Date of Graduation
Spring 5-21-2021
Document Access
Project/Capstone - Global access
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Asia Pacific Studies (MAPS)
College/School
College of Arts and Sciences
Department/Program
Asia Pacific Studies
First Advisor
Brian Dempster
Second Advisor
John Nelson
Abstract
The Japanese health practice of Reiki attempts to maximize the latent ability of the human system to heal itself. The Reiki system, established over a century ago, combines multiple Asian health traditions, experimenting with practices that maximize the natural processes of the body to perform its own repairs. Reiki encourages healthy behaviors that balance the mind and body, return the human system to a lowered stress level, and allow for an optimal recovery state for the patient. This paper illustrates how this Japanese health-affirming method can be integrated and utilized within existing health and medical practices. An area that is deserving of more research and attention, Reiki fills a void in medical care and can provide a better quality of life for the ill, injured, and disabled individuals along with decrease their social and psychological isolation. This method also amplifies resiliency—or the ability to recover from trauma, stress, and injury—greatly reducing the time necessary for healing.
Moreover, the Reiki lifestyle is simple to teach and practice, while also being an affordable complementary medical system. Such practices must be better utilized in order to increase the general resiliency of health care providers and patients. Formalizing a Reiki practice then becomes a method of psycho-social reintegration. With reduced recovery times, simplicity of use and implementation, and with little to no side effects, Reiki offers numerous benefits to individuals and the health care system that are easy to see. Through increased use by reputable medical professionals, Reiki can correct the issues that plague its contemporary practices, allowing for improved and more effective health care methods and systems.
Recommended Citation
Peterson, Leif, "Reiki for Recovery: Incorporating Japanese Health Practices to Increase Contemporary Resiliency in American Health" (2021). Master's Projects and Capstones. 1143.
https://repository.usfca.edu/capstone/1143
Included in
Alternative and Complementary Medicine Commons, Asian Studies Commons, Behavioral Medicine Commons, Biological and Physical Anthropology Commons, Biological Psychology Commons, Clinical Psychology Commons, Community Psychology Commons, Disability Studies Commons, Emergency Medicine Commons, Experimental Analysis of Behavior Commons, Health Psychology Commons, Human Factors Psychology Commons, Medical Humanities Commons, Medical Physiology Commons, Mental and Social Health Commons, Multicultural Psychology Commons, Other Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment Commons, Other Medical Sciences Commons, Other Psychology Commons, Pain Management Commons, Personality and Social Contexts Commons, Physiological Processes Commons, Social and Cultural Anthropology Commons, Sports Medicine Commons, Sports Studies Commons, Transpersonal Psychology Commons, Trauma Commons
