To support mountains of anecdotal evidence, there have been an increasing number of clinical trials to validate and quantify the benefits of Reiki. Below is a very partial list, to give you an idea of how this work is being approached and by whom. Due to copyright considerations, I cannot give you access to all these studies, but I’ve provided links to further information when possible.

It is abundantly clear that more, quality research is needed, and I’m working towards that goal as quickly as possible via several avenues. If you know any researchers or students of medicine or mental health looking for an incredible opportunity, please have them get in touch. I am fortunate to have a number of enthusiastic colleagues eager to shed more light on this subject for members of the medical community who are still in doubt.

The Effect of Reiki and Acupressure on Pain, Anxiety and Vital Signs During Femoral Sheath Removal in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Randomized Controlled Study
Explore, October, 2024

The effects of Reiki application on sleep and quality of life in patients with epilepsy
Epilepsy & Behavior, October, 2024

The Effect of Reiki on the Self-Efficacy, Death Anxiety, and Sleep Quality of Patients Diagnosed With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease A Randomized-Controlled Study
Holistic Nursing Practice, September 2024

The impact of Reiki practice on episiotomy recovery and perineal pain: A randomized controlled study
African Journal of Reproductive Health, July, 2024

The Effect of Reiki on Fatigue Symptoms of Cancer Patients: A Systemic Review
Holistic Nursing Practice, July, 2024

Zen Den: A Novel Approach to Promote Well-Being in the Workplace
Journal of Holistic Nursing, July, 2024

The Effects of Reiki on the Stress of Japanese Nurses: Mixed Methods Pilot Study
Journal of Holistic Nursing, July, 2024

The Effect of Reiki on Fatigue and Sleep Quality in Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomised Controlled Study
Explore, June, 2024

Therapeutic effects of Reiki on interventions for anxiety: a meta-analysis
BMC Palliative Care, June, 2024

The Effect of Distance Reiki on State Test Anxiety and Test Performance: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Nursing Students
Journal of Nursing Education, May, 2024

The Effect of Reiki on Pain, Functional Status, and Holistic Well-Being in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Orthopaedic Nursing, March/April, 2024

Effect of Reiki and Qi-gong therapy on improving negative emotional states of anxiety, depression, and stress among Type-2 Diabetic patients
Assuit Scientific Nursing Journal, March, 2024

Effect of Reiki Application on Menopausal Symptoms
EXPLORE, March, 2024

The Effect of Reiki on Sexual Function and Sexual Self-Confidence in Women with Sexual Distress
Sexuality and Disability, Feb, 2024

Integrated Reiki Therapy for the Treatment and Management of Psychosomatic Disorders: A Pilot Study
Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medical Research, Jan, 2024

The Effect of Reiki Intervention on Fatigue and Anxiety in Hemodialysis Patients: A Randomized Controlled Study
Holistic Nursing Practice, Jan/Feb, 2024

The Effect of Reiki on Pain Applied to Patients With Cancer: A Systematic Review
Holistic Nursing Practice, Sept/Oct, 2023

Home-Based Reiki by Informal Caregivers: A Mixed-Methods Pilot Study
Holistic Nursing Practice, Sept/Oct, 2023

Effects of Reiki on the Perception of Quality of Life Determined by the Questionnaire WHOQOL-BREF
Holistic Nursing Practice, Nov/Dec, 2023

Reiki: An effective self-care practice
Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice, 2023

Evaluation of the Impacts of Reiki Touch Therapy on Patients Diagnosed With Fibromyalgia Who Are Followed in the Pain Clinic
Holistic Nursing Practice, May, 2023

HSR23-115: Stress-Related Biofeedback Responses After Reiki and Sound Healing Therapies for Breast Cancer Survivors
Official Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, March, 2023

Effect of Reiki as a stress management technique for parents of hospitalized neonates
Hospice and Palliative Medicine International Journal, February, 2023

The Effect of Reiki on Fatigue and Comfort in Hemodialysis Patients
Explore: The Journal of Science & Healing, January, 2023

The effect of acupressure or reiki interventions on the levels of pain and fatigue of cancer patients receiving palliative care: A randomized controlled study
Explore: The Journal of Science & Healing, December, 2022

The Effect of Distant Reiki Sessions on Holistic Well-Being
Holistic Nursing Practice, October, 2022

The Effect of Reiki and Music on the Negative Mood Regulation Expectancies and Burnout of the Helpers
Bulletin of Educational Psychology, October 2022

The Effect of Reiki on Anxiety, Stress, and Comfort Levels Before Gastrointestinal Endoscopy: A Randomized Sham-Controlled Trial
Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing, October, 2022

Evaluation of a Remote Reiki Program for Frontline Healthcare Workers in the UK
Global Advances in Health and Medicine, 2022

Interventional Studies on Nurses’ Mental Health in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review
Psych, August 2022

Effects of Reiki on Stress Reduction of Residents of Multi Professional Residence in Health in Times of Pandemic COVID-19
Journal of Nursing & Health Sciences, July, 2022

Does Reiki Benefit Mental Health Symptoms Above Placebo?: A Systemic Review
Frontiers in Psychology, July, 2022

Stress and Anxiety Reduction Effects of a Reiki Program During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Employees in Lima, Peru
Holistic Nursing Practice, 2022

The Effect of Reiki Therapy on Cancer Pain Management in Palliative Care Patients: A Systematic Review
Bezmialem Science, 2022

The effects of Reiki treatment on mental health professionals who are at risk of burnout
International Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Research and Studies, 2022

Reiki for Promotion of Health and Sleep Quality in Hospital Nursing Professionals
Brazilian Journal of Nursing (Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem – REBEn), August, 2022

An Evaluation of the Subjective Experience of Receiving Reiki: Qualitative Results from a Pragmatic Effectiveness Study
The Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine, May, 2022

The Effect of Distant Reiki on the Stress and Fatigue Levels of Nurses Working in COVID-19 Clinics
Holistic Nursing Practice, April, 2022

Reiki Therapy for Young Hospitalized Children Ages 1-5 Years Receiving Palliative Care
Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, May, 2022

Reiki Therapy for Very Young Hospitalized Children Receiving Palliative Care (same study as above in different specialization journal)
Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nursing, Jan-Feb, 2022

Evaluation of the Impacts of Reiki Touch Therapy on Patients Diagnosed With Fibromyalgia Who Are Followed in the Pain Clinic
Holistic Nursing Practice, Jan, 2022

The Effect of Reiki on Pain, Fatigue, and Quality of Life in Adolescents With Dysmenorrhea
Holistic Nursing Practice, Nov-Dec, 2021

Self-Reiki, Consideration of a Potential Option for Managing Chronic Pain during Pandemic COVID-19 Period
Medicina, August, 2021

Effect of Reiki Therapy on Quality of Life and Fatigue Levels of Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy
Cancer Nursing, August, 2021

Feasibility and Effect of Reiki on the Physiology and Self-perceived Stress of Nurses in a Large US Hospital
Holistic Nursing Practice, July, 2021

The Effects of Reiki and Back Massage on Women's Pain and Vital Signs Post–Abdominal Hysterectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Explore, July, 2021

Reiki as Nursing Care to People in Mental Suffering: An Integrative Review
Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem, 2021

Home-Based Reiki by Informal Caregivers: A Mixed-Methods Pilot Study
Holistic Nursing Practice, May, 2021

The Effect of Acupressure and Reiki Application on Patient’s Pain and Comfort Level after Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A randomized controlled trial
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, April, 2021

Effect of Reiki on the Stress Level of Caregivers of Patients with Cancer: Qualitative and Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial
Complementary Therapies in Medicine, March, 2021

Feasibility and Acceptability of Reiki Therapy for Children Receiving Palliative Care in the Home
Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing, November, 2020

Energy medicine treatments for hand and wrist pain: A pilot study
EXPLORE The Journal of Science & Healing, November, 2020

Effects of Reiki on Pain and Anxiety in Women Hospitalized for Obstetrical- and Gynecological-Related Conditions
Journal of Holistic Nursing, July, 2020

Feasibility and Acceptability of Recruiting Very Young Hospitalized Children Receiving Palliative Care to an Integrative Therapy Study
Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, February, 2020

Reiki therapy for pain, anxiety and quality of life
BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care, Dec, 2019

Characterization of the Consciousness Energy Healing Treated Essential Amino Acid: L-Tryptophan
Journal of Advancements in Food Technology, October, 2019

A Large-Scale Effectiveness Trial of Reiki for Physical and Psychological Health
The Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine, October, 2019

Reiki for Pain During Hemodialysis: A Feasibility and Instrument Evaluation Study
Journal of Holistic Nursing, August 2018

An Alternative Therapeutic Approach on Bone Cells Differentiation after Administration of Biofield Energy Treated Vitamin D3 in MG-63 Cell line 
Journal of Pharmaceutics & Pharmacology, July 2018

Effects of reiki therapy on blood pressure for subjects with hypertension in selected hospital, Bangalore
International Journal of Nursing Care, 2018

Complementary Alternative and Integrative Treatment for Substance Use Disorders
Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, June 2018

Pain Management in the Pediatric Palliative Care Population
Journal of Nursing Scholarship, May 2018

Immediate Symptom Relief After a First Session of Massage Therapy or Reiki in Hospitalized Patients: A 5-year Clinical Experience from a Rural Academic Medical Center
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2018

Effects of Reiki Versus Physiotherapy on Relieving Lower Back Pain and Improving Activities Daily Living of Patients With Intervertebral Disc Hernia.
Journal of Evidence Based Integrative Medicine, 2018

Cost Savings from Reducing Pain Through the Delivery of Integrative Medicine Program to Hospitalized Patients
The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2018

An Overview of Complementary and Alternative Medicines
The University of British Columbia Medical Journal, 2018

An Integrative Review of Nonpharmacological Interventions to Improve Sleep among Adults with Advanced Serious Illness
Journal of Palliative Medicine, January, 2018

The effect of reiki on pain: A meta-analysis
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 2018

Safety of Reiki Therapy for Newborns at Risk for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Holistic Nursing Practice, 2018

The impact of Reiki on side effects in patients with head-neck neoplasia undergoing radiotherapy: a pilot study
Professioni infermieristiche, 2017

Effectiveness of Reiki Therapy on Dysmenorrhoea among Adolescent Girls
Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development, 2017

Energetic Modalities as a Self-Care Technique to Reduce Stress in Nursing Students
Journal of Holistic Nursing, Dec, 2017

Integrative Medicine and Mood, Emotions and Mental Health
Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice, June, 2017

Instrumental Measurements of Water and the Surrounding Space During a Randomized Blinded Controlled Trial of Focused Intention.
Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine, May, 2017

Effects of Reiki on Pain, Anxiety, and Blood Pressure in Patients Undergoing Knee Replacement: A Pilot Study.
Holistic Nursing Practice, Apr/May, 2017

Effects of Reiki on Pain and Vital Signs When Applied to the Incision Area of the Body After Cesarean Section Surgery: A Single-Blinded, Randomized, Double-Controlled Study
Holistic Nursing Practice, Nov/Dec, 2016

Combining conventional treatment and complementary therapies benefits pituitary patients
Endocrine Abstracts, 2016

Effect of Hands on Reiki on perceived Stress among Software Professionals in Bangalore
Industrial and Organizational Psychology, June, 2016

Reiki's effect on patients with total knee arthroplasty: A pilot study
Nursing, February, 2016

The Effect of Reiki on Depression in Elderly People Living in Nursing Home
Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, 2016.

The Clinical Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavior Therapy and an Alternative Medicine Approach in Reducing Symptoms of Depression in Adolescents
Psychiatry Research, March 2016

Effects of Integrative PTSD Treatment in a Military Health Setting
Energy Psychology Journal, 2015.

The Use of Self-Reiki for Stress Reduction and Relaxation
Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2015.

Effects of Distant Reiki on Pain, Anxiety and Fatigue in Oncology Patients in Turkey:  A Pilot Study
Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 2015.

The Effect of Reiki Therapy on Quality of Life of Patients with Blood Cancer:  A Randomized Controlled Trial
European Journal of Integrative Medicine, December 2015

Integrative Reiki for Cancer Patients: A Program Evaluation
Integrative Cancer Therapies, January, 2014.

Effect of Reiki Therapy on Pain and Anxiety in Adults: An In-Depth Literature Review of Randomized Trials with Effect Size Calculations
Pain Management Nursing: Official Journal of the American Society of Pain Management Nurses, February 27, 2014.

Comparison of Physical Therapy with Energy Healing for Improving Range of Motion in Subjects with Restricted Shoulder Mobility
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013.

A Canadian Experience of Integrating Complementary Therapy in a Hospital Palliative Care Unit
Journal of Palliative Medicine, November 10, 2013.

Symptomatic Improvement Reported After Receiving Reiki at a Cancer Infusion Center
American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, December 5, 2012.

Application of Reiki in Nurses Diagnosed with Burnout Syndrome Has Beneficial Effects on Concentration of Salivary IgA and BP
Revista Latino-American de Enfermagem, September, 2012

The Effects of Reiki Therapy on Pain and Anxiety in Patients Attending a Day Oncology and Infusion Services Unit
American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, October 13, 2011.

Immediate effects of Reiki on heart rate variability, cortisol levels, and body temperature in health care professionals with burnout
Biological Research For Nursing, October, 2011

Effects of Reiki on Autonomic Activity Early After Acute Coronary Syndrome
Journal of the American College of Cardiology, September 11, 2010.

Effects of Reiki on Anxiety, Depression, Pain and Physiological Factors in Community-Dwelling Older Adults
Research in Gerontological Nursing, November , 2010.

Pilot Crossover Trial of Reiki Versus Rest for Treating Cancer-Related Fatigue
Integrative Cancer Therapies, 2007.

The Effect of Reiki on Pain and Anxiety in Women with Abdominal Hysterectomies: A Quasi-experimental Pilot Study
Holistic Nursing Practice, 2006

Long-term Effects of Energetic Healing on Symptoms of Psychological Depression and Self-Perceived Stress
Energetic Healing, May/June, 2004.

Reiki Therapy: The Benefits to a Nurse/Reiki Practitioner
Holistic Nursing Practice, July/August, 2003.­­­

The Effect of the “Laying On of Hands” on Transplanted Breast Cancer in Mice
Journal of Scientific Exploration, 2000.