Internet-based Reiki for Tinnitus 2021

Overseen By Claudyne Vielot, AuD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Montefiore Medical Center

Disqualifiers: Under 18, No internet access

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 3 Jurisdictions This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 6 months

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Reiki?

Research shows that Reiki can be more effective than a placebo in some cases, suggesting it may help with healing the body and mind. It is considered a safe and gentle complementary therapy that could be useful for managing chronic health conditions and aiding in recovery after surgery. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How does the treatment Reiki differ from other treatments for this condition?

Reiki is a unique treatment that involves the practitioner placing their hands lightly on or near the patient's body to promote healing through energy transfer, which is different from conventional medical treatments that often involve medication or surgery. Unlike other therapies that may target specific physical symptoms, Reiki focuses on balancing the body's energy to improve overall well-being. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests if internet-based Reiki therapy can help people with tinnitus by balancing their body's energy to reduce stress and anxiety.

Research Team

Elizabeth Dinces, MD

Principal Investigator

Montefiore Medical Center

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You speak English or Spanish and have ringing in one or both ears.

Exclusion Criteria

You must have access to the internet.

People under the age of 18

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive internet-based Reiki therapy for tinnitus over a 6-month protocol

6 months

Internet-based sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in tinnitus-related quality of life and stress reduction

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Reiki

Participant Groups

Group I: Reiki Recipients Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The Practitioner enters a gassho (two hands coming together at the heart) meditative state with the Distance Symbol. Reiji-ho - moving the joined hands until the thumbs touch the space between the brows. Going into a relaxed state by using a breathing technique. Say the person's name three times. Proceed with byosen (method using the sensitivity in the hands to treat those areas in need of Reiki) scanning technique. Chiryo (standard session visualizing all hand positions) for 5 minutes each: Jawbone-Back of the head-Throat-Lungs-Area of participant's concern-Stomach-Intestines-Kidneys-Spinal cord. At the end of the session, visualize towards the participant's feet to help integrate the healing. Visualize brushing the Biomagnetic field around the participant's body from head to feet. Inform the participant that the session has been completed. Include time to rest quietly for a few minutes. Encourage participant to sip water (if they prefer) and ask them about their experience.

Reiki is already approved in United States, European Union, Canada for the following indications:

Approved in United States as Reiki for:

• Symptom relief for cancer patients
• Anxiety reduction
• Pain management
• Fatigue reduction
• Quality of life improvement

Approved in European Union as Reiki for:

• Complementary therapy for cancer-related symptoms
• Stress reduction
• Well-being improvement

Approved in Canada as Reiki for:

• Supportive care for cancer patients
• Pain relief
• Anxiety management

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Montefiore Medical Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

468

Recruited

599,000+

Findings from Research

A review of 13 clinical studies on Reiki found that 8 showed it to be more effective than a placebo, suggesting that Reiki may provide benefits beyond just a placebo effect.

Reiki is considered a safe complementary therapy that may help activate the body's healing response, particularly for chronic health conditions and postoperative recovery, although further research is needed to refine its application.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Reiki Is Better Than Placebo and Has Broad Potential as a Complementary Health Therapy. McManus, DE.[2019]

Temari Reiki, a new method of Reiki therapy, has shown success in treating patients with cancer, pain, and stress, suggesting it could be a beneficial addition to traditional Western medicine.

The paper advocates for further research through randomized clinical trials to better understand the effects of Temari Reiki on patients' overall well-being, including mental, physical, and spiritual health.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Temari Reiki: a new hands-off approach to traditional Reiki. Townsend, JS.[2013]

A systematic review of 12 studies on Reiki found that while 9 showed a significant therapeutic effect, all studies had serious methodological flaws, leading to a low quality of evidence.

The review highlighted the need for high-quality randomized controlled trials to better assess the effectiveness of Reiki compared to placebo, as current studies lack proper randomization, blinding, and accountability.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A systematic review of the therapeutic effects of Reiki. vanderVaart, S., Gijsen, VM., de Wildt, SN., et al.[2022]

Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is a promising immunotherapy candidate that stimulates the immune system by enhancing the proliferation and activity of T cells, B cells, and natural killer (NK) cells, which are crucial for attacking tumors.

IL-15 does not activate immunosuppressive T regulatory cells (Tregs), making it a unique option for boosting immune responses against cancer without promoting immune suppression.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Interleukin-15 biology and its therapeutic implications in cancer. Steel, JC., Waldmann, TA., Morris, JC.[2021]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Reiki Is Better Than Placebo and Has Broad Potential as a Complementary Health Therapy. [2019]

2. Australia pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Temari Reiki: a new hands-off approach to traditional Reiki. [2013]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A study to test the effectiveness of placebo Reiki standardization procedures developed for a planned Reiki efficacy study. [2019]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A systematic review of the therapeutic effects of Reiki. [2022]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An integrative review of Reiki touch therapy research. [2022]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Responsiveness of experimental prostate carcinoma bone tumors to neutron or photon radiation combined with cytokine therapy. [2019]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Interleukin-2 and interleukin-15: immunotherapy for cancer. [2022]

8. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Interleukin-15 biology and its therapeutic implications in cancer. [2021]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effect of interleukin-15 on the expression of killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors on peripheral natural killer cells in human. [2018]

10. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Combination of interleukin-2 and irradiation in therapy of murine tumors. [2019]