Although its origins date back to before written records were kept, it most recently arrived in the West from Japan in the last 100 years. It is said to have been the healing method used by Sakyamuni Budda and later by Jesus of Nazareth. I have personally been involved in instances of Reiki being used to treat injuries and disease with almost miraculous results. Broken bones and surgeries heal much sooner.
Cancer patients show improvement, especially when begun early.
Please understand that Reiki is NOT to be used instead of professional medical care but in addition to proper medical care. Breakthroughs in modern medicine combined with the technologies available today have been nothing short of amazing. This is a blessing. However, being the dual creatures that we are, we, like our ancesters, must recognize that duality and understand that in order to heal the physical, we must first focus on the spiritual aspect of our nature. Although Reiki is traditionaly practiced as a one on one situation between a practioner and the recipient both being present, there is a method of long distance healing that can be used when this is not possible.