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| Captain Cassidy |
Recently, Duke University expanded its reiki program. As of 2021, this pseudoscience has now infested almost a thousand American hospitals and who even knows how many universities like Duke.
This infestation is a sign of the times, it seems. Pseudoscience in general has made serious inroads with what should be purely reality-based healthcare and science. But it’s clearly such a crowd-pleaser and money-maker that things won’t be changing any time soon.
Reiki (and its kissin’ cousin healing touch): A quick overview
Back in the mid-1990s, I dated a guy whose mother was a registered nurse (RN). She worked at a major urban hospital with a stellar reputation. I’ve no doubt she brightened the halls there. “Susan” was a lovely, generous, kind, optimistic, supportive, and open-hearted lady. I adored her.
Alas, she was also way, way into two forms of pseudoscience called reiki and healing touch. So were a bunch of her fellow RNs.
Continue reading @ Only Sky.
Excellent expose of an aspect of the wellness woo scam industry.
ReplyDeleteReiki is up there with believing you can magically change sexes through the power of thought.
DeleteHenry Joy comments
DeleteReply to Barry's comment:
Barry, I agree it may not be hard science. However let's show a little kindness to those who are distressed. If people get, or perceive they're getting benefit from something, let them at it I say. People are, like the gaffer here might say, free to practise whatever they want but not free to force it upon others. Reiki isn't compulsory anywhere insofar as I know.
Alternative therapies allow people to receive positive attention at times when they may not feel able to generate it for themselves. Carl Rogers, as I'm sure you well know, recognised the therapeutic value of 'unconditional positive regard'. So let's not dismiss out of hand these interventions. Even science and scientists can allow for nocebo and placebo effects, not to mention transition objects.
Anyways, happy holidays Barry and to all the 'Quillers'.
The problem, Henry Joy, is the exploitation of vulnerable people at difficult times in their lives by these unregulated grifters. Anyway, Happy Christmas, Henry Joy.
ReplyDeleteI can see both sides of this. As a public health policy matter, Barry must trump, but as Henry Joy suggests if it gets you through the night, why not? Even prayer can work - there is certainly nobody listening to the praying but it might do something for the person praying. And if they are not harming others . . .
DeleteHenry Joy comments
ReplyDeleteBarry
firstly, is this a major problem or a minor issue?
The article struck me as something thrown together to fulfil a requirement to meet a deadline or perhaps even contrived controversy and click-bait.
Secondly, meeting the emotional needs of patients is becoming more and more recognised as contributing to better outcomes. Couple this with the time pressure most medical practitioners find themselves under, and the consequential shorter and shorter consultation times afforded, most reasonable people I'd contend would allow for these secondary and supportive interventions.
Surely you'll agree it's better and healthier than the alternative vodka and valium approach (though I wouldn't personally deny that option to someone who's overawed by life's circumstances).