September 02, 2003
Reaching New Highs In Patient Care
Genesis Cancer Center Sponsors Reiki Training Session
Davenport, IA - If you are interested in a holistic approach to health, Reiki may be an option for you. Reiki, a Japanese word for "universal life-force energy," helps a person cope with and recover from disease or trauma, severe pain, or daily stressors.
Genesis Cancer Center is sponsoring Reiki training sessions on Tuesday, September 9 and Tuesday, September 16, from 6-9 p.m. or on Saturday, September 27 from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., in Pavilion II Conference Center at Genesis Medical Center's West campus, 1401 W. Central Park, Davenport.
Offering Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) therapies for both inpatients and outpatients is a growing trend in health care and one of many CAM therapies in place at Genesis Medical Center (GMC). GMC Oncology nurse and Reiki Master Pat Christy says, "The body suffers from imbalances when experiencing stress, trauma, or disease. For example, if a person suffers from a stroke, they have a physical imbalance. Imbalances can also be mental, emotional, and spiritual."
During a Reiki session, a trained practitioner applies their hands gently on or above the patient's body. This enhances the flow of universal energy (Rei) to work with the patient's own life force (ki) for natural healing. Reiki differs from massages because the patient stays fully clothed during the sessions and there is no massaging or manipulation of the skin and muscle.
Reiki is not an alternative to taking medication, surgery or other medical care. Patients should continue to follow their doctor's plan of care. "Reiki heals the aspects of the body that medicine can't. Medicine treats the ailment or disease. Reiki works in addition to medicine by helping the person relieve stress that can make his or her condition worse," Christy explains.
Most people are unaware of their own natural healing ability. This is because the body's ability can't be seen or felt. Christy says, "In Reiki sessions, some patients feel an immediate calmness, which is the life-energy force working. Others may not feel anything immediately." Results from Reiki sessions can't be predicted by the practitioner.
Even though a person may not feel any immediate effects, this does not mean that the Reiki is not working. Natural healing may occur over time. When looking back, people using Reiki have realized how they have become less stressed over time or handled difficult times a little better.
The American Stroke Association has recently endorsed Reiki as a way of helping survivors recover internally from the stroke. Reiki does not cure the person of the stroke, but it improves the person's quality of life. "A person who suffered a stroke may have always wanted to write a book. Reiki does not cure the person's stroke or the after effects. However, Reiki can stimulate the person's creativity so that book can be written," Christy says. "And that enhances health and healing."
The Reiki community classes are sponsored by the Genesis Cancer Center. The cost is $100 per person and includes a manual and certificate upon completion of training. For information about these sessions or to register, call Genesis On Call at 421-2000 or 1-800-383-2572.
