Reiki is a Japanese form of healing that was developed in 1922 by Japanese Buddhist Mikao Usui.

It is a spiritual practice that incorporates lots of alternative healing practices such as spiritual healing, auras, crystals, chakra balancing, meditation, aromatherapy, crystals and naturopathy.

Reiki is administered by "laying on hands" and is based on the idea that an unseen life force energy flows through us. If one's life force energy is low, then you are more susceptible to disease and stress and the higher one's life force energy is, the happier and healthier you are.

Reiki involves the transfer of energy from practitioner to recipient to enhance the body's natural ability to heal itself. In Western Reiki, it is taught that it works in conjunction with the meridian energy lines and chakras through the use of various hand-positions on these systems.

The word Reiki is derived from two Japanese words: 'Rei' – which means "God's wisdom or Higher Power" and 'Ki' which is 'life force energy'.

After a session, it is reported that the recipient often feels warmth or tingling in the area treated, even when a non-touching approach is used. A state of deep relaxation, combined with a general feeling of well-being is usually a noticeable effect. Emotional release may also occur.

While Reiki is spiritual in nature, it is not a religion. There is no dogma attached to it and you do not have to believe anything in order to receive or practice it. It is still important to live and act in a way that promotes harmony with others.

Reiki is not a miracle cure and should not be a replacement for normal, conventional medicine, but rather as a complement to it.