Reiki Opens the Doors of ICUs

In Uruguay, hundreds of nurses and healthcare professionals apply Reiki in intensive treatments for patients and their families.

GUSTAVO TRINIDAD

Life is energy that vibrates in a specific way and can be directed. This is the understanding of hundreds of medical professionals and healthcare workers who have incorporated Reiki techniques into their daily work.

This Japanese technique, which emerged in the late 19th century, transmits energy through hand placement, known as "imposition." It is gradually and steadily breaking through the dogmatic and rational barriers of Western medicine.

Nine years ago, when Reiki centers began to appear in Uruguay, no one imagined that in the future, a nurse would be seen opening their energy channels to help a terminally ill patient transition more peacefully into death. Or that a psychologist would take a moment before attending a patient to self-apply Reiki to prepare for the consultation.

In various ICUs, family members of critically ill patients can receive Reiki sessions, a technique that has no religious affiliation yet is open to all beliefs. But illness is not a prerequisite—many people make life-changing decisions after receiving the energetic boost provided by Reiki.

Psychologist and Reiki Master Alicia Enciso explains it simply: "We take charge of our own destiny."

The Integration of Reiki in Healthcare

Reiki has been adopted by general practitioners, psychiatrists, psychologists, pediatricians, and nurses working in intensive care units, where its application helps mitigate the side effects of powerful medical treatments.

At Uruguay’s National School of Nursing, affiliated with the University of the Republic, courses on alternative therapies provide Reiki training. Although it is not yet a permanent subject, coordinator Cristina Berrenechea has stated: "I am convinced of the need to incorporate Reiki into the curriculum as a regular course."

Despite the increasing acceptance of Reiki in mainstream medicine, many professionals still resist integrating it into their practice. Some remain indifferent, while others openly discredit it. Dr. Román Garrido from the Society of Intensive Medicine, when asked about Reiki, simply responded: "Reiki? What is that?"

However, those trained in Reiki insist that it improves their work, making medicine more human-centered, emphasizing the understanding that "we are not just a body."

Reiki’s Growing Acceptance in Uruguay

Although entire libraries exist explaining Reiki, practitioners insist that it is easier to experience than to describe. A Reiki practitioner acts as a "channel" between universal energy and human energy. It may sound metaphysical, but supporters argue that anyone can learn and apply Reiki to themselves and others.

In fact, many people use Reiki unconsciously—for example, when a mother holds and soothes her crying baby, transferring calming energy until the child peacefully sleeps. However, formal training in Reiki enhances this natural energy flow, allowing it to be consciously directed.

Currently, Montevideo alone has over 120 Reiki centers, where professionals from various backgrounds—doctors, nurses, psychologists, and holistic therapists—come together to learn and apply the technique.

• Some attend to "initiate" themselves, learning self-application in a 36-hour course that costs between $50 to $200.

• Others receive treatments from Reiki Masters, with session costs ranging from 150 to 800 pesos.

• Becoming a Reiki Master, the only level that allows initiating others, takes at least four years of dedicated study.

Healthcare professionals using Reiki confirm that it enhances their ability to care for patients.

One example is Noelia Farías, a nurse at Asociación Española’s ICU, specializing in palliative care. After a year of working with terminally ill patients, she began to experience emotional exhaustion.

"I needed to understand that moment so close to death. I wanted to know what I could do for them and for myself, because in that job, you experience death every day," Farías told El País newspaper.

Now, she asks permission from patients or their families (if the patient is unconscious) before applying Reiki. She works by holding the hand of terminally ill patients who appear distressed or show altered breathing patterns.

When her work becomes emotionally overwhelming, she takes a break and applies Reiki to herself.

Despite skepticism from some colleagues, she has noticed increasing curiosity among many healthcare workers.

"If you are going to take care of others, you need to be well yourself. They don’t teach you that in medical school," says psychologist and professor María del Luján Díaz.

Reiki in Critical Situations

People in desperate need of help, such as those facing the imminent loss of a loved one, often turn to alternative healing methods. However, once the crisis has passed, few acknowledge the role Reiki may have played.

Reiki Master María del Carmen Rumbo recalls an experience where two doctors faced the terrifying reality of their two-year-old daughter developing purpura fulminans, a life-threatening condition.

"They were desperate and called us for help. I gathered 26 of my students, and for ten days, we took turns channeling energy to the child," Rumbo explained.

The girl survived, but the parents dismissed the impact of Reiki, attributing her recovery to luck or medical intervention.

"It’s not about convincing people," says Rumbo. "We are not selling anything. People must be open to recognizing change."

She recalls a case where a woman attended three Reiki sessions without noticing any change. But as they spoke, she revealed that since starting Reiki:

• She returned to law school after dropping out four years prior.

• She ended a long-term relationship that was no longer serving her.

• She demanded a salary raise at work—and got it.

Yet, she insisted Reiki had not changed her life.

"Some people expect magic," Rumbo explains. "But true transformation happens because they open themselves to it."

Reiki’s Origins and History

Reiki is a 105-year-old healing system founded by Mikao Usui in Japan.

• Usui, born August 15, 1865, in Gifu, Tokyo, developed Reiki in the late 19th century.

• By 1905, Reiki was widely practiced across Japan.

• Chujiro Hayashi, a Japanese naval officer, trained under Usui and continued his research until his death in 1940, just before World War II.

• Reiki spread to the West thanks to Hawayo Takata, a Hawaiian woman who visited Japan in the 1930s. After experiencing a miraculous healing through Reiki, she dedicated her life to spreading the technique worldwide.

During World War II, many original Reiki manuscripts were lost, but Takata played a crucial role in preserving the practice, ensuring its survival and global expansion.

Reiki in Uruguay Today

Reiki was first introduced in Uruguay in 1992. By 1994, training was available for local practitioners.

Today, hundreds of Reiki centers exist throughout Montevideo, with many offering certified Master Teachers. The World Health Organization (WHO) now recognizes Reiki as a complementary therapy, with nurses, anesthesiologists, psychologists, and doctors integrating it into patient care.

However, while demand is increasing, Uruguay still lacks an official Reiki association to regulate the field. Master Teacher Silvia González warns against exclusive groups, stating:

"Associations must be formed to open doors, not close them."

Despite remaining skepticism, Reiki continues to grow, as more people recognize its profound impact on healing and well-being.

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