The Swivel Universe (art by Natalie and Gil Dekel)

The Swivel Universe (art by Natalie and Gil Dekel)

by Tamisha Sabrina.

Part 1. Go to Part 2.‎

During the 1980’s, Dr Robert Becker, Dr John Zimmerman, and Max Cade each investigated what ‎happens whilst people perform therapies like Reiki. They found that not only do the brain wave ‎patterns of practitioner and receiver become synchronised in the alpha state, but they pulse in unison ‎with the earth’s magnetic field, known as the Schuman Resonance. During these moments, the ‎biomagnetic field of the practitioners’ hands is at least 1000 times greater than normal, and not as a ‎result of internal body current. Toni Bunnell (1997) suggests that the linking of energy fields between ‎practitioner and earth allows the practitioner to draw on the ‘infinite energy source’ or ‘universal ‎energy field’ via the Schuman Resonance. Prof Paul Davies and Dr John Gribben in The Matter Myth ‎‎(1991), discuss the quantum physics view of a ‘living universe’ in which everything is connected in a ‎‎‘living web of interdependence’. All of this supports the subjective experience of ‘oneness’ and ‎‎‘expanded consciousness’ related by those who regularly receive or self-treat with Reiki.‎

Both Zimmerman (1990) in the USA and Seto (1992) in Japan further investigated the large pulsating ‎biomagnetic field that is emitted from the hands of energy practitioners whilst they work. They ‎discovered that the pulses are in the same frequencies as brain waves, and sweep up and down from ‎‎0.3 – 30 Hz, focusing mostly in 7 – 8 Hz , alpha state. Independent medical research has shown that this ‎range of frequencies will stimulate healing in the body, with specific frequencies being suitable for ‎different tissues. For example, 2 Hz encourages nerve regeneration, 7 Hz bone growth, 10Hz ligament ‎mending, and 15 Hz capillary formation. Physiotherapy equipment based on these principles has been ‎designed to aid soft tissue regeneration, and ultra-sound technology is commonly used to clear clogged ‎arteries and disintegrate kidney stones. Also, it has been known for many years that placing an ‎electrical coil around a fracture that refuses to mend will stimulate bone growth and repair. ‎

Becker explains that ‘brain waves’ are not confined to the brain, but travel throughout the body via the ‎perineural system, the sheaths of connective tissue surrounding all nerves. During a treatment, these ‎waves begin as relatively weak pulses in the thalamus of the practitioner’s brain, and gather cumulative ‎strength as they flow to the peripheral nerves of the body, including the hands. The same effect is ‎mirrored in the person receiving treatment, and Becker suggests that it is this system, more than any ‎other, that regulates injury repair and homeostasis. This highlights one of the special features of Reiki ‎‎(and similar therapies), that both practitioner and client receive the benefits of a treatment, which ‎makes it very efficient. For an extensive review of this research see J Oschman ‘Energy Medicine’, pub. ‎by Churchill Livingstone, 2000.‎

It is interesting to note that both Becker and Cade carried out their research on a wide array of cross-‎cultural subjects, and no matter what their belief systems or customs, or how opposed to each other ‎their customs were, all tested the same. Part of Reiki’s growing popularity is that it does not impose a ‎set of beliefs, and can therefore be used by people of any background and faith, or none at all. This ‎neutrality makes it particularly appropriate to a medical setting.‎

End of Part 1. Go to Part 2.‎

References (for both parts 1 and 2)‎

Becker, Robert O. ‘The Body Electric: Electromagnetism and the Foundation of Life’, Pub: William ‎Morrow & Co. Inc. 1985‎

Bunnell T., ‘A tentative mechanism for healing’, Positive Health, Nov/Dec 1997.‎

Cade M. & Coxhead N., ‘The Awakened Mind;Biofeedback and the Development of Higher States of ‎Awareness’, pub: Element Books, 1996 (reprint).‎

Davies P, & Gribben J., ‘The Matter Myth’, Pub: Penguin, (1991).‎

Hartwell B. & Brewitt B., ‘The efficacy of Reiki hands-on healing: improvements in adrenal, spleen and ‎nervous function as quantified by electro-dermal screening’, Alternative Therapies, July 1997, Vol 3, 4.‎

Oschman J, & Oschman N., ‘Energy Review (parts 1,2,3,4,5)’, Jnl of Bodywork and Movement ‎Therapies. Vol 1, issues 1,2,3, Churchill Livingstone (1996/7).‎

Olson K. & Hanson J., ‘Using Reiki to manage pain, a preliminary report’, Prevention & controle en ‎cancerologie, 1 (2) , 1997.‎

Samarel N., ‘The experience of receiving therapeutic Touch’, Jnl of Advanced Nursing 17, (1992).‎

Seto A. et al., ‘Detection of extraordinarily large bio-magnetic field strength from human during ‎external ‎Qi emission’, Acupuncture and Electro-therapeutics Int. Jnl. Vol 17. 1992.‎

Schlitz M. & Braud W., ‘Reiki Plus natural healing: an ethnographic / experimental study’, Psi Research, ‎‎4, (1985).‎

‎‘Scientific Research on Transcendental Meditation, Part 1, Jan 1998’. British Association for the Medical ‎Application of TM.‎

Wirth D. et al. ‘The effect of complementary healing therapy on postoperative pain after surgical ‎removal of impacted third molar teeth’, Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 1, (1993).‎

‎‘Dr Yan Xin on Scientific Qigong Research’, International Yan Xin Qigong Assoc., (1999).‎

Yan Xin, ‘Exploring the Mechanisms of Qigong Healing’, 1999 Yan Xin Qigong Assoc.‎

‎‘Structure and property changes in certain materials influenced by the external qi of qigong.’ Material ‎Research Innovations, 2, 349-359 (1999).‎

‎‘The effect of short and long term qi emissions on three biochemical processes: nucleotide ‎polymerization, protein (Fab fragment) crystallization, and enzyme (Phosphatidylinositol-3 Kinase) ‎activity.’ Materials Research Innovations, 2 (1999).‎

‎‘Observation of the effect of external qi on the ultraviolet absorption of nucleic acids.’ Ziran Zazhi (The ‎Nature Journal, in Chinese), 11 (1988).‎

‎‘Observation on the bromination in solution of n-hexane and bromine under the influence of external ‎qi.’ Ziran Zazhi (The Nature Journal, in Chinese), 11 (1988).‎

Zimmerman J., ‘New technologies detect effects of healing hands’, Brain/Mind Bulletin, Vol 10, No 16. ‎Sept 30, 1985.‎

Zimmerman J, ‘The laying-on of hands, healing and therapeutic touch: a testable theory BEMI ‎currents’, Journal of the Bio-Electromagnetics Institute. Vol 2, 1990.‎

First uploaded to this website 5 Feb 2015, and updated 29 March 2015. © Tamisha Sabrina, March 2000.‎
I originally saw this article on 18 Nov 2003 on UK Reiki ‎Federation website reikifed.co.uk. I ‎contacted the ‎federation in 2015 and they contacted Tamisha and obtained permission from her to ‎re-publish this article here. Permission obtained on 5 Feb 2015. The federation also emailed me this ‎article in word document. Minor style amends were needed to format the article to the web. There is ‎a shorter version of this article circulated over the web, but here you can read the complete article in ‎full. Do not copy or publish this article without written permission. Thank you. – Gil Dekel.‎