What Research Shows.

Complementary therapies such as acupressure and Reiki have been the subject of scientific research, with the strength and quality of evidence varying according to the therapy, approach and specific area being studied.

My approach is evidence informed. Where available, we reference peer reviewed research, including PubMed-indexed studies, relating to acupressure and Reiki.

Acupressure & Reiki Research

The research presented on this page provides examples of areas in which acupressure and Reiki have been investigated. Findings vary between studies, and research outcomes should be interpreted within the limitations of each study.

The studies and reviews presented on this page are examples of research I have found relating to acupressure and Reiki. They are provided for educational and informational purposes only and are not intended to represent all available research or to imply that the findings apply directly to every individual or treatment.

The inclusion of research does not imply that these therapies diagnose, treat or cure medical or psychological conditions, or that they are a substitute for qualified medical care. They are offered as complementary wellbeing practices alongside appropriate healthcare.

Australian Hospitals and Other Research

Complementary therapies have also been the subject of clinical research within Australian hospital settings.

Researchers associated with The Prince Charles Hospital in Queensland, Griffith University and the University of Queensland have investigated PC6 wrist acupressure in cardiac-surgery patients, including its potential role in postoperative nausea and vomiting. The research included a randomised controlled pilot study and a subsequent clinical trial protocol.

Other Australian research has examined complementary therapies within public hospital settings, including supportive care for people receiving cancer treatment.

These studies form part of a broader body of research investigating how complementary approaches may be used alongside conventional healthcare. They do not mean that complementary therapies replace medical diagnosis or treatment, and results vary according to the therapy, condition and individual.

Princess Alexandra Hospital & Logan Hospital, Queensland: the SIESTA randomised controlled trial investigated acupressure in people receiving haemodialysis across two Queensland hospital dialysis units. The study compared real acupressure with sham acupressure and examined its potential effects on sleep quality. Researchers were affiliated with Princess Alexandra Hospital and Logan Hospital, Queensland.

This research contributes to the growing body of clinical research investigating acupressure as a complementary approach alongside conventional healthcare.

Chronic Lower Back Pain

Randomised research has investigated acupressure in people with chronic lower back pain. One BMJ randomised controlled trial, conducted in Taiwan, reported improvements in pain, disability and functional measures following acupressure compared with physical therapy.

These findings relate to the specific study and do not represent a claim or guarantee of results for individual clients.

Anxiety

Research has investigated acupressure in relation to anxiety, including a 2022 systematic review and meta-analysis of 27 studies. The review reported reductions in anxiety among participants receiving acupressure, although substantial variation between the studies means the findings should be interpreted with caution.

These findings relate to published research and are provided for educational purposes. They do not represent a claim or guarantee of results for individual clients.

Chronic Headache

A randomised controlled trial conducted in Taiwan investigated acupressure for people experiencing chronic headache. The study reported improvements in pain intensity and headache-related quality-of-life measures in the acupressure group.

These findings relate to this specific research study and are provided for educational purposes. They do not represent a claim or guarantee of results for individual clients.

Reiki Research

Reiki has been investigated in clinical and hospital settings internationally, including research involving oncology, hospitalised patients and supportive care. Australian research is currently more limited, with recent work from Bond University examining awareness and use of Reiki among Australian health professionals and the community.

Reiki has also been documented as being offered within an Australian healthcare setting. Published literature describes Reiki being provided through the Oncology-Haematology Unit at Bega Valley Health Services in New South Wales as a complementary form of supportive care.

This is an example of Reiki being made available alongside conventional healthcare in an Australian clinical environment. It should not be interpreted as evidence that Reiki treats cancer or any other medical condition.