality of sleep. Participating in Reiki sessions may also help the caregiver to improve his or her understanding of the purpose of these sessions, the procedure used and the nature of the results.
Call me at 310.592.1813 or email me at carloscaridad (at) reikienergyhealingla.org to further discuss how I can help you and your loved ones with Autism, we can also set up a Skype appointment.