Reiki in hospitals: Bringing Light to Healing
- M.V. Claudia Barbieri
- 9 minutes ago
- 4 min read
During my recent trip to the United States, one of the most meaningful experiences, alongside visiting a renowned holistic veterinary clinic, was my visit to Boston Children’s Hospital, the primary pediatric program of Harvard Medical School. What made this visit especially profound was to be able to see Reiki being offered as an official part of the care provided to patients and their families. As both a holistic veterinarian and Reiki master, I was deeply moved. Witnessing a leading medical institution embrace Reiki—an energy-based practice so often misunderstood—rekindled my hope that we are truly moving toward a more integrative, compassionate, and humane approach to healthcare.
In this article, I share what I experienced and learned and how it can inspire us in veterinary medicine.
Reiki in Hospitals: From Complementary Practice to Clinical Reality
At Boston Children's Hospital, Reiki is offered by nurses who are trained and certified in this therapy, acting as part of the multidisciplinary team. The treatments are carried out in the patients' own rooms, respecting their privacy, clinical condition and preferences. The focus is not to replace conventional treatments, but to offer complementary support for physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. In addition to patients, parents and caregivers can also receive Reiki sessions in in a special room, where they can find a space to relax and relieve the stress that accompanies the hospitalization process - especially when it comes to health issues involving children.
The presence of Reiki in a hospital of such magnitude is only possible thanks to the acceptance and support of doctors, nurses and administrators. This is supported not only by the positive reports of patients and families, but also by scientific studies that have been conducted around the world, indicating the many benefits of this therapy, such as greater peace of mind, reduced pain and anxiety, improved sleep quality, faster recovery and a subjective perception of comfort and welcome.
But what does this have to do with veterinary medicine? And why did I choose a pediatric hospital?
As a homeopathic veterinarian, I already experience this similarity between my patients and children (especially babies and toddlers)…whether we're veterinarians or pediatricians, we don't have direct communication with the patient and we depend on their parents or guardians for some important information, in addition to our perception and experience. Also, we know that our animal patients also experience pain, fear, stress and emotional suffering - particularly during hospitalizations, surgeries or chronic illnesses and in this sense, Reiki can be a powerful and non-invasive tool to support the well-being of animals in veterinary hospital environments. And, just like children's parents, pet owners can also benefit from this energy to make their pet's care more peaceful or less stressful.
Imagine a hospitalized dog receiving a Reiki session to help him relax, cope better with pain or simply feel safer... Imagine the pet's owner receiving emotional support through the loving energy that Reiki provides. Imagine health professionals relying on this tool to keep their own energy balanced in the midst of an intense routine. All this is possible, desirable and is already beginning to be developed through pioneering initiatives around the world.
As a researcher in the field, I can say that science is following what many professionals are already experiencing in practice. Several randomized clinical studies and systematic reviews have shown the positive effects of Reiki on humans, such as reducing pain, anxiety and stress, as well as improving quality of life in patients with cancer, chronic illnesses or in palliative care.
In the veterinary field, scientific research on Reiki is still very limited, but I believe it will grow in the coming years. Preliminary research with animals indicates that Reiki can help reduce stress-related behaviors, pain and inflammation, for example. But beyond the objective data, there is something that science has not yet been able to measure precisely: the loving, silent and welcoming presence that Reiki brings to the sufferer. And that, in itself, is transformative.
Anyway, implementing Reiki in veterinary hospitals still faces challenges: lack of knowledge, prejudice and the absence of trained professionals to work in clinical and hospital environments - a reality that requires technical, emotional and ethical preparation. On the other hand, there is fertile ground - the growing interest of owners in integrative therapies, the emergence of holistic veterinary clinics, and an increasing number of professionals committed to the holistic health of animals tend to increase the acceptance of therapies such as Reiki.
The path begins with serious training, ethical practice and open dialog with conventional medicine. It's not about competing with conventional medical treatments, but about extending care, bringing more comfort, well-being and a sense of presence to the healing process. The presence of Reiki in human hospitals is a clear sign that energy-based practices are gaining recognition and space in modern medicine. Reiki is not just a technique - it is a philosophy of life, based on compassion, respect and a deep connection with the whole being.
In veterinary medicine, we still have a long way to go - but every professional, every pet owner, every animal touched by this loving energy helps to open up new paths. May we be part of this change, bringing Reiki from the silence of the heart to the center of care - with science, ethics and love.
