Reiki for Alzheimer’s – A Personal Look

The opinions and thoughts expressed here are the result of my own experiences and observations and are purely that. They are not authoritative or medically substantiated, except where noted, but if they are not shared they are not accessible as part of a larger body of observation and knowledge.

Bringing Reiki to different stages of Alzheimer’s:

Recently I was hired to bring Reiki to a late-stage dementia client by their family member. I have also given a session to an early stage person and their care partner. In addition to working with my recently passed mother, these experiences have brought a new dimension to my dedication to Reiki for Alzheimer’s. The early stage clients had just began a drug trial and it was difficult for them to assess what was attributable to each when more than one new experience was introduced, so we have decided to hold on continuing with Reiki until they are more settled. These brave souls are on an incredible journey and I respect their process, however this early-stage session raised observations and possibilites I would like to pursue further. Then there is my own path, where it is, and where it may lead, that I work with for myself each day through self-Reiki. I will explain.

Possibly pre-symptomatic Alzheimer’s?

As you may know, I am the third generation (as far as we can accurately record) in a later onset Alzheimer’s prone family, with both my grandmother and all four of her daughters, my mother included, having succumbed to this disease. Because Alzheimer’s disease actually starts with protein tangles forming in the brain many years before any outward symptoms appear, Alzheimer’s is in unseen slow development long before it is diagnosed. When I found Reiki to assist me in caring for my mother and in releasing and accepting the experience of the Alzheimer’s journey we were on, I began to realize it was not only a tool for mom and me around her illness, but a tool for me in facing my own future. What can Reiki do for me, as one whose history is firmly tied to this disease? That is the path of inquiry to which I have entrusted my future at this time. I am my own guinea pig in assessing the efficacy of the use of self-Reiki in preventing the onset of Alzheimer’s. Does it work? Will it work? Do I even need it? Follow me here.

Later onset Alzheimer’s Observations

In working with my later onset client I ask, could Reiki be building a neural path for connection in Alzheimer’s disease? Recently I found myself writing to this client’s family member that I felt what was happening with their loved one was that they were becoming familiar with the Reiki itself, rather than remembering me or even the Reiki sessions in any physical way. That somehow a pathway is made for them to reconnect with themselves and that Reiki is the path. They “climb on board” during a Reiki session to travel back to themselves and others. Over time, the climbing on board process becomes more automatic – like shifting gears in an automatic rather than standard transmission, as the person recognizes and connects with Reiki. I used to tell mom, “I’m giving you Reiki” and she would look at me and say, “I know!” This is the beauty of repetitive Reiki; it builds energetic pathways to wholeness through disease and imbalance. It is more see-able when working with those with dementia as the effects are fairly immediate and remarkable. Hands stop trembling, voices stop moaning, distress leaves, peacefulness and clarity come into focus and the person begins to respond in ways we can recognize. This was a common scenario in working with mom, and I am now seeing it in a more objective light with this person. Because dementia removes the ability to respond in recognizable ways, using Reiki has very notable results in partially restoring it * during and immediately after a session. (Improved clarity has been documented in studies of Reiki with dementia.)

Early stage Alzheimer’s possibilities?

And finally with my early stage person I had an interesting look at possibilities I would like to pursue! When I give Reiki, I “see” energy – moving – in colors and shapes and patterns. As I gave Reiki to this person I perceived a different pattern than I had experienced during non-Alzheimer’s related Reiki sessions. In this instance I saw many disconnected, segmented pieces floating in energetic light, and had a three dimensional sense that I was moving deeply into this space as the session progressed. Normally I see spirals of chakra type energy, and can sense the energy levels in a person through this movement.  I felt I was “seeing” the plaques and tangles of the disease in this case. This person reported that their head was buzzing afterward and their care partner said they went to sleep for a few hours after the session. The care partner also remarked that the house was calmer than they had experienced in a long while during the time I was there giving Reiki to both of them, and the care partner experienced deep peacefulness and a sense of well-being that lasted all day.

Sleep is the time when the brain detoxifies. For this early stage person to sense the energy and then sleep was possibly a significantly positive result that I would welcome the opportunity to pursue further in giving Reiki to those in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. As I have said before, healing is a process that stirs the waters, sometimes creating a disturbance as it progresses. Perhaps the buzzing and sleep are part of that healing process. Perhaps Reiki is actually assisting the brain to detoxify in early stages…..These are all conjectures, and as you can see, there is much I do not know about Reiki for Alzheimer’s; but I have seen interesting possibilities in working with my mother and these others.

Reiki for Alzheimer’s

What I do know is that Reiki will always move for the highest and best healing good of all in every situation, and that our bodies respond on a cellular level with their innate wisdom that moves toward healing in response to the loving energy of Reiki.

Namaste

*I find that “restoring” in Alzheimer’s is related to the stage and level of the progression of the disease at whatever point Reiki begins to be introduced. Thus the level of ability to communicate or physically perform tasks or mental acuity are related to the progress of the disease and are not “fully restored”, there is a coming awake, up to a higher level of connectedness and clarity and expression, even though actual physical and mental abilities are not fully restored to any “normal” levels. For instance, some one with aphasia will speak a few words clearly and meaningfully and responsively. They will not regain their use of speech completely. But to a loved one, those few words, those few moments of connection, are precious!

Please feel free to contact me regarding Reiki for your Loved One!