Immediate effects of Reiki on heart rate variability, cortisol levels and body temperature in health care professionals with burnout
DATE
2011
AUTHORS
DiazRodriguez L, ArroyoMorales M, Fernandezde-las-Penas C, Garcia Lafuente F, Garcia-Royo C, TomasRojas I.
REFERENCE
Biological Research for Nursing. 2011. 13(4) 376-382
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/effe/762be1eb4306d406c6d2404ceed18e1ea46b.pdf
METHODOLOGY
Randomised, single-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study
N=21 female participants experiencing burnout
Heart rate variability (HRV) was determined using ECG and a variety of measurements on this.
Salivary cortisol was measured using baseline and posttreatment samples at each session (cortisol is raised during chronic stress and burnout)
Body temperature was measured by an infrared thermometry device.
RESULTS AND COMMENTS
Reiki resulted in various effects on the heart parameters measured and raised body temperature and which the authors postulate is due to Reiki having an effect on the parasympathetic nervous system.
There was no difference in the levels of salivary cortisol.
Comment: The sample size was very small.
