Can Reiki Help With Tinnitus?
Can Reiki help with tinnitus? This is the question you may be asking yourself. If you have tinnitus, a persistent ringing or buzzing in the ears, you probably already know that it can be a challenging condition to manage. The fact that there is no cure for tinnitus, leads many people to seek complementary means for helping the condition. For this reason, many people do turn to Reiki to find relief from tinnitus. There have been many success stories. However, it is important to note that although there have been some studies on Reiki, any evidence regarding how Reiki can help with tinnitus is anecdotal.
In this article, we will look at some of the causes of tinnitus, and how Reiki may be able to help.
What Is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is a persistent buzzing, ringing or roaring sound in the ears when there is no outside stimulus. In other words, it sounds like something is making a noise, but the noise has no outside source. It may be either constant or intermittent, and the intensity of the noise may vary. The condition may also be temporary or permanent. There may be any number of causes of tinnitus. Regularly listening to music at elevated volumes, ear wax, and age all may be potential causes. According to the Mayo Clinic, other factors such as hearing loss, ear infection or blockage of the ear canal, head or neck injuries or taking certain. types of medications may also be causes of tinnitus. TMJ may also cause tinnitus.
People who have tinnitus may experience a number of effects due to the condition. For example, they may become depressed or frustrated. They may also experience anxiety, poor concentration or sleep problems. Some people may also experience a significant amount of emotional or mental distress because of the perceived noise.
It is very important to see a doctor as soon as you suspect that you might have tinnitus. Once a doctor has diagnosed tinnitus, you will be able to seek treatment.
What Are Some Conventional Tinnitus Treatments?
Conventional tinnitus treatments may include hearing aids, sound therapy, medication or other types of treatment. Some other treatments that people with tinnitus may use include running a white noise machine, or turning on home appliances. Doctors sometimes also advice patients to sleep with their heads propped up. In addition, there are also some studies that have found that using nutritional supplements, such as B12, may help.
On a psychological level, many patients find that counselling also helps them live with the condition. Some try cognitive behavioural therapy, which holds that our thoughts affect our actions. Helping people with tinnitus change their thoughts may also help them act differently in order to reduce anxiety or depression. Sleep hygiene may also play a role. The more high quality sleep we get, the better able we are to maintain a healthy immune system and remain healthy in general.
Some of these treatments may offer some relief to some patients. Others prefer to seek out complementary modalities, such as Reiki.
What Is Reiki?
If you have already been doing research, you already know that Reiki is a Japanese word that means Universal Life Force. When performing a treatment, the practitioner or master channels this universal energy through their hands. The recipient pulls the energy into their being. There is nothing that you need to do to make this happen. All that is required is for the practitioner to have the intention to give a Reiki treatment. The energy then flows where it is needed, and always in exactly the right quantities.
During the treatment, the recipient remains fully clothed, and the practitioner or master keeps their hands above the body, or touches the recipient’s body lightly. In this way, Reiki is different from massage, as the practitioner does not physically manipulate the muscles. In fact, Reiki is a completely no-risk modality. There is no danger of any side effects or that Reiki with exacerbate the condition.
As energy workers, we believe that many conditions originate as energy imbalances before they manifest as physical symptoms. By restoring the balance of energy, it may be possible to help the symptoms of tinnitus. Reiki focuses on your entire being instead of just on masking the specific symptoms. By promoting relaxation and reducing stress, we awaken the body’s own healing capacity. We believe that this can lead to a possible reduction in the symptoms of tinnitus.
Why Can Reiki Be Effective?
According to The Hearing Institute, there are several aggravating factors for tinnitus. These include stress, loud noise, diet, allergies and ear wax buildup. While Reiki cannot fix a poor diet or reduce loud noise, stress reduction is where Reiki can really excel as a complementary modality. Many of my clients experience a state of deep relaxation during a treatment. They begin breathing deeply only several minutes into the treatment. Often, they will then fall asleep on the table.
During this state, the body’s production of stress hormones is lowered and this promotes a state of overall well-being. The effects of the fight or flight reaction dissolve, and a sense of well-being and balance re-emerges for the receiver.
While results can vary, many people do report a reduction in the symptoms of tinnitus. In some cases, this reduction has been significant. Stress reduction alone may not be enough to eliminate tinnitus, but it is often associated with an overall improvement in life quality among people dealing with the condition.
Conclusion
No matter which modalities you try, it is important to note that Reiki, or any other complementary modality, is not a replacement for treatment by your doctor or any other licensed healthcare profession. Nothing in this article should take the place of medical advice from a licensed doctor. When receiving Reiki treatments, if you have tinnitus, you should continue with any conventional treatments you are also receiving. It is also a good idea to inform your doctor that you are receiving Reiki treatments, so you can work together to develop a comprehensive treatment plan.