Occasionally a person can experience symptoms of weakness, tiredness, headache or stomach ache, after a session. Practitioners believe these are effects of the releasing of toxins from the body, and advise rest and drink plenty of water as a way to deal with these symptoms.

Consider these points about using Reiki therapy:

-- Do not use Reiki as a replacement for conventional care or to delay the time it takes you to see a doctor about a medical problem.

-- Discuss any CAM therapies you are considering or using with your health care provider.

-- Ask the Reiki practitioner about his training and experience (see also the NCCAM publication "Selecting a CAM Practitioner").

-- Reiki has not been well studied scientifically, but you can find and read research studies published on its use for various health conditions (see "for more information" below).

One does not need a special background to receive Reiki training, though many who seek training are health care professionals. Reiki cannot be self-taught, and must be learned from an experienced teacher or Master. There are several schools of Reiki and there are usually three or four levels of expertise, depending upon the school. Laws regulating the practice of Reiki vary from state to state. In Florida, for example, one must be a certified massage therapist in order to become a Reiki practitioner.

Areas of controversy in Reiki:

-- Since little is known scientifically about Reiki, accepting its teachings about its healing properties and about ki is a matter of faith.

-- Some people believe that effects attributed to Reiki occur for psychological reasons (such as the placebo effect or suggestibility), or that there are no true effects.