January 22, 2011

Parents of children with cancer who are searching solutions to improve quality of life for their children as they undergo treatment often hear about reiki. Reiki is a form of energy work (chi gong) that promotes harmony among body, mind and spirit. Reiki is considered part of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), which is a group of non-traditional medical therapies that are used in conjunction with traditional medical care. Research supports that reiki helps relax the body.

Reiki is non-invasive and is often used to help provide relief from the side effects of cancer treatment such as neuropathy, lack of appetite, lack of sleep and general anxiety. Sessions can be performed without any physical contact and according to the National Institutes of Health, reiki appears to be generally safe.

In New York City, the Herbert Irving Division of Child and Adolescent Oncology at the Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian currently provides reiki to its patients and their families at no cost as part of its Integrative Therapies for Children with Cancer program. Oncology patients and their families can benefit from a wide variety of therapies that include reiki, nutritional and herbal counseling, yoga, guided imagery and acupressure.

The Stephen D. Hassenfeld Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at NYU Medical Center also offers reiki to its patients and their families at no cost as part of its Wellness and Complementary Care program. Hassenfeld patients of all age groups and their families can receive the benefits of reiki as well as those of other therapies including guided imagery, art therapy, pet therapy, pilates, yoga and nutrition.

As always, consult your doctor before modifying any treatment plan.

Dave Gorczynski is president of SPARK, a non-profit organization that has provided free energy work sessions and workshops across New York City since 2002. He writes a regular column about energy work and meditation for the Compact News in New York City's Chinatown. E-mail him at dave@sparkenergy.org.