Usui Reiki with Hjalmar Jonsson and Carole Easton

Here are two handouts for Usui Reiki, yet another branch of the useless magical hand-waving therapy. One of them has been substantially modified after I complained about an earlier version; the other has not. Can you guess which is which?

(Image credit)

Hjalmar Jonsson, who is also known as The Reiki Centre of East Grinstead, makes the following claims in his handout (available here and here):

"Reiki may be helpful in treating any form of disease and may complement and increase the effectiveness of other forms of treatment although it should not be regarded as a cure..."

(Image credit)

Carole Easton of the Lynden Hill Clinic describes herself as a "Reiki Master".

Her handout (available here and here) offers a reiki "initiation"; anyone not dissuaded by that is encourage to book a place on Carole's "Gift of Healing Through Touch Workshop".

"USES OF REIKI - As all disease entails energy imbalance, Reiki is effective in most cases. Simple illnesses such as colds, 'flu, headaches, stomach upsets and mild infections usually respond rapidly. Burns will heal faster with far less or no scarring. As well as aiding the withdrawal processes of addictive drugs and substances, Reiki can effectively relieve pain and reduce the unpleasant side effects of strong drug therapy, while strengthening the immune system to aid the body's own natural healing activity. Long term chronic illnesses can be relieved over time. Illnesses such as Cancer, M.E./PVS (Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome) can be particularly helped when the person is initiated / attuned [after training in Reiki] as this is something they can do for them selves [sic] raising their vibrational frequency and working on the thymus which stimulates the immune system..."

ASA complaints follow!

THE REIKI CENTRE / HJALMAR JONSSON

"I'm writing to complain about a handout for The Reiki Centre, which I picked up from their own stall at the 'Mind Body Spirit' exhibition in London on 26th May.

The handout promotes the advertisers' reiki healing services, and contains claims which I suspect are misleading.

1. "REIKI TREATMENT - Reiki may be helpful in treating any form of disease and may complement and increase the effectiveness of other forms of treatment although it should not be regarded as a cure."

I'd like to challenge whether the advertisers can substantiate their claims that reiki "may be helpful in treating any form of disease", and whether it can "increase the effectiveness of other forms of treatment".

I can confirm that I have no connections with the advertiser or with the alternative medicine industry in general."

LYNDEN HILL CLINIC / CAROLE EASTON

"I'm writing to complain about a handout for Carol Easton, which I picked up from a stall at the 'Mind Body Spirit' exhibition in London on 26th May.

The handout promotes the advertiser's reiki training courses, and contains some health claims which I suspect are misleading.

1. "USES OF REIKI - As all disease entails energy imbalance, Reiki is effective in most cases. Simple illnesses such as colds, 'flu, headaches, stomach upsets and mild infections usually respond rapidly. Burns will heal faster with far less or no scarring. As well as aiding the withdrawal processes of addictive drugs and substances, Reiki can effectively relieve pain and reduce the unpleasant side effects of strong drug therapy, while strengthening the immune system to aid the body's own natural healing activity. Long term chronic illnesses can be relieved over time. Illnesses such as Cancer, M.E./PVS (Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome) can be particularly helped when the person is initiated / attuned [after training in Reiki] as this is something they can do for them selves [sic] raising their vibrational frequency and working on the thymus which stimulates the immune system..."

I'd like to challenge whether the health claims made for colds, influenza, headaches, stomach upsets, infections, burns, drug addiction, the side-effects of addiction treatment therapies, cancer, ME, PVS and the immune system can be substantiated and whether they are misleading.

I also challenge whether the claim that "Reiki is effective in most cases", used beside the phrase "all diseases" and in the same paragraph as "cancer", is misleading, whether it is irresponsible, and whether it may discourage essential treatment.

I can confirm that I have no connections with the advertiser or with the alternative medicine industry in general."

(I have complained about the Reiki Centre before.)